By Mulengera Reporters
Ugandan businesses have been urged to urgently adapt to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards or risk being locked out of credit, investment opportunities and major contracts once mandatory sustainability reporting takes effect in the banking sector in 2027.
The warning came during the second annual East Africa ESG Summit convened by Capital One Group (COG), which brought together corporate leaders, regulators and sustainability experts to assess the region’s readiness for a major shift in financial reporting and compliance.
Held under the theme “ESG as the Capital of Sustainability: From Commitment to Delivery,” the virtual summit highlighted how ESG is moving from a voluntary corporate social responsibility concept to a binding requirement shaping access to finance.
Participants noted that the Bank of Uganda is set to introduce mandatory ESG reporting for all financial institutions starting January 2027, a development expected to transform lending decisions across the economy.
Under the new framework, banks will be required to assess environmental risks, social impact and governance structures before extending credit. This means businesses without reliable sustainability data could face higher borrowing costs, stricter conditions, or outright exclusion from financing.
The changes are expected to ripple across all sectors, affecting large exporters, manufacturers, and small and medium enterprises that rely heavily on bank credit for survival and expansion.
Managing Director and Head of Strategy at COG EA Ltd, Paul Mwirigi Muriungi, said ESG has now become a core business requirement rather than a reputational or philanthropic consideration.
He said companies that continue treating sustainability as a public relations issue risk falling behind, as ESG performance increasingly determines access to capital, investor confidence and market competitiveness.
According to Muriungi, many businesses still misunderstand ESG despite its growing importance in financial decision-making.
The summit also noted that Uganda’s reforms are part of a wider continental trend toward mandatory sustainability reporting.
Across Africa, countries such as South Africa, Egypt, Zimbabwe and Tunisia already require sustainability disclosures, while Ghana and Nigeria have adopted International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) frameworks. In East Africa, Tanzania introduced mandatory climate disclosures in 2025, while Kenya began its first ESG reporting cycle for Public Interest Entities in 2026.
Manager for Standards and Technical Services at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), Elvis Moenga, said firms must begin readiness assessments immediately to avoid compliance shocks.
He advised companies to map data systems, governance structures, risk management processes and sustainability metrics in line with emerging requirements.
Experts at the summit emphasized that the banking sector will play a decisive role in enforcing ESG compliance, given its position as the primary gatekeeper of corporate finance.
They warned that companies failing to demonstrate sustainability performance could find themselves shut out of credit markets.
The summit also raised concerns about “greenwashing,” where businesses exaggerate environmental or social performance without implementing real change.
Participants stressed the need for credible, data-driven reporting to build trust with investors, regulators and consumers.
Managing Director of Kasi Insight, Ernest Ssekisonge, cautioned against copying Western ESG models without adapting them to Uganda’s local context.
He said effective frameworks must reflect local economic realities, arguing that imported systems may not fully address the country’s development needs.
The event brought together board members, chief financial officers, operations directors and communications professionals from across East Africa to discuss practical steps for ESG integration.
Organizers said the summit aimed to move ESG from theory to implementation by equipping businesses with tools to track data, strengthen governance and prepare for regulatory compliance.
Originally planned as a physical meeting, the event was held virtually due to Ebola-related travel restrictions affecting speakers in Uganda and Kenya.
Despite this, organizers reported strong participation, with more than 70 professionals attending online.
The summit was supported by Radio One FM 90, Kasi Insight and ICPAK.
Organizers also announced plans for an ongoing ESG Club to sustain dialogue beyond the annual summit, alongside the upcoming ESG Awards scheduled for July 16 during a private stakeholder engagement.
As Uganda moves closer to mandatory ESG reporting, the message from Capital One Group was clear: businesses that fail to adapt risk being cut off from the financial system that powers their growth.
