London – Uganda’s top business mogul Sudhir Ruparelia and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa will join other high-level dignitaries as keynote speakers at the 15th Annual UK-Africa Investment Summit, scheduled to take place on September 12, 2025, at The Royal Horseguards Hotel & One Whitehall Place, London.

The UK–Africa Business Summit, regarded as the UK’s leading platform for investment and trade engagement with Africa, will bring together over 500 influential figures from government, business, finance and development. It aims to foster robust partnerships that drive sustainable growth, regional integration, and export expansion across key sectors.

Joining the summit are notable speakers including Prof. Luis Franceschi, the Assistant Secretary General of The Commonwealth, who will headline the event. Sudhir Ruparelia, Chairman of the Ruparelia Group of Companies, is expected to share insights on private sector investment in East Africa. Thomas Tayebwa, Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament will articulate the country’s legislative and institutional frameworks for attracting foreign direct investment.

Also attending is General David Muhoozi, Uganda’s Minister of State for Internal Affairs, who will speak on regional security and its role in investment protection. Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, will present Uganda’s energy roadmap. Evelyn Anite, the State Minister for Finance in charge of Investment and Privatization, will discuss opportunities in Uganda’s privatization agenda. Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Francis Mwebesa, Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and Musa Ecweru, Minister of Works and Transport, are all scheduled to speak on trade facilitation, industrialization, infrastructure development and public-private partnerships.

The summit is structured to address pressing issues such as climate change, youth unemployment, and technological advancement by providing a space for practical dialogue between investors, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. It will highlight sectors like ICT, finance, real estate, agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, and health, with a strategic focus on unlocking trade and investment flows between the UK and East Africa.

Participants will include high-profile investors, venture capitalists, private equity firms, infrastructure developers, government officials, African diaspora business leaders, financial institutions, market analysts, and media strategists. The summit promises to deliver not only networking opportunities but also policy insights and investment leads aimed at boosting East African exports and increasing the continent’s visibility in international markets.

Backed by key partners such as the Ruparelia Group, the World Book of Records, and NIRA, the event is expected to solidify Uganda’s growing reputation as a competitive investment hub. It will also amplify the impact of ongoing initiatives like the Uganda–UK Trade Summit and SHIPU, which continue to promote investor confidence in the country’s economy.

In a significant service-oriented move, Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) will offer ID registration and renewal services at the summit. This will make it easier for UK-based Ugandans to update their national documents critical for civic access, property rights, and cross-border travel.

This year’s summit is not just another diplomatic event, it is a bold invitation for Uganda’s diaspora to step into a co-architect role in national development. Whether through entrepreneurship, advocacy, or public service, diaspora Ugandans will have an unprecedented chance to shape the country’s future.

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Equity Group Holdings Plc has received shareholder approval to establish a Representative Office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking its first physical footprint outside the African continent and showcasing a new chapter in the bank’s international expansion.

The approval granted during Equity Group’s 21st Annual General Meeting held on June 25, 2025, signals the bank’s ambition to link East and Central Africa with key global economic hubs. The new office, expected to open in early 2026, will be based in Dubai, pending regulatory clearance from the Central Bank of Kenya and relevant UAE authorities.

The UAE office is set to become a critical financial bridge between Africa and regions including the Middle East, India, Central Asia, and South Asia. Equity says it will offer diaspora banking, trade facilitation, customer relationship services, investment advisory, and capital-raising opportunities.

“This is more than a footprint in the UAE,” said Dr. James Mwangi, Group Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group Holdings.

He added, “It is a gateway to integrating East Africa’s economies with global financial markets and supply chains.”

The move is particularly significant for the thousands of Equity Bank Uganda customers living and working in the Gulf including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Saudi Arabia who have long yearned for direct banking access. Many in the diaspora, including professionals, laborers, and entrepreneurs, currently face delays and high costs due to limited formal financial infrastructure and reliance on informal remittance systems.

Equity Bank Uganda has actively engaged this community in recent years. Its service teams have visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia to offer tailored services, including remittances, diaspora savings products, and investment options. These visits revealed a strong demand for deeper financial integration—demand the new Dubai office now seeks to fulfill.

Once operational, the office will provide on-site support for letters of credit, supply-chain financing, and enhanced remittance platforms, greatly improving turnaround times for cross-border transactions and boosting economic activity.

This expansion comes as Equity continues to solidify its position as a leading pan-African banking group, with existing operations in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and a commercial office in Ethiopia.

The Dubai office is also expected to attract Gulf investors interested in East Africa’s fast-growing sectors, including agribusiness, infrastructure, manufacturing, and renewable energy.

With its enhanced service capabilities, Equity is positioning itself as Africa’s “one-stop financial services platform”, aiming to power economic transformation not just across the continent, but across continents.

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Equity Group Holdings Plc has declared a record dividend payout of Kshs.16 billion (approximately Uganda Shs444.9 billion), at an enhanced rate of Kshs4.25 (approx. Uganda Shs118) per share. The dividend, approved during the Group’s 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually, will be payable on or about June 30, 2025 to shareholders on the register as of close of business on May 23, 2025.

The payout, representing a 34% dividend ratio, reflects Equity Group’s continued commitment to its policy of distributing 30% to 50% of its profits as dividends.

The AGM, attended virtually by shareholders from across the globe, saw unanimous support for all proposed resolutions signaling strong confidence in the Group’s strategic direction and governance.

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen governance structures and align with the best global practices and regulatory requirements, the Group introduced and secured shareholder approval for several key governance policies. These include policies on directors’ remuneration, stakeholder engagement, transparency and disclosure, dispute resolution, and board appointment procedures. These frameworks are designed to enhance accountability, promote ethical leadership, and ensure the Group continues to uphold the highest standards of corporate governance.

Building on this governance momentum, the AGM also saw the successful election of several new Directors. Mrs. Farida Khambata, a global expert in emerging markets finance with over 30 years of experience in investment and risk management, was elected. Newly elected to the Board, subject to regulatory approvals were Mr. Nick O’Donohoe, a seasoned development finance leader with an over 30-year track record in financial services and impact investing; Dr. Aloysius Uche Ordu, an international development strategist with over three decades of experience in policy and financial innovation; Mr. Obadiah Barara, a veteran public financial management professional with 37 years of experience in public audit and governance across East Africa; Dr. Lakshmi Shyam-Sunder, a renowned financial risk expert with 30 years' experience in multilateral institutions including the World Bank Group; and lastly

Eng. David Mutombo, a global infrastructure and utility executive with over 20 years of experience in sustainable energy and water management. In addition, shareholders approved the appointment of Mr. Obadiah Biraro, Dr. Aloysius Uche Ordu, Dr. Lakshmi Shyam-Sunder, and Dr. Evanson Baiya to serve as members of the Board Audit Committee.

Furthering its strategic expansion, Equity Group received approval to establish a Representative Office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), subject to regulatory approvals. This move aims to facilitate business, trade and investment opportunities between East and Central Africa, the UAE, and the wider Middle East, India, Central and South Asia regions.

Prof. Isaac Macharia, Chairman of Equity Group Holdings Plc, emphasized the Group’s resilience and strategic focus amidst a challenging global environment, “Despite a complex and evolving macroeconomic landscape in 2024, Equity Group remained resilient, agile, and purpose driven. We strengthened our governance structures across our six markets, aligned with emerging regulatory frameworks, and advanced key strategic initiatives including the successful integration of Cogebanque into Equity Bank Rwanda. Our commitment to the Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan is unwavering, and with the launch of our health insurance subsidiary and plans for a banking holding company underway, we are building a foundation for sustainable, specialized growth.”

“Through strong risk oversight, enhanced board capacity, and deep community impact, ranging from MSME financing and education support to healthcare and clean energy access, we continue to deliver on our promise of inclusive prosperity. The establishment of a Representative Office in the UAE marks a strategic step in deepening regional and global connectivity. With our shareholders’ continued trust, we are confident in our ability to drive meaningful transformation, sustainable development, and long-term value creation across the continent,” he added.

Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO, highlighted the Group’s positive outlook and strategic vision. “Equity Group continues on a strong growth trajectory, driven by our commitment to innovation, regional expansion, and sustainable practices. The establishment of a Representative Office in the UAE marks an exciting step in our journey to connect Africa with global markets, creating new opportunities for trade and investment. Furthermore, we recognize that sustainability is not just a corporate responsibility but a fundamental driver of long-term success. We are committed to integrating sustainable practices into every aspect of our business, ensuring that we create value for all our stakeholders while protecting our planet for future generations”

Looking ahead, Equity Group remains steadfast in its commitment to driving wealth creation, fostering sustainable development, and delivering exceptional value to its customers and shareholders. With a clear strategic vision, a strong leadership team, and a proven track record of innovation, the Group is well-positioned to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead and continue its journey of growth and impact across Africa in 2025 and beyond.

Shareholders approved a record Kshs.16 billion dividend payout at Kshs.4.25 per share, reaffirming the Group’s commitment to shareholder returns. They also endorsed key governance policies, approved new board appointments, acknowledged the retirement of four longtime directors, and authorized the opening of a Representative Office in the UAE.

Equity Group Holdings Plc. is a Pan-African financial services holding company listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Uganda Securities Exchange, and Rwanda Stock Exchange. The Group has banking subsidiaries in Kenya, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and a Commercial Representative Office in Ethiopia. It has other subsidiaries in investment banking, insurance, telecom, fintech and social impact investments. Equity Group is the largest integrated financial services firm in the region with a market capitalization of $1.37 billion.

The Group has an asset base of USD 13.5 Billion, a customer base of 22.4 million supported by a footprint of 402 branches, 85,827 Agents, over 1.1 million Pay with Equity (PWE) merchants, 37,825 Point-of-Sale (POS) Merchants, 896 ATMs and an extensive adoption of digital banking channel. The Bank’s strong brand recognition, solid liquidity buffers and resilient funding profile, established domestic franchise and extensive adoption of digital and alternative distribution channels have seen the Bank retain title as Kenya’s most valuable brand in 2025, for second year running, and earned it the honour of being the Second Strongest Financial Brand on Earth in 2024 by Brand Finance. It was also ranked the strongest bank in Africa and 10th most valuable banking brand in Africa, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) of 92.5 out of 100 and a brand ranking score of AAA+, the highest rating that a brand can attain.

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Uganda has unveiled stringent new quality control measures for all grain exports in a decisive bid to restore its credibility in regional markets and curb mounting trade losses caused by substandard produce.

Starting in the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, every consignment especially maize must be certified with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Quality Mark (Q-Mark) and a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) permit, or risk being blocked at the border.

The policy, developed by the Crop Inspection Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, follows a decade of damaging rejections of Ugandan maize and other grains by regional markets, most notably Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan, over safety issues such as aflatoxin contamination.

“There will be no grain allowed out of Uganda without the Q-Mark and SPS permit,” said Ms Patricia Bageine Ejalu, UNBS Deputy Executive Director. “Buyers will now be required to source only from certified premises.”

Speaking during a nationwide training for farmers and grain processors at UNBS headquarters in Bweyogerere, Ms Ejalu said the move is intended to permanently close the quality gap that has plagued Uganda’s grain sector and eroded regional trust.

In 2021, Kenya imposed a ban on Ugandan maize due to excessive aflatoxin levels—triggering a wave of concern about Uganda’s post-harvest handling systems, storage, and processing standards.

Ms Ejalu criticised the continued export of unprocessed or poorly handled grain, warning that Uganda is effectively “donating raw materials to neighbours who process and sell back at higher prices.”

“We must take control of our grain value chain. Everyone—from farmers to millers—must participate responsibly in meeting the required quality,” she said.

She added that many milling facilities in the country fail even the most basic hygiene standards.

“We’ve seen maize being processed in facilities not cleaned for years—dust from roofs, dirt on floors, and pests in storage. It’s not always defiance. Often, people don’t know what standards exist,” she noted.

Uganda loses up to 40% of its grain harvest annually due to poor post-harvest handling, according to Mr Paul Ochuna, Country Program Manager at the Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC).

“Drying, sorting, and storage practices are often substandard. That’s why we’re working with farmer cooperatives to build capacity, introduce quality seeds, and offer post-harvest technologies,” he said.

He noted that many handlers lack skills in inventory management, procurement, and quality assurance, adding that EAGC is closing that gap through targeted training.

UNBS, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, has already begun training and deploying inspectors across key grain-producing regions in preparation for the regulation’s rollout.

Ms Ejalu said the national certification strategy is part of a broader effort to boost Uganda’s agricultural competitiveness, secure market access, and protect farmers from future trade shocks.

“We’ve consulted widely and will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation. The days of exporting substandard grain are coming to an end,” she said.

Uganda’s grain sector holds massive potential to serve regional markets, especially amid ongoing food insecurity across East Africa. But experts warn that unless quality control is enforced at every stage—from farm to border—the country risks continued reputational damage and wasted investment.

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