Investors need to undertake research, invest with licensed and regulated firms and regularly monitor their investments
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA) seized the opportunity presented by the 7th World Investor Week, running from October 2 to 8, to educate investors on prudent investment management and how to avoid unnecessary losses.
The authority orchestrated a series of activities, including webinars and lectures, with the aim of enhancing investor protection and education.
The World Investor Week serves as a global platform for securities regulators to underscore the importance of empowering and safeguarding investors.
Keith Kalyegira, the outgoing CEO of CMA, emphasized the commitment of the regulator in safeguarding and nurturing capital markets.
“We recognize that informed and protected investors are the bedrock of a thriving economy,” he said.
Kalyegira highlighted the crucial role of capital markets in economic growth and development by providing businesses with access to capital and investors with opportunities to save and grow their wealth.
However, he stressed the importance of informed and protected investors to boost confidence and enable them to deploy their savings effectively.
He urged investors to undertake research, invest with licensed and regulated firms, exercise caution with unsolicited investment offers, diversify portfolios to reduce risk, and regularly monitor their investments.
Throughout the week, the CMA engaged with university students, providing guidance on investing in Collective Investment Schemes, hosted webinars on investor resilience and fraud prevention, and interacted with investment clubs to discuss various asset classes in the capital markets.
CMA’s Director of Research and Market Development, Dickson Ssembuya, highlighted Collective Investment Schemes as a key focus during the week. He emphasized their advantages, including reduced risk through pooling savings with many others, the ability to invest in substantial ventures even with limited savings, and favorable tax policies with returns exempted.
World Investor Week, an annual global campaign led by the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), aims to emphasize the paramount importance of investor education and protection.
Occurring every October, this initiative unites financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and governments worldwide in a collective effort to empower and safeguard investors.