London, 12 September 2025 – Renowned entrepreneur and Conservative peer, Lord Dolar Popat, will address delegates at the UK–Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit 2025 at The Royal Horseguards Hotel & One Whitehall Place, sharing first-hand insights into the expanding UK–Africa commercial partnership and the impact of UK Export Finance (UKEF) on transformative projects across Uganda and the region.
Born in Busolwe, Uganda, and a long-standing advocate for UK–Africa trade, Lord Popat has played a pivotal role in catalysing British investment in East Africa over the past decade. As the former UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Uganda and Rwanda, he was instrumental in facilitating significant UKEF-backed deals and bringing British expertise to high-impact infrastructure and energy initiatives.
“Africa is not the past — it is our future,” Lord Popat will emphasize. “The UK must move beyond rhetoric to real partnership—investing, building, and growing alongside Africa’s business leaders, governments, and entrepreneurs.”
Key UKEF Projects Championed by Lord Popat in East Africa:
- Nexus Green Solar Project (Uganda): In 2023, UKEF provided over £21 million in financing for Nexus Green to deliver Uganda’s largest solar-powered irrigation scheme—boosting agri-productivity and supporting climate-smart farming for smallholder farmers across the country.
- Colas UK (Transport Infrastructure): UKEF-backed Colas’ £45 million contract for upgrading major roads and trade corridors in Uganda, enhancing regional connectivity and reducing transportation costs for local businesses.
- Gridworks (Power & Transmission): Facilitated UK investment into Gridworks’ public-private partnership for grid extension and modernization, improving electricity access and reliability in rural and peri-urban Uganda, with regional spillover benefits for East Africa’s power sector.
- Support for UK SMEs and Suppliers: Lord Popat actively encouraged the involvement of UK-based small and medium-sized companies in water, healthcare, construction, and fintech—expanding supply chains and technology transfer between the UK and East Africa.
Through these UKEF mechanisms and project guarantees, Lord Popat helped unlock over £200 million in British-backed finance for vital sectors such as clean energy, infrastructure, and digital transformation in Uganda and neighboring markets.
Panel Session: UK–Africa Business, Trade & Investment Summit
Lord Popat will share the stage with an exceptional panel of leaders:
- Prof. Luis Franceschi – Assistant Secretary-General, The Commonwealth (Keynote speaker)
- Hon. Matia Kasaija – Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda
- Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa – Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda
- Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga – 1st Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for East African Community, Uganda
Together, they will examine how blended finance, export credit, and strategic policy can fast-track Africa–UK trade, scale infrastructure, and enable sustainable growth across sectors from energy and agribusiness to digital innovation and logistics.
Event Details
- Venue: The Royal Horseguards Hotel & One Whitehall Place, 2 Whitehall Court, London SW1A 2EJ
- Date & Time: Friday, 12 September 2025, from 09:00 BST, with a networking reception to follow
Who Should Attend?
This summit is essential for:
- Investors, private equity and VC firms
- Infrastructure and project finance professionals
- DFIs and export credit agencies
- UK SMEs seeking African market entry
- African diaspora business leaders
- Agri-tech, fintech, and natural resource stakeholders
- Policymakers and government advisers
🎟️ Register now at www.ukafricasummit.uk to connect with the leaders driving Africa–UK business innovation.
