UDB’s inaugural development finance summit to chart a bold new course for Africa’s economic transformation

Uganda is poised to host a pivotal event for the continent’s economic future: the inaugural Uganda Development Finance Summit, scheduled for September 1-2, 2025. Organized and convened by the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), the country’s national Development Finance Institution (DFI), this landmark summit aims to reshape the dialogue around sustainable growth and financial independence in Africa.

The highly anticipated event, set to take place at the prestigious Speke Resort Convention Centre in Kampala, will proceed under the timely and ambitious theme, “Transforming Africa through National Development Finance Architecture.”

Addressing Africa’s Growing Financing Gap

The Summit comes at a critical juncture for African economies. Traditional funding sources, such as aid and concessional financing, are shrinking, compelling the continent to increasingly turn to global debt markets to meet its pressing development needs.

However, as the conveners highlight, accessing these international financial markets presents significant hurdles, including limited access and often higher interest rates compared to other sovereign borrowers. This precarious situation has exacerbated a critical financing gap, hindering the provision of much-needed capital to both the public and private sectors, thereby constraining economic growth and transformation across the continent.

In response to this imperative, the Uganda Development Finance Summit will serve as a flagship platform, bringing together over 400 high-level participants. Attendees will include influential figures from government, national financial institutions, the private sector, academia, and global finance practitioners.

Their collective expertise and insights will be harnessed to explore new financing options and innovative approaches designed to unlock Africa’s immense economic potential. Through inclusive dialogue and strategic collaboration, the event aims to accelerate sustainable growth, address urgent development priorities, and chart a bold, pragmatic, and forward-looking path for African economies.

Catalyzing Development and Fostering Partnerships

Dr. Patricia Ojangole, the Managing Director of UDB, underscored the institution’s commitment to driving this vital agenda. “Hosting the Development Finance Summit underscores UDB’s commitment to catalysing the development finance agenda on the African continent,” she stated. “The Summit will serve as a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and partnership building, focusing on fostering inclusive growth, financing sustainable projects, and addressing the challenges faced by national development banks in Africa.”

Participants at the summit are set to gain invaluable insights, discover innovative solutions, and forge new partnerships. The comprehensive agenda will delve into a wide array of crucial themes, including:

• The Role of National Development Banks in Catalysing Sustainable Socio-Economic Development
• Financing Industrial Policy in Africa
• Creating Agri-Value Chains
• Making SMEs work for Africa
• Constraints and Opportunities facing Green Financing
• How to Catalyse Investment with Blended Financing

This diverse range of topics reflects a holistic approach to sustainable development, recognizing the interconnectedness of various sectors in achieving comprehensive economic transformation.

As Africa stands at a crossroads, this Inaugural Development Finance Summit offers a crucial platform for policymakers, financiers, and development experts to collectively brainstorm, innovate, and forge the financial pathways necessary for a prosperous and resilient future.

Interested participants are encouraged to express their interest and secure their participation by visiting the official registration page at https://ugandadevsummit.com/.