Innovators to compete for UGX 46M in prizes at tech hackathon

KAMPALA, Uganda — Roke Telkom, a local telecommunications and cloud solutions provider, has partnered with the government’s Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat to launch the Industry 4.0+ Hackathon.

The hackathon, which runs through September, is part of a national strategy to drive Uganda’s transition into smart manufacturing, deep technology and cloud services. It will conclude with the Oct. 2 unveiling of Uganda’s Sovereign Cloud Platform (ABQ).

David Gonahasa, team lead of the Industry 4.0+ Bureau, said the goal is to provide young innovators with the tools to turn their ideas into solutions for economic growth.

As a partner, Roke Telkom is providing technical support, mentorship and connectivity for the event.

“As a Ugandan company, we are proud to be part of the journey towards a digital, innovation-led economy,” said Timothy Mugyenyi, head of corporate partnerships and impact at Roke Telkom. He said the company’s role is to ensure innovators have the infrastructure and platforms to bring their ideas to life.

The ABQ, a blockchain-powered platform, is designed to enhance trust and accountability across various sectors by localizing and securing Africa’s digital economy.

Eric Mugerwa, CTO of ABQ, said localizing blockchain infrastructure in Uganda will ensure that data, transactions and innovations “remain secure, verifiable, and under African control.”

The hackathon has attracted several partners who are committed to building digital sovereignty for Uganda. The initiative’s goal is to build a resilient, knowledge-driven economy and position Uganda as a leader in deep technology and digital infrastructure.

Winners will receive more than UGX 46 million in prizes, including cash awards, free internet and cloud hosting credits.