Stanbic Bank’s Mumba Kalifungwa, Patrick Mweheire, Damoni Kitabire and the State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Hillary Okello Oryem during the regional summit
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Over 400 investors from allover the region convered for the 2-day Stanbic East Africa Business Summit, to discuss cross cutting issues related to trade.
The summit, which opened in Kampala on October 8th 2025, looked at how cross-border collaboration can accelerate sustainable growth across one of Africa’s most dynamic regions.
Held under the theme “Connected & Resilient: Scaling East Africa’s Regional Advantage,” the two-day summit was hosted by Stanbic Bank Uganda and the Standard Bank Group.
It generally explored how deeper regional integration, infrastructure development, financial innovation can impact on regional trade and interlink the economies of the member countries.
This year’s event, which is the 3rd version of the summit, marks the first hosted in Uganda, and coincided with the transition of regional leadership as Dr. Joshua Oigara assumes the role of Regional Chief Executive for East Africa, replacing Patrick Mweheire.
“This premier platform focused on unlocking East Africa’s full economic potential through trade, investment, and collaboration,” said the organisers.
“Delegates exchanged ideas, forged partnerships, and shaped a shared vision for an integrated, resilient, and prosperous East Africa.”
Speaking at the opening of the summit on Tuesday, Oryem Okello, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs), urged the participants to engage in strategic conversations that will lead to the total removal of tariff and non tariff barriers in the East African region.
Mumba Kalifungwa, Stanbic Bank Uganda’s Chief Executive said that Uganda, once considered landlocked, is fast transforming into a land-linked economy — investing in infrastructure, trade facilitation, and connectivity that allow goods, services, and opportunities to move seamlessly across borders.
“As the region integrates, Stanbic’s role is to ensure that when businesses bank with us in Uganda, they are banking across East Africa — with the support and reach to grow into new markets.”
Patrick Mweheire, the outgoing Regional Chief Executive for East Africa, Standard Bank Group, said that the summit comes at a defining moment for the region.
“East Africa is on the cusp of extraordinary growth. With a young population, vast natural resources, fertile soils, and deepening integration, this region has all the ingredients to become a global growth engine,” he said.
He however added that growth will not happen by accident. “It will require collaborative leadership, deliberate investment, and bold action to navigate challenges like youth unemployment, access to affordable credit, and climate change.”
Launched in 2023, the Stanbic East Africa Business Summit has grown threefold in scale and influence, with previous editions held in Kenya and Tanzania.
About Stanbic Bank Uganda
Stanbic Bank Uganda is a member of Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest financial services organization, with a presence in 20 African countries and a 160-year history on the continent.
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