East Africa’s fast-growing fintech sector took center stage Tuesday as the 2nd Peer-to-Peer Learning Conference on Financial Services—Banking and Insurance opened in Kampala, drawing financial regulators, investors, fintech innovators, and policymakers from across the region.
Held under the theme “Digital Innovation in Financial Services to Boost Cross-Border Trade and Productivity: Empowering East Africa's FinTech Ecosystem,” the conference seeks to galvanize public-private collaboration and showcase regional success stories in digital finance.
Delivering the keynote address, Uganda’s State Minister for Finance Henry Musasizi described the conference as “timely,” citing the region’s accelerating digital transformation.
“In 2023 alone, East Africans conducted more than 36 billion mobile money transactions, valued at USD 200 billion,” Musasizi said.
“These changes present unprecedented opportunities for deeper integration, greater financial inclusion, and more sustainable development.”
Musasizi pointed to Uganda’s own progress, with financial inclusion growing from just 28% in 2009 to more than 66% today.
The country now has over 25 million registered mobile money accounts.
Participants at the conference are expected to discuss how to build on this momentum to improve cross-border digital payments, harmonize regulatory frameworks, and support fintech startups with scalable innovations.
Organizers say the goal is to nurture a more integrated fintech ecosystem that can address regional trade bottlenecks, promote financial resilience, and unlock new markets for both small enterprises and financial service providers.
The event, which continues through the week, provides a rare opportunity for stakeholders to share best practices and forge partnerships aimed at driving East Africa’s digital financial future.