Uganda is set to hold its first National Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Conference and Expo on September 25, as the government seeks to move ESG principles from corporate commitments into measurable action across the economy.
The inaugural conference, organised by the Ministry of Water and Environment in partnership with Envirosure Consulting, will be held at Mestil Hotel in Kampala under the theme “Driving Transformation through ESG: From Commitment to Action.” The ministry has confirmed the event on its official calendar.
The conference will bring together government agencies, private-sector companies, financial institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, academics, scientists and policymakers to examine how environmental, social and governance standards can be integrated into Uganda’s economic and development agenda.
Briefing the media ahead of the event, Minister of Water and Environment Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire said ESG is increasingly influencing how businesses and institutions access capital, manage risk and build long-term credibility.
“ESG principles have become one of the defining pillars of sustainable economic transformation worldwide,” Otafiire said.
He noted that the global investment environment is changing, with financial institutions and investors increasingly looking beyond conventional financial performance when assessing organisations.
“Banks are embedding ESG criteria into lending decisions,” the minister said, adding that insurers are increasingly pricing climate-related risks into underwriting while institutional investors are placing greater emphasis on sustainable investment portfolios.
Otafiire also pointed to the growing role of development partners, saying grants and technical assistance are increasingly linked to ESG compliance, while consumers and markets are placing greater value on responsible business practices.
From commitments to measurable action
The conference comes as Uganda seeks to attract investment while balancing economic growth with environmental protection, social responsibility and stronger institutional governance.
Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) identifies sustainable management of natural resources, climate action and environmental protection as important to productivity, value addition and a resilient development pathway. The plan also highlights opportunities to access innovative climate-finance mechanisms, including carbon markets.
Uganda’s environmental legal framework similarly provides for sustainable use of natural resources, environmental and social impact assessments, green growth and measures to strengthen resilience to climate change.
Against that background, Otafiire said the conference would provide a platform for institutions to move beyond broad ESG pledges and focus on implementation.
“The event will provide an interface between different sector actors and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and information on the Environmental, Social and Governance pillars in general and across various sectors of the economy,” he said.
The conference is expected to focus on increasing ESG awareness within government and the private sector, strengthening institutional capacity for ESG integration and sustainability reporting, and showcasing innovations aimed at climate resilience and sustainable development.
It will also examine ways of expanding climate finance and responsible investment while strengthening collaboration between government, investors and development partners.
Uganda seeks regional ESG platform
The government also wants the conference to help position Uganda as a regional platform for ESG dialogue and sustainable investment.
This ambition comes as Uganda pursues the objectives of NDP IV, Vision 2040 and international sustainable-development commitments. NDP IV’s environmental programme emphasises sustainable management of land, water and natural resources, climate resilience and environmental protection as foundations for long-term economic development.
The conference will therefore bring together actors whose decisions directly affect investment, infrastructure, natural resources, financial services and community development.
Otafiire urged additional partners and sponsors to support the initiative, thanking stakeholders who have already contributed to preparations.
“I call upon other partners and sponsors to come forward and support my Ministry so that we can make this event a very colourful one,” he said.
The September 25 gathering is expected to provide Uganda with a national forum for discussing how ESG can be translated from policy commitments and corporate statements into practical standards, investment decisions and measurable development outcomes.
