The Uganda Development Bank (UDB), the country’s national Development Finance Institution (DFI), is set to host the inaugural Uganda Development Finance Summit, taking place from 1–2 September 2025 at the Speke Resort Convention Centre in Kampala, Uganda.
Held under the theme “Transforming Africa through National Development Finance Architecture,” this landmark Summit will convene over 400 high-level stakeholders from government, national financial institutions, the private sector, academia, and international finance. The event aims to explore new financing models and unlock Africa’s economic potential through inclusive dialogue and strategic collaboration.
The need for such a platform has become more urgent as traditional financing sources—such as aid and concessional loans—continue to shrink. In response, many African countries are increasingly turning to global debt markets, which come with challenges such as restricted access and comparatively higher interest rates. This has widened the financing gap, limiting capital flows to both public and private sectors, and constraining the continent’s economic transformation.
Dr. Patricia Ojangole, Managing Director of UDB, noted: “Hosting the Development Finance Summit underscores UDB’s commitment to catalysing the development finance agenda across Africa. The Summit will provide a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership building—focusing on inclusive growth, sustainable project financing, and the evolving role of national development banks.”
Participants can expect insightful discussions on a range of pressing topics, including: the role of national development banks in driving sustainable socio-economic development, financing Africa’s industrial policy.
Others are: creating resilient agricultural value chains, empowering SMEs as engines of growth, unlocking green finance opportunities and catalysing investment through blended finance strategies.
The Summit promises to deliver fresh perspectives, practical solutions, and collaborative opportunities for stakeholders committed to shaping Africa’s financial future.
Interested participants are encouraged to register via the official event website: https://ugandadevsummit.com, where they can confirm attendance and contribute to these vital conversations.