Date set for 2024 edition of Annual Banker’s Conference

The Uganda Bankers Conference (UBA) has launched this year’s edition of the Annual Banker’s Conference.

The conference will be held on Wednesday 19th June 2024 at the Kampala Serena Conference Centre, under the theme: Navigating the Future of Banking: ESG, Sustainability and Digital Transformation.

Mr Julius Kakeeto, the UBA chairman, said through this theme, UBA aims to shine a light on sustainability through climate and environmental advocacy initiatives, encouraging the sector to be warier of its impact on the planet, sustainable practices along with the digital transformation of the industry at large.

“We have chosen ESG for a number of reasons, one being the interconnectedness between financial performance and ESG practices. The framework launched this morning will guide the banking industry on how to integrate its principles across their operations, from governance to products, policies, and processes,” he said at the launch in Kampala on Tuesday.

He added that integrating technology and digital transformation into bank operations can help effectively manage ESG data, enhance reporting accuracy, and drive sustainable investment. It can also enhance the operational efficiency of financial institutions, enabling them to serve their clients effectively.

Furthermore, the conference will facilitate focused discussions on the opportunities in supporting investments in ESG and highlight the challenges related to ESG while providing recommendations on how the ESG principles can be integrated into financial strategies.

Notably, financial institutions occupy a pivotal position in addressing ESG risks because they can direct capital towards transformative investments and projects that are sustainable.

“Sustainability is swiftly becoming a crucial global concern, heightening awareness of issues like climate change, social inequality, and corporate misconduct, which are significantly altering the market landscape. The reputation and business success of financial institutions are now influenced by their sustainability practices and corporate behavior.

Consequently, the shift toward sustainability holds the potential to profoundly reshape the global financial sector, and therefore, we’d like as an industry to increase investments in sustainable and green initiatives through understanding what ESG is, developing products addressing the risks, and contributing positively towards the environment and the society that we serve,” he emphasized.

Wilbrod Owor, the ED UBA, speaking at the press conference, said: “For this year’s Annual Bankers Conference, we’ve organized a comprehensive session around ESG, sustainability, and digital transformation. We have partnered with sponsors and on boarded panelists who are extremely rich in knowledge and expertise, fully aligned with and well-versed in this theme. Diverse topics will be discussed, including energy, sustainability, finance, digital evolution, and how things are changing with AI, along with an extensive Q&A session.

The threats around us are very real and ultimately impact all of us collectively, whether social or environmental. That’s why climate change is a vital topic. It ought to be; because, as the finance and banking sector, we are affected directly or indirectly, disrupting sustainability in various areas through displacement, overturning, and halting our activities as banks.”

Rachael Kadama, the Manager, Markets Humanitarian and Development, at Mastercard, said “At Mastercard, we are delighted to announce our continued support for UBA by sponsoring the 7th Annual Banker’s Conference. This event is crucial for fostering the growth of banking and finance in Uganda. Year after year, this conference has served as a hub for innovation and collaboration, bringing together industry leaders to share knowledge, insights, and transformative practices.

We are committed to developing secure digital payment systems that enhance access to digital services for all. Our efforts aim to empower individuals and businesses by providing them with the tools they need to participate in the digital economy effectively and securely.”