Young Ugandan Innovators Win $53,000 to Scale Farm Tech

Young Ugandan innovators have received a major financial boost to grow their farm businesses. Heifer International Uganda has announced the winners of the AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda Season 5, sharing UGX 205 million in catalytic financing.

The awards were announced on 24 September 2026 at Sheraton Hotel Kampala under the theme “Go Big. Go Bold.” The gala brought together government leaders, innovators, farmers, investors, development partners and private-sector actors.

Importantly, the message was clear: funding is a starting point, not a finish line. Moreover, the competition is open to young people aged 18 to 35, so the results offer a roadmap for future applicants. The Mastercard Foundation backs the programme, which is implemented in partnership with CURAD.

This article explains who won, how the challenge works and why the awards matter. Furthermore, it covers what the minister and organisers said about the road ahead

A Gala Built Around Bold Ideas

Beyond the prize-giving, the evening doubled as a showcase. Innovators set up an exhibition where they explained their products to guests, so attendees could see the solutions first-hand. As a result, the event felt as much like a marketplace of ideas as an awards ceremony.

Notably, the theme was not new this year. Season 5 was launched in July 2026 under the same “Go Big. Go Bold.” banner, with government officials, development partners, academia and the private sector present. The gala therefore closed a cycle that began with a public call for applications.

Record Interest in the AYuTe Africa Challenge

Firstly, interest has surged. This year’s challenge drew 836 applications, compared with 307 in 2025. According to the organisers, this shows that young Ugandans increasingly see agriculture as a space to build technology, competitive businesses and dignified work, rather than a livelihood of last resort.

Secondly, the entry bar was clear. Eligible AgriTech ventures had to be beyond the concept stage, under three years old and able to show demand and potential to scale across Uganda. Similarly, applications closed on 24 July 2026.

Two Tracks, Clear Targets

The national AgriTech track

The AgriTech track sought locally adapted technologies for climate-smart production, livestock and aquaculture, post-harvest management, mechanisation, energy, markets and finance. In other words, it targeted practical gaps that smallholder farmers face daily.

The Busoga Agribusiness track

Meanwhile, the Busoga-focused Agribusiness track backed enterprises that turn raw produce into market-ready goods. In addition, it supported businesses that convert agricultural waste and inefficiencies into value. Its challenge areas included agro-waste-to-value ventures, post-harvest loss reduction, biodegradable packaging and renewable energy for productive use.

The Season 5 Winners

Heifer International Uganda honoured eight businesses across the two tracks. The full list is below.

Piipu General Enterprises LLP and Revmake Tech Company Ltd each took home the top prize of UGX 50 million in their tracks. Additionally, two female-led agribusinesses received UGX 10 million each, which underlines the programme’s push for women’s participation.

What the Minister Said

Chief Guest Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, urged the cohort to treat funding as a starting point. Furthermore, he reaffirmed government’s commitment to an ecosystem where young Ugandans need not leave the country, or agriculture, to build something significant.

“Government is watching what AYuTe is building, and we like what we see,” he said. He added that Uganda’s science and technology agenda is alive on farms, in processing sheds and in the hands of young people who refused to wait for permission.

The minister also challenged the innovators to market their products actively rather than keep them hidden at home. In addition, he promised to lower market-entry costs, streamline testing and certification, and promote home-grown Ugandan technologies. allafricantv

What Heifer International Uganda Said

William Matovu, Country Director of Heifer International Uganda, said Season 5 marks a turning point in both scale and precision. “Tonight, that is no longer a promise, it is a track record,” he said.

Notably, every applicant was asked to solve a specific, documented problem in Uganda’s agri-food system. Matovu said many applicants had identified particular problems in agricultural value chains and built businesses around solving them. businesstimesug

Past Champions Prove the Model

The programme already has a track record. Charles Nuwagaba’s irrigation pump took the inaugural 2022 title, and Simon Peter Okoci’s Smart Kuku Brooder won in Season 2. Besides these, Assumpta Nakalema’s solar-powered egg incubator won in Season 3, and Etyang Aaron’s Grain-Guard Monitor, which tackles post-harvest grain losses, took Season 4’s top prize.

For context, the 2025 edition shared UGX 222 million among 15 youth innovators. This year’s pool is slightly smaller, yet it is concentrated on eight enterprises. Consequently, each winner receives a larger share to scale.

Why the Awards Matter

Therefore, the significance goes well beyond the prize money. Organisers urged winners to move past prototypes and build viable businesses. Likewise, the minister said food security and job creation will need government, development partners, the private sector, farmers and young innovators working together.

Finally, the numbers show momentum. AYuTe was launched in Uganda in 2022 and, according to the programme, has engaged more than 900 young innovators and entrepreneurs. With applications up sharply, the pipeline of young agritech talent is clearly growing.

About the AYuTe Africa Challenge

AYuTe stands for Agriculture, Youth and Technology. It is a flagship initiative of Heifer International Uganda that identifies, supports and scales youth-led agricultural innovations to transform the lives of smallholder farmers.

Through financing, mentorship, incubation and ecosystem support, the initiative aims to drive job creation and sustainable economic growth. For more information, visit the AYuTe Uganda page or contact Flavia Nalubega, Information & Communications Manager, Heifer International Uganda (flavia.nalubega@heifer.org, +256 701 365797).

Disclaimer:
Africa Agricultural Network (AAN) is committed to informing and empowering agricultural communities across Africa as per our mandate. This article is intended for informational purposes only. Yield figures referenced were drawn from a sponsored programme report and a peer-reviewed study available at the time of writing and have not been independently re-verified by this publication