Uganda’s Business Giant, Dr. Sudhir, Among Top Speakers at UK-Africa Summit 2025

By Gad Masereka

When the UK-Africa Business Summit convenes this September in London, it will bring together an influential array of leaders, visionaries, and policy architects from across Africa and the Commonwealth. Set against the historic backdrop of The Royal Horseguards Hotel and One Whitehall Place, the 2025 edition of the summit is shaping up to be one of the most consequential gatherings for trade and investment dialogue between the United Kingdom and the African continent, with a particular spotlight on East and Southern Africa.

Among the keynote participants is Ugandan business magnate Dr. Sudhir Ruparelia, whose name has become synonymous with enterprise growth and investment leadership in Africa. As Chairman of the Ruparelia Group, Dr. Sudhir oversees a diversified portfolio that spans banking, real estate, hospitality, insurance, education, and agriculture — industries that have become vital pillars of Uganda’s economic framework. His participation as a featured speaker marks a recognition not only of his individual success but of Uganda’s broader emergence as an investment gateway in the region.

The summit, which takes place on September 12, is themed “East & South Africa Focused” and aims to deepen economic collaboration by spotlighting regional opportunities, particularly in energy, infrastructure, digital innovation, and policy reforms. It has evolved into a premier platform for matchmaking governments with private sector actors, catalyzing capital flows, and setting a strategic tone for future partnerships.

Anchoring the summit’s intellectual tone will be Prof. Luis Franceschi, Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth, whose keynote address is expected to center on inclusive governance and sustainable economic transformation. Franceschi’s presence reinforces the summit’s alignment with the Commonwealth’s broader mission of shared prosperity and institutional development across member states.

Beyond Dr. Sudhir, Uganda will be strongly represented at the summit by a delegation of high-level government officials. Among them is General David Muhoozi, Uganda’s Minister of State for Internal Affairs, whose career spans decades in military and internal security leadership. Also attending is Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, Deputy Speaker of Parliament, widely regarded as a progressive voice in Uganda’s legislature, especially on youth empowerment and technology-driven reforms.

Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, a key figure in Uganda’s petroleum development strategy, is expected to engage investors on Uganda’s transition into the oil and gas era. Her cabinet colleague, Hon. Evelyn Anite, State Minister for Finance in charge of Investment and Privatization, will likely elaborate on Uganda’s FDI frameworks and the government’s vision for industrial competitiveness. Others on the delegation include Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, known for championing administrative efficiency, and Hon. Francis Mwebesa, the Trade Minister spearheading local content promotion through the Buy Uganda Build Uganda policy. Hon. Musa Ecweru, tasked with transport infrastructure development, will also present Uganda’s vision for rural connectivity and logistics modernization.

The presence of such a comprehensive Ugandan delegation signals the country’s growing diplomatic and economic assertiveness on the international stage. It also reflects a deliberate strategy to court deeper investor interest, particularly in infrastructure, renewable energy, fintech, and agriculture — all sectors where Uganda seeks transformative partnerships.

Sponsored by a host of reputable institutions including the Ruparelia Group, EW Properties, the World Book of Records (London), and the North American Association (UNAA), the summit is backed by organizations that span both hemispheres, reinforcing the event’s credibility and reach. Notably, Uganda’s National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) is among the supporters, an indication of the country’s focus on formalizing identity infrastructure as part of economic development.

Registration for the summit is open via the official portal, www.ukafricasummit.uk, with organizers anticipating a diverse turnout of business leaders, government officials, investors, and members of the diaspora. For many African entrepreneurs and policymakers, the summit represents more than a high-level conference — it is a strategic opportunity to chart a collaborative path forward in a rapidly evolving global economy.

As Dr. Sudhir prepares to take the stage in London, his role embodies more than personal or corporate achievement. It symbolizes a story of African ambition meeting global opportunity — a narrative that continues to reshape how the world sees the continent and how the continent defines its place in the world.