AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda
Tech It There! Your innovation. Africa’s future. Calling all young innovators with a bold idea in agritech or agribusiness. Do you believe your solution could transform the lives of farmers in Uganda and Africa? Then it’s time to Tech It There. The AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda 2025 is officially underway, offering you a chance to win a share of UGX 222 million in cash grants, mentorship, incubation, and a national platform for young Ugandans who are shaping the future of agriculture.
About the Challenge
AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda – 2025
AYuTe (Agriculture Youth and Technology) is more than just a competition — it’s a launchpad. Powered by Heifer International Uganda, this challenge supports 18–35-year-olds who use technology or innovative business ideas to address the farming challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
Designed to catalyze ground-up innovation that address challenges faced by smallholder farmers at scale, providing the incubation and catalytic financing needed for these businesses to scale. AYuTe combines the power of African youth with the many possibilities of emerging technologies to support smallholder farmers across the continent grow their businesses and incomes.
In addition to the cash prize, they will have access to networking opportunities and mentorship from industry experts, providing invaluable support and guidance to help bring their innovative ideas to life and drive meaningful change in the agricultural sector.
Join us in this exciting journey to revolutionize agriculture and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across the continent.
Application window closes on June 30th, 2025!
-
How to participate in AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda
Step 1: Record a 2-Minute Video
Introduce yourself and pitch your idea. Share:
● Who you are
● What your innovation is
● What problem it solves
● How it helps farmers
● How much funding you need
Make it clear, passionate, and in MP4 format.
Step 2: Submit Your Video
● Upload via https://ayute.africa/uganda
● Or send it via WhatsApp to +256 781 608 488
Grant Prizes
We’re giving away UGX 222,200,000 across two tracks.
AgriTech Category
● Winner: UGX 50,000,000
● 1st Runner-Up: UGX 30,000,000
● 2nd Runner-Up: UGX 15,000,000
● Best Women in Tech (2 Winners): UGX 10,000,000 each
Entrepreneurship (Busoga Region)
● Best Entrepreneur Overall: UGX 35,000,000
● 1st Runner-Up: UGX 20,000,000
● 2nd Runner-Up: UGX 10,000,000
● Female Entrepreneurs (2 Winners): UGX 7,000,000 each
● Most Innovative Product: UGX 14,000,000
● Runner-Up (Innovative Product): UGX 7,000,000
● Best Entrepreneur with Disability: UGX 7,000,000
All winners will get up to 6 months of incubation with CURAD and personalized mentorship to scale their solution.
-
AgriTech Innovation (National Competition)
Open to youth anywhere in Uganda who are using tech-based solutions to transform agriculture.
You must:
● Be aged 18–35.
● Have a startup (or business under 3 years old) working directly with smallholder farmers.
● Offer a unique, scalable product or service with demand in the farming community.
● Prove that your solution is affordable, innovative, and has real growth potential.
Agribusiness Entrepreneurship (Busoga Region Focus)
Calling all changemakers in the Busoga subregion Jinja, Iganga, Kamuli, Bugiri, Buyende, Kaliro, Bugweri, Namutumba, Namayingo, Luuka and Mayuge with agribusiness solutions — even without a tech angle!
You must:
● Be aged 18–35 and based in Busoga sub-region
● Be a founder or co-founder of a small or micro agribusiness
● Operate in one of these value chains: Horticulture, Dairy/Beef, Oilseeds, or Poultry
● Show job creation potential and real demand from farmers
● Women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are strongly encouraged to apply
-
Key Dates:
Launch: Thursday, May 27, 2025
Application Deadline: Monday, June 30, 2025
Immersion Bootcamps (Jinja & Kampala): July 18–19, 2025
Pitch + Due Diligence Sessions: July 19 – Aug 4, 2025
Award Ceremony: Monday, August 21, 2025
Incubation & Mentorship Begins: August 2025 – Early 2026
-
1 - Publicity
The Eligible Participant agrees to participate in publicity related to the Competition, including the use of their photograph, video, name, nationality, and country of residence for promotional purposes.
2 - Filmed Sessions
The Eligible Participant must participate in filmed sessions scheduled between July 1st and September 30th, 2025. Failure to participate may result in disqualification from the Competition.
3 - Intellectual Property
Participants retain all intellectual property rights to their innovations. The Promoter may require participants to sign consent forms allowing the use of their intellectual property for promotional purposes related to the Competition.
4 - Representation of Prizes
Any depictions of prizes in media are illustrative. The actual prizes may differ from the representations. The Competition does not endorse or recommend any products or services offered as prizes.
5 - Disclaimer of Warranty
Heifer International Uganda disclaims any warranties or representations related to the prizes. Heifer International Uganda is not liable for any defects, losses, or injuries resulting from the use or malfunction of the prizes.
6 - Acceptance of Terms
By entering the Competition, all Eligible Participants accept and agree to abide by these terms and conditions. The Promoter reserves the right to interpret these terms and conditions at their sole discretion. Decisions made by the Promoter are final and binding, and no correspondence will be entered into.
7 - Changes and Cancellations
The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions, cancel, alter, or amend the Competition at any stage if deemed necessary or if circumstances arise beyond its control.
8 - Governing Law
These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Uganda.
-
Monday Shaduraka, Innovation – Electric Tractor Innovation – UGX 50,000,000 ($13,427)
1st Runner-up: John Charles Nuwagaba, Innovation – Solar Water Pump – UGX 30,000,000 ($8,000)
2nd Runner-up: Mike Ssalissegawa, Innovation – Grafting Tomato Technology – UGX15,000,000 ($4,000)
Other winners: Brian Byaruhanga, Innovation – Digitized Herd Monitoring System, and Brian Natwijuka, Innovation – Silage production & E-Commerce for Beef, each received UGX2,500,000 ($537)
“I am very excited and honored to be awarded as the winner of the AYuTe Africa Challenge in Uganda by Heifer International. Together with my team, our participation in the challenge was driven by the opportunity to contribute to improving the productivity and livelihoods of smallholder farmers across Uganda. With this money, I plan to expand our production to be able to make 3 units per week which is 12units per month and 120 units a year, hence reaching at least 120 poultry farmers a year across Uganda” - Monday Shaduraka
-
1st Prize Winner: Simon Peter Okoci | Smart Kuku Brooder Innovation.
Details: It uses an automated temperature and light regulation system in brooders (UGX 35,000,000).
1st runner-up: Willy Katumwa | Fish Feeding Technology
Details: It automates fish feeding based on fish needs (UGX 25,000,000)
2nd runner-up: Samantha Ainembabazi | FREZA Nano Technology
Details: It's a fruit preservative technology that preserves fruits for up to 30 days (UGX 10,000,000)
“This initiative by Heifer Uganda is a very good one because it supports the many youth who are so talented but lack funding opportunities to further their initiatives. For two years, I looked for funding for my project with no success but Heifer did it for me" - Samuel Peter Okoci
-
Cultivating Youth for Agri-Tech
Explore the inspiring journey of Uganda’s young innovators in Season 2 of the AYuTe Africa Challenge 2023. The gallery below is a highlight of the challenge, showcasing the rigorous selection process that determined our winners and finalists.
Each stage reveals the commitment and excellence of participants as they progressed through this prestigious competition.
Launch Event
We kicked off with an exclusive event, heralding the start of an exhilarating innovation challenge. This launch brought together visionaries, agricultural enthusiasts, and industry experts from across the nation, setting the stage for an exciting journey in Agri-tech innovation.
Incubation - Contestants
Filled with anticipation and excitement, innovators took on the stage to showcase their Agri-tech innovations. Each participant passionately presented their ideas, defending their functionality and how applicable they are to smallholder farmers in Uganda.
Award Ceremony
The event was a grand celebration of the remarkable accomplishments of the top three finalists. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as we honoured their vision, dedication, and ingenuity throughout the challenge.
-
We embarked on a national quest to find Uganda’s best Agri-tech innovator. Here’s what some of the stakeholders had to say about the Challenge:
William Matovu - Country Director Uganda, Heifer International
“The AYuTe Africa challenge aims to identify and support young Agri-tech innovators to scale their ambitions and make a meaningful impact in Uganda. Initiatives like these attract young people in the agriculture landscape by giving them continued support “
Hon. Bwino Fred Kyakulaga - State Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
“More than just an incubation hub for Agri-tech startups, the AYuTe Africa Challenge brings together a variety of industry experts, investors and stakeholders to drive action and implement these innovations to cause transformation in the Agricultural sector “
Ms Adesuwa Ifedi - Senior Vice President, Africa Programs, Heifer International
“This challenge offers African youth an opportunity to create jobs yet still empower smallholder farmers with innovative solutions that address long-standing challenges. It also encourages a new generation of innovators to explore and embrace opportunities in the industry”
“More than just an incubation hub for Agri-tech startups, the AYuTe Africa Challenge brings together a variety of industry experts, investors and stakeholders to drive action and implement these innovations to cause transformation in the Agricultural sector."
-
Do you want to Compete for a chance to Win? Apply today by clicking - Enter Challenge
CONTACT US:
Heifer International Uganda - +256 414231828
Flavia Nalubega, Communications Manager, Heifer Uganda - +256 781608488, Flavia.nalubega@heifer.org
Twitter. LinkedIn. Instagram
