Stanbic Economic Forum Returns to Focus on Uganda’s Competitiveness Amid Global Shifts

The 2026 Stanbic Economic Forum is set to return under the theme, “Uganda’s Inflection Point: Competing in a Rewired Global Economy”, with a live stream on Stanbic Bank Uganda’s YouTube channel on February 12, starting at 8:30 a.m.

The Forum comes at a pivotal moment for Uganda’s economy, as the country prepares to commence commercial sales of its crude oil reserves in western Uganda later this year.

Analysts view this development as an economic inflection point, expected to accelerate the country’s GDP growth trajectory.

However, Uganda’s growth prospects are also shaped by geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainties affecting trade and investment.

Jibran Qureishi, Standard Bank Group’s Head of Africa Regions Economic Research, will provide insights on regional and global economic trends influencing Africa’s development.

Bethuel Karanja, Head of Global Markets at Stanbic Bank Uganda, emphasized the importance of aligning policy, private capital, and global opportunities.

“At Stanbic Bank, we say Uganda is our home, and we take seriously our responsibility to drive her growth. As the country approaches this inflection point, platforms like the Stanbic Economic Forum are essential in fostering dialogue that supports informed decision-making, long-term investment, and economic transformation,” Karanja said.

The forum will convene policymakers, business leaders, and economic experts to discuss national planning priorities, emerging investment opportunities, and the role of capital in enhancing business competitiveness.

Over the past five years, the event has served as a platform for thought leadership, private-public dialogue, and strategic economic insights to support Uganda’s growth ambitions.