Africa-Press – Uganda. The AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda 2025 culminated in a landmark celebration at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, where 12 outstanding young innovators in agri-tech and agribusiness were awarded a combined shs222 million in funding and support.
In a significant evolution of the challenge, this year’s edition for the first time integrated an agribusiness track, expanding the competition’s focus beyond technological solutions to include scalable enterprises across the agricultural value chain. The move is aimed at aligning with Uganda’s national vision of transforming agriculture into a modern, profitable, and youth-driven sector.
Aaron Etyang, founder of The Grain Guard, emerged as the overall winner, receiving shs 50 million for his innovation—a smart device designed to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses by detecting weevils, repelling rodents, and monitoring both moisture and temperature in grain storage.
The competition, hosted by Heifer International Uganda in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, CURAD, EzyAgric, Makerere University, and the Government of Uganda, recognized innovations in areas such as input distribution, agro-processing, logistics, value addition, and exports.
Speaking during the gala, Heifer International Uganda Country Director William Matovu highlighted the broader value of the platform beyond financial rewards.
“The true prize is not just the cheque,” Matovu said. “It is the mentorship, the exposure, and the network of partners—government, financers, private sector, and development actors—who walk the journey with these young agripreneurs. Agriculture is too important to leave to chance; it is the backbone of our economy and the future lies in youth-led innovation.”
He also commended the increased participation of women in this year’s competition, describing it as an encouraging sign for inclusive agricultural transformation.
“Women remain the backbone of Uganda’s agriculture. Their leadership in agribusiness is essential for sustainable growth,” Matovu added. “At Heifer, we are committed to ensuring women are not just participants, but leaders and beneficiaries of transformation.”
The agribusiness track this year focused on Uganda’s Busoga Subregion and was implemented in collaboration with the Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development (CURAD). According to CURAD Managing Director Apolo Segawa, the goal is to close the gap between innovative ideas and investment-ready businesses.
“Through incubation, mentorship, and market access, CURAD supports young founders to de-risk, formalize, and scale their ventures across the entire value chain,” said Segawa. “This partnership with Heifer ensures more youth transition from prototypes to profitable, job-creating enterprises that power Uganda’s agro-industrialization.”
The 2025 AYuTe Africa Challenge finalists were hailed as innovators, job creators, and future industry leaders whose work will contribute to building a resilient, modern agricultural sector.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge is a flagship initiative of Heifer International, designed to identify, support, and scale agri-tech and agri-business solutions led by youth across the continent. In Uganda, the program continues to be a key platform for showcasing transformative ideas that are reimagining the country’s agricultural future.
For More News And Analysis About Uganda Follow Africa-Press
