Speke Resort Munyonyo Hosts Africa’s Top Financial Intelligence Officials for Continental Summit

Speke Resort and Convention Centre in Munyonyo has taken centre stage as a continental hub for financial intelligence, hosting the 2nd Africa Financial Intelligence Summit (AFIS).

The prestigious venue has brought together heads of financial intelligence units, forensic investigators, regulators, development partners and academics from across Africa.

The summit, which opened on Monday, 9 November 2026, is organised by Uganda’s Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA) and the International Institute of Certified Forensic Investigations Professionals (IICFIP).

It is running under the theme, “Securing Africa’s Financial Future: Targeting Innovation and Integrated Enforcement in an Era of Borderless Financial Crime.”

Munyonyo Hosts Continental Financial Crime Experts

The gathering places Speke Resort Munyonyo at the centre of discussions on Africa’s evolving financial security landscape.

Delegates are examining emerging threats associated with digital finance, cryptocurrency, cybercrime and increasingly sophisticated cross-border financial transactions.

Opening the summit, Finance Minister Henry Musasizi welcomed participants to Uganda.

He described Kampala as “the heart of Africa’s financial intelligence transformation” and highlighted the importance of the gathering.

Musasizi said Africa’s rapid adoption of digital financial services has created opportunities for economic growth. However, it has also exposed financial systems to money laundering, terrorism financing, fraud and illicit financial flows.

“The question before us is not whether to innovate, but how to secure innovation,” he said.

Musasizi Calls for Stronger African Cooperation

Musasizi identified collaboration, technological advancement and asset recovery as three priorities for strengthening Africa’s financial intelligence systems.

He urged financial intelligence units to improve information-sharing through regional and international networks, including ESAAMLG and the Egmont Group.

He also challenged the FIA and IICFIP to invest in training young professionals in artificial intelligence, blockchain analytics and cyber forensics.

“Let us train our young people to be hunters, not just watchers,” he said.

On asset recovery, Musasizi argued that convictions alone cannot adequately address financial crime.

He called for stronger legal frameworks to trace, freeze, seize and return stolen assets to support public infrastructure and essential services.

Uganda Showcases Financial Intelligence Progress

The minister also highlighted Uganda’s progress in strengthening its anti-money laundering framework.

He recalled the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in February 2024 following significant institutional and legal reforms.

He further announced that the FIA became Africa’s first financial intelligence unit to obtain ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification on 29 October 2026.

The certification recognises the authority’s information security management systems.

Musasizi said Uganda is preparing for its next FATF Mutual Evaluation in 2028. Government is also reviewing relevant laws to address emerging financial crime risks.

FIA Outlines Expected Summit Outcomes

FIA Executive Director Samuel Were Wandera said financial intelligence must translate into tangible enforcement results.

He emphasised that success should reflect disrupted criminal networks, successful prosecutions and recovered proceeds of crime.

Wandera outlined five expected outcomes from the summit, including stronger intelligence-sharing, technological innovation and closer cooperation with law enforcement.

He also highlighted asset recovery and practical approaches to emerging threats involving digital finance and virtual assets.

He urged delegates to use the Munyonyo gathering to establish lasting professional networks and practical partnerships.

“Not merely with conference resolutions but with stronger professional networks, practical partnerships and renewed commitments to collective action,” Wandera said.

Through hosting the continental gathering, Speke Resort Munyonyo continues to provide a venue for high-level international engagements, bringing together leaders and experts to discuss issues shaping Africa’s future.