Overview:
Ugandan innovators Namboozo and Muyita earn international acclaim for a biodegradable sachet tech, tackling post-harvest loss & climate change.
KAMPALA, Uganda— Two young Ugandan scientists are leveraging cutting-edge biomaterials and sustainable engineering to develop a novel solution to post-harvest food loss, earning them international recognition in the tech innovation space.
Sandra Namboozo, 26, and Samuel Muyita, 27, have been named among the top 10 finalists for the 2025 Young Inventors Prize by the European Patent Office (EPO). Their groundbreaking innovation is a plant-based, biodegradable sachet capable of extending the shelf life of fresh fruit by up to 30 days.
This technological advancement, developed by Namboozo and Muyita through their company Karpolax, offers a direct response to a pervasive challenge faced by smallholder farmers, particularly in Uganda, where significant produce spoils before reaching markets. Both innovators, graduates of Makerere University, grew up in farming families, providing firsthand insight into the problem they sought to solve with technology.
Their sachet’s design represents a significant step in green technology, targeting a global crisis. The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) identifies food loss and waste as responsible for 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With estimates from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) indicating that up to 40% of food produced globally never reaches consumers, Karpolax’s innovation offers a scalable, sustainable tech intervention. The sachets currently preserve fruits like bananas, apples and oranges, with trials ongoing for pineapples, berries and capsicum.
“We wanted to create a solution that was not only affordable but also environmentally friendly,” Namboozo said. “Our sachets are made entirely from biodegradable, plant-based materials.” Namboozo, who also works with the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), has been a vocal advocate for youth-led innovation in climate technology and sustainability.
The technological ingenuity of their invention has garnered high praise, including from former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi. He lauded the duo on social media, stating: “Proud moment for Uganda! Congratulations to Sandra Namboozo and Samuel Muyita… Your innovation is a triumph of creativity and purpose. To all young Ugandans: let this be your inspiration — dream big, think boldly, and be the solution our world needs.”
The winners of the 2025 Young Inventors Prize are scheduled to be announced June 18 during a live ceremony streamed from Iceland. Public voting remains open, allowing supporters to cast their votes for Namboozo and Muyita’s life-changing technological breakthrough.