Overview:

Ugandan budding technologist Joan Kirunga shares how attending the Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) has inspired her to launch a movement to create a large-scale, female-focused technology conference in Africa.

The Grace Hopper Celebration is the world’s largest gathering of women in computing, annually drawing thousands of students, academics and industry professionals from around the globe.

Joan Kirunga, a software engineering student at Makerere University, attended the 2015 conference in Houston, Texas, an experience that has since shaped her mission for the future of technology in Uganda.

The Kikubolane Team sat down with Kirunga to discuss her experience at the conference, the lessons she brought back home and how the event has inspired her work as a budding technologist.

Kikubolane Team: Joan, thank you for joining us. Please tell us about the Grace Hopper Celebration. What makes this event so special?

Joan Kirunga: The Grace Hopper Celebration is truly the world’s largest gathering of women in technology. Imagine being in one place with thousands of women—software engineers, cybersecurity experts, researchers and technology leaders—all networking, presenting and learning from one another. It’s an incredible energy. The event is named after Grace Hopper, one of the pioneers of computer programming, and it celebrates her legacy by amplifying the voices and work of women who are actively shaping the future of technology today. It’s a powerful statement of community and professional support.

Representing Uganda, Joan Kirunga joins a diverse group of international scholars and engineers at the Grace Hopper Celebration, the world’s largest gathering of women in computing. The conference is named after computer science pioneer Grace Hopper.

Kikubolane Team: How did you come to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration?

Joan Kirunga: As an undergraduate student at Makerere University, I have been actively involved in Uganda’s technology community, organizing workshops for groups like Google Developer Group Kampala and Mozilla Uganda. Being part of these local communities gave me hands-on programming experience and allowed me to learn directly from more seasoned developers. I first learned about the Grace Hopper Celebration from a former attendee who strongly encouraged me to submit a research poster for consideration. She mentored me, reviewed my drafts and guided me throughout the entire complex submission process. Additionally, my professors at Makerere University were immensely supportive and provided strong recommendation letters for my application. I was absolutely thrilled when I received the news that I had been selected to attend and present a research paper at the conference. Representing Uganda on such a global platform was both humbling and incredibly empowering. It is definitely a defining moment in my technology journey.

Kikubolane Team: What stood out to you during the week of the conference?

Joan Kirunga: What stood out the most were the incredible innovation booths. Major tech companies such as Google, Salesforce, Apple and Microsoft had elaborate exhibits; it truly felt like walking through the future of technology. The career sessions were another highlight. Tremendous women in technology shared their professional journeys, from overcoming systemic barriers to leading global teams, offering invaluable, practical career advice. Hearing their stories of resilience and success was deeply motivating. The diverse research posters from participants globally were equally inspiring; seeing people presenting such complex and impactful projects truly opened my eyes to the vast possibilities of innovation.
But perhaps the biggest highlight for me was a trip to the NASA Space Center in Houston. It had always been a dream of mine to meet an astronaut or see anything related to space exploration. Being there, learning the history of space missions and seeing an actual spacecraft up close, was a powerful and emotional reminder that absolutely no dream is too big.

Joan Kirunga stands before a historic spacecraft at the NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas. Visiting the center was a lifelong dream for the Makerere University student, who said the experience was a powerful reminder that no dream is too big for a technologist.

Kikubolane Team: How has attending Grace Hopper influenced your career path?

Joan Kirunga: Thank you for that question. This opportunity is a real turning point in my career trajectory. Beyond continuing the research that I presented in my poster, the entire experience has inspired me to stay actively involved in technology communities and, critically, to give back by helping more women access opportunities in technology. What resonated with me the most was the power of seeing thousands of women come together—sharing knowledge, showcasing innovation and supporting each other’s growth. It clearly made me realize that we urgently need more of that kind of supportive, large-scale ecosystem back home in Uganda. That’s why one of my biggest ambitions is to create a female-focused community here that can host a large-scale conference similar in scope and inspiration to the Grace Hopper Celebration. I want to recreate the same powerful sense of belonging and professional inspiration that I experienced, but specifically for African women.

Kikubolane Team: Good ambitions there. Then, what advice would you give to young women in Uganda who aspire to work in technology?

Joan Kirunga: My advice is to start where you are. You do not need to have everything figured out before you take the first step. Actively network by joining communities and attending local meetups to build your professional circle. Always keep learning, whether through formal education or accessible online courses, and make it a priority to find mentors who can guide you through the challenges and opportunities in the technology industry.

The Kikibolane Team: Thank you, Joan, for taking the time to share your insightful experience with our readers. We appreciate your candidness and the passion you have for technology.

Your mission to create a large-scale, female-focused technology conference in Uganda, inspired by the spirit of the Grace Hopper Celebration, is very exciting and necessary. All of us at Kikubolane wish you the very best of luck in achieving this ambitious and impactful goal, and we look forward to following your progress.
Before we conclude this interview, is there anything further you would like to add regarding your career trajectory, or your vision for the future of African women in technology?

Joan Kirunga: Thank you for offering to follow my journey. On that note, I must emphasize that attending the Grace Hopper Celebration is really a pivotal experience for my professional trajectory. The exposure to global research, the opportunity for focused networking, and the validation of seeing thousands of women leading in technology provided essential professional affirmation.
My final thought is a direct appeal to the regional technology sector, achieving equitable development requires us to cultivate localized, high-impact communities. My ambition is fundamentally aimed at establishing that infrastructure in Uganda—to ensure that future African women technologists have immediate access to world-class inspiration and mentorship.
I appreciate the platform provided by the Kikubolane Team to discuss this critical objective.

The Kikibolane Team: Thank you Joan and Good luck once again.