Kampala will host the first-ever All Africa Pensions Summit (AAPS) from November 5–7, 2025, bringing together key players in Africa’s pension and investment sectors to explore how the continent’s growing pension funds can drive development.
The event, organized by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Uganda in partnership with the Africa Social Security Association (ASSA), will take place at Speke Resort Convention Centre in Munyonyo.
The summit aims to spark new thinking on how Africa can use its own pension savings, estimated at around $700 billion to fund vital sectors like infrastructure, healthcare, education, and affordable housing.
Speaking at the official launch in Kampala on October 7, 2025, NSSF Managing Director Patrick Ayota said the summit is happening at the right time.
“There’s a need for African pension funds to realign and become a force that powers Africa’s future,” he said.
Ayota explained that although African pension funds have built up large savings, much of that money is still invested in low-impact assets like stocks and bonds. He stressed that with changes in global politics and funding trends, Africa can no longer rely mainly on foreign aid or investment.
“For years, our infrastructure has been funded from the West, but the global situation is changing. Now, we must look inward and start using our own resources. Pension funds can fill that gap,” he added.
The summit will bring together leaders of pension funds, policymakers, international investors, and development banks from across Africa. They will discuss practical ways to put pension savings to work for the benefit of African citizens, both retirees and the wider population.
Amanda Kabagambe, Chairperson of the East Africa Venture Capital Association (EAVCA), one of the summit’s partners, called it “a platform for action.”
“Africa has large pools of money in pension funds, but most of it is sitting idle. It’s time we use that capital to build our own future,” she said.
The summit will focus on four major themes:
- Expanding pension coverage across the continent
- Strengthening collaboration between pension funds and governments
- Financing key infrastructure projects
- Ensuring social impact and improved livelihoods
Success stories from countries like Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Morocco will be shared as examples of what is possible when pension funds are actively involved in national development.
With participation expected from over 22 African countries, the Kampala summit marks an important step in using African savings to build African solutions, making pension funds not just a safety net for retirees, but a driving force for the continent’s growth.
