Overview:
The National Science Week 2026 Innovation Challenge, spearheaded by the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat under the Office of the President, was unveiled during a hackathon held on April 27 at Kabira Country Club.
Uganda has launched a national innovation challenge aimed at turning scientific ideas into market-ready products, as the country shifts focus from policy ambitions to practical solutions in its drive toward a $500 billion economy.
The National Science Week 2026 Innovation Challenge, spearheaded by the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat under the Office of the President, was unveiled during a hackathon held on April 27 at Kabira Country Club.
The initiative targets innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers, challenging them to develop scalable solutions to real economic problems—while ensuring those ideas can be commercialised.
Organisers say the programme is designed to address a long-standing gap where innovations fail to transition into usable products.
Participants at the hackathon began refining their project focus areas, with emphasis placed on developing solutions that can attract funding and meet market needs. The goal is to move beyond concepts and deliver products that can be adopted by government or private sector players.
The challenge requires teams to produce working prototypes or minimum viable products, backed by clear business cases demonstrating scalability, job creation potential and economic impact.
Out of 250 applications received, only 10 teams were selected to take part in the final phase of the challenge.
The top three teams will each receive up to Shs300 million in funding, alongside mentorship and partnership support aimed at helping them commercialise their innovations.
Organisers say the funding model is structured to promote accountability and sustainability, ensuring supported projects can grow into viable enterprises.
The competition is open to teams of two to five members, including developers, students, researchers and entrepreneurs from different sectors.
Participants are required to submit concept notes and pitch their ideas before a national panel of judges, with a strong focus on solutions that can be scaled and integrated into the economy.
Among the innovators is Benjamin Ojede, whose team is developing an electric vehicle concept in response to rising fuel costs and the global shift toward cleaner transport.
The challenge is part of the broader National Science Week, which brings together students, industry players and policymakers to promote science and technology as drivers of development.
Officials say the initiative reflects Uganda’s strategy to place innovation at the centre of economic transformation, by prioritising solutions that can boost industrialisation, productivity and job creation.
The competition will run through early May, culminating in final pitches and the selection of winning projects, as Uganda looks to harness homegrown innovation to power its long-term growth agenda.