I made my first major investment in Africa!

As of 2025, I've made my first major investment in Africa!

A commercial real estate investment right in the heart of Jinja City, Uganda🇺🇬

This was absolutely not part of my plan for 2025... so how did this happen?

On January 1st, my mum, an active real estate investor in Uganda, faced an urgent need for funding to complete a key stage of her latest development.

I happened to be in Uganda at the time, with some dry powder ready.

So I decided to take the opportunity to start 2025 doing something completely new (new year, new me), and got involved!

I was on the ground and hands-on during the first few days of the development, essentially giving me a 5-day masterclass in doing business in Africa.

Here are 7 lessons I've learned so far:

1️⃣ Financial services in Africa still needs serious modernization.

Many businesses still operate on a cash-only basis (in 2025!).

2️⃣ Accessing capital across borders is a still challenge.

Withdrawing large sums of physical cash in Uganda from my UK bank account was tedious, risky, and expensive.

3️⃣ Trust and relationships are CRITICAL accelerants.

Having local connections helped us navigate challenges like large cash withdrawals, finding vendors, and handling negotiations.

4️⃣ In my opinion, the real challenge in African investment isn't lack of capital - it's ensuring success of said capital.

Capital is abundant, successful project management, risk mitigation and accountability are everything.

5️⃣ Small, hidden costs add up quickly, so budget for them!

From withdrawal fees to unexpected transport charges, these "miscellaneous" expenses need to be factored into project planning.

6️⃣ Negotiation is an art and a necessity.

We saved a lot of money on cement alone (our biggest expense) by simply negotiating prices and managing transport ourselves.

7️⃣ Most importantly: Being physically present matters.

While technology helps bridge gaps, nothing beats boots-on-ground oversight during critical project phases.

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This experience has opened my eyes to both the challenges and massive opportunities in African investment.

The fact that there are still so many hurdles, highlights how much opportunity there is for growth and improvement, which is exciting!

hashtag#InvestInAfrica