The 54th meeting of the East African Securities Regulatory Authorities (EASRA) concluded in Kampala with renewed commitments by regional regulators to build robust, inclusive, and future-ready capital markets across East Africa.
The high-level gathering, held at Protea Hotel from June 2 to 6 and hosted by Uganda’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA), the high-level gathering brought together top officials from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi to align on strategic priorities.
Driving Green and Sustainable Finance
One of the key outcomes of the meeting was an agreement to advance a unified regional approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.
The regulators committed to enhancing transparency in sustainability disclosures and took steps toward developing a framework for a regional carbon credit market. This is expected to facilitate climate finance and attract responsible investment to the region.
Unlocking Private Capital for SMEs
The meeting also prioritized solutions to a long-standing challenge across East Africa: limited access to long-term financing for small and growing businesses.
EASRA members agreed to jointly assess barriers facing private equity, venture capital, and angel investments in the SME space.
The goal is to identify policy reforms that unlock more private capital for local entrepreneurs.
Regulating Innovation and Virtual Assets
As digital finance continues to reshape capital markets, regulators acknowledged the need for clear and risk-sensitive frameworks governing virtual assets.
Kenya and Rwanda are already leading in this space, having drafted regulatory frameworks, while other member countries were urged to follow suit.
The use of regulatory sandboxes was encouraged as a tool for safely piloting financial innovations.
2025–2030 Strategic Vision
The regional body also advanced the development of its Strategic Plan for 2025–2030. Anchored in improving investor confidence, expanding access to capital markets, and embracing innovation, the plan reflects broad stakeholder feedback and aligns with the East African Community Vision 2050 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Boosting Cross-Border Securities Trading
A significant highlight of the meeting was the shared commitment to promoting the cross-border trading of securities.
Regulators pledged to work with key partners to enhance systems for trading, clearing, and settling securities across the region. This development is essential to achieving the EAC Common Market goal of enabling the free movement of capital.
Expanding the EASRA Membership
EASRA welcomed Burundi’s continued progress toward establishing a securities exchange and committed to supporting its integration into the regional market.
Members also discussed the inclusion of new EAC entrants, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia emphasizing the importance of peer learning and technical assistance in ensuring smooth adoption of regional standards.
A Shared Commitment to a Stronger Future
Reflecting on the outcomes, Ms. Josephine Okui Ossiya, Chairperson of EASRA and CEO of Uganda’s Capital Markets Authority, remarked, “We’ve had honest conversations and made practical decisions.”
“This meeting showed how much we can achieve when we work together, especially in areas like green finance, fintech, and private capital. The future of our region’s capital markets looks promising,” she added.
The 54th EASRA meeting reaffirmed the power of regional collaboration in accelerating capital market development, ensuring regulatory harmonization, and positioning East Africa as a competitive and attractive investment destination.
