Rapid urban growth
Population migration into cities is driving structural demand for multifamily homes and essential services.
About the Fund
Patient capital, regional roots.
We are operators, allocators and structurers who have spent the last decade building, financing and exiting assets across East Africa. The Fund is the institutional expression of that work.
Mandate
What we do
East Africa Bridge Capital Fund Inc. originates, underwrites and manages institutional-quality investments across the region — with a primary focus on income-producing multifamily housing and the infrastructure that supports it.
Our edge is local execution paired with global discipline. Every opportunity is sourced through long-standing relationships, screened against strict DSCR and cash-flow tests, and structured to deliver durable returns to our limited partners.
We grew out of the East Africa Business Network — a community of founders, operators and investors who have spent careers building real businesses on the ground. The Fund channels that network into a single, focused investment platform.
Why East Africa
Economic growth, urbanization, and dollar-linked opportunity.
East Africa is expected to be among the world's fastest urbanizing regions over the coming decades, creating sustained demand for housing, logistics, and supporting infrastructure. Our strategy combines local execution with institutional underwriting to pursue these long-term demographic trends.
Dollar resilience
USD-denominated cash flow preserves investor value and reduces currency risk relative to local markets.
Institutional gap
Few sponsors have the cross-border experience needed to execute both U.S. and East African investments with rigor.
Investment Philosophy
How we invest
Cash flow first
We underwrite to in-place income, not narrative. Distributions must work before appreciation does.
Aligned structures
GP capital sits alongside LP capital in every transaction. Incentives compound, they do not extract.
Local accountability
Asset management is on the ground, not in a deck. Reporting is institutional from day one.
Executive Leadership Team
A team built on the ground
The Fund's leadership combines decades of regional operating experience with institutional capital markets discipline.
Elsa Juko-McDowell
Founding Member & Managing Partner
LinkedIn- 18 years of investment and real estate experience
- $120M+ transactions closed
- DSCR and ITIN financing specialist
- Chairwoman, East Africa Business Network
- East Africa + U.S. cross-border execution
Elsa Juko-McDowell is a seasoned financial strategist and real estate expert with over 17 years of experience spanning banking, asset management, and mortgage servicing. As a Realtor with Open House Realty and a Loan Officer at Quontic Bank, she specializes in complex financing solutions, including DSCR and ITIN mortgage programs.
She has led complex financing solutions for institutional and private clients, including DSCR and cross-border structures that support the Fund's dual-market thesis.
Brandon Sebirumbi
Founding Member & Portfolio Manager
LinkedIn- Proven capital deployment track record
- Operational lead for multifamily and infrastructure investments
- Experienced in market entry and project execution
- Cross-border underwriting and asset management
- U.S. and East Africa deal sourcing network
Brandon Sebirumbi is a strategic fund manager and investment specialist with a proven track record in capital deployment and asset growth.
He focuses on the operational execution of investment blueprints and ensures every asset is positioned for sustainable cash flow and long-term exit performance.
Advisory Board
Counsel & governance
Senior advisors who guide the Fund's regional strategy, governance, and institutional partnerships across the East African Community.
Benson Kasue
Strategic Advisor
LinkedIn- Founding Chair, East Africa Chamber of Commerce (Dallas)
- Founding Chair, Kenya Diaspora Council of Texas
- Extensive commercial corridor and logistics expertise
Benson links businesses across the United States and East Africa, opening commercial corridors between the two markets.
He advises the Fund on partnerships, regional business incubation, and strategic growth initiatives.
Maria Santiago
Operational Advisor
LinkedIn- 35+ years of multifamily property operations leadership
- Managed 26+ properties nationwide, from 800 to 3,000 units
- Turnaround specialist with occupancy improvements to 95%+
- Hands-on experience with Section 8 and conventional new construction
- Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loan process expertise
Maria Santiago brings over 35 years of multifamily operations expertise to the Fund, advising on acquisitions, due diligence, and property management consulting.
She has directly overseen more than 26 properties nationwide, including portfolios from 800 to 3,000 units, with a focus on leasing, resident relations, and both on-site and multi-site management.
Maria has a proven track record of turning around distressed properties and improving occupancy rates to over 95%, even through difficult market conditions.
She supports budgeting, staffing, insurance, marketing, and financial analysis, and she is experienced with AppFolio, ResMan, Yardi, RaManage, OneSite, and Bluemoon.
$120M+
Transactions managed
18 years
Combined experience
45
Developments financed
5 countries
Regional reach
Prior Experience
Proven execution before Fund I
2014
Built cross-border capital relationships
Founded the East Africa Business Network and established trusted partnerships between U.S. allocators and East African operators.
2018
Closed the first institutional-quality transaction
Executed a multifamily investment with local equity partners and established repeatable underwriting standards.
2022
Scaled underwriting and reporting
Developed formal asset management, risk monitoring, and dollar-denominated deal structures for regional investments.
2026
Launched East Africa Bridge Capital Fund
Formally aggregated our cross-border capability into a fund structure designed for qualified investors seeking diversified real estate exposure.