Kampala, Uganda – The East Africa Capital Markets Conference 2025 was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala from October 16 to 17. Hosted by the Uganda Securities Exchange and the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the event brought together key players from capital market exchanges across the region.

The high-end conference was organized by ETROCA Uganda, a renowned company that specializes in events management, commercial photography, film, and design. Possessing the necessary resources and expertise, ETROCA is adept at catering to the specific requirements of organizations with a global footprint engaged in Uganda. The event gathered participants from the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, and markets in Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

Under the theme “Shaping East Africa’s Capital Market,” the conference focused on driving growth by effectively integrating digital tools into the region’s capital markets and discussing how to further this agenda.

Distinguished keynote speakers included Paul Bwiso, Chairman of the East African Securities Exchanges Association (EASEA); Samuel Mwogeza, Board Director; Josephine Okui Ossiya, Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Markets Authority; and Patrick Ayota, Managing Director of NSSF Uganda, among others.

In his opening address, Paul Bwiso emphasized the importance of incorporating and embracing technology.

“Currently, the number of investors on our exchange is over 269,000, and we have seen that the active investors are about 50,000, who participate in the market on an annual basis in terms of trading,” Bwiso stated. “The number has rebounded from the time of COVID, where we had all-time lows of about 33 billion shillings traded, to last year, where we saw trading turnover stand at about 297 billion shillings.”

“The exchange has invested heavily in digital systems, and so, where we stand today, it is quite easy to open an investment account using various channels, whether you use easy portal applications, the Airtel & MTN MoMo apps, or USSD menus. This convenience allows an investor to access the market easily.”

Mrs. Josephine Okui Ossiya, Chief Executive Officer of the Capital Markets Authority, emphasized her organization’s core mandate to protect investors and ensure honesty and transparency in capital market transactions. She also highlighted the role of investor education in informing the public about market opportunities, promoting confidence among participants, and managing risks within the sector.

“Capital Markets are very important for the growth and development of Uganda’s economy because they provide capital to improve production, grow businesses, create job opportunities, and generate taxes, which ultimately develops our country,” said Josephine Okui Ossiya.

She also stressed that technology must be a central driver of market growth.

“Investing should be as simple as sending a mobile money text. To attract issuers and investors, we must make our markets faster, simpler, and friendlier,” she remarked.

Speaking at the conference, Patrick Ayota drew a comparison between the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange, noting how they grew from humble beginnings to become the heart of the global capital market, achieving the highest level of market quality.

LAUNCH OF THE EAE 20 SHARE INDEX

A key highlight of the event was the launch of the EAE 20 Share Index. This newly introduced regional index is designed to track the performance of the top 20 listed companies across East Africa’s major stock exchanges, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. It provides investors with a unified benchmark to assess market performance and is expected to boost regional investment flows.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija, the Ministry’s Commissioner, Moses Ogwapus, emphasized the significance of the index.

He stated, “The launch of the EAE 20 Share Index is a clear step forward in enhancing market visibility, investor confidence, and regional integration.”

The index is expected to promote cross-listings and attract both local and international investors by offering a transparent and comparable measure of performance across borders.