The Climate Finance and Sustainability Centre at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) in conjunction with the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services (UIBFS) is co-hosting the 2nd Annual Climate Finance Conference today at Mestil Hotel, Kampala.
This year’s conference, themed “Closing the Climate Financing Gap in Africa,” convenes key stakeholders in finance, policymaking, and sustainability to explore actionable solutions for mobilizing and utilizing climate finance effectively.
The Chief Guest, Hon. Songa Lawrence Biyika, MP for Ora County and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Climate Change, officially opened the conference on behalf of Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
In his remarks, he emphasized the significance of climate finance at both the national and global levels. He highlighted that before Africa can address the broader global climate finance gap, it must first tackle the microclimate finance gap at home. He underscored the role of green, smart solutions in households, stressing that small-scale sustainable practices can collectively contribute to national and continental climate finance efforts.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Maria Nantongo, Director of the Climate Finance and Sustainability Centre at MUBS, underscored the urgent need for climate finance mobilization in Africa.
“Africa as a continent can only finance 10% of the resources required to combat climate change, yet this is a pressing and urgent issue affecting everyone. Academic institutions have a critical role in shaping climate finance policies and training the next generation of financial leaders.” she shared.
She also expressed appreciation to the sponsors and partners whose support made this conference possible.
Over the next two days, the conference will feature insightful panel discussions and expert presentations, including Mrs. Mona Mugume Ssebuliba, CEO of aBi Finance, speaking on ESG, Greening, and Sustainability, and Dr. Denis Mugagga, from the Climate Finance Unit of the Ministry of Finance, discussing Uganda’s national frameworks for climate finance mobilization.
Several expert panel discussions will also be held on topics such as:
⦁ National Development Aspirations and Climate Change Action – Aligning national frameworks with climate finance mobilization and utilization.
⦁ Private Sector Climate Finance – Enhancing the role of private sector investments in climate resilience, including the financial services industry.
⦁ Nationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund – Uganda’s approach to mitigating climate-related economic impacts.
⦁ Carbon Markets Participation – Strategies for increasing Africa’s share in the Global Carbon Credit Market
⦁ Climate Finance Progress Review – A stocktake on national efforts in mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation in line with the Paris Agreement.
⦁ Capacity Building for Climate Finance – Developing human capital to effectively mobilize and deploy climate finance.
⦁ Public Awareness on Green Finance – Increasing consumer knowledge of green financial products and sustainable investment opportunities.
⦁ Financing Locally Led Adaptation – Empowering communities through localized, sustainable financial solutions.
Mrs. Goretti Masadde, CEO of UIBFS, emphasized the critical role of the financial sector in addressing climate change.
“At the Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services, we recognize that the financial sector has a crucial role to play in addressing climate change. Under our Green Finance initiatives, we have developed a Green Finance curriculum, championed ESG training, and proudly launched the Green Finance Awards—a first of its kind, recognizing institutions embedding sustainability into their operations. Our commitment to sustainable finance goes beyond policy discussions; it is about implementing practical, actionable solutions that create long-term impact.”
She also highlighted the power of partnerships in accelerating climate finance solutions.
“This year, we are excited to co-host this conference with the Climate Finance and Sustainability Centre at Makerere University Business School (MUBS). This collaboration bridges the gap between research, financial innovation, and real-world implementation, ensuring that sustainability is not just an agenda, but a movement backed by data, knowledge, and expertise.”
This conference is made possible through the generous support of UNCDF, IFAD, MOFPED, aBi, GIZ, BOU, ARCAFIM, DTB, the Danish Embassy, NMG, CSBAG, NREP, GRO Foundation, Ebee Bikes, aRIN, and Frankfurt Business School. Their commitment underscores the growing collaboration in advancing sustainable financial solutions for climate resilience.
The 2nd Annual Climate Finance Conference serves as a critical platform for driving meaningful action toward climate finance mobilization, fostering cross-sector collaborations, and ensuring Uganda and the broader African continent play an active role in the global climate finance agenda.
