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# Innovation Village

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://innovationvillage.africa/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Our 2025 Predictions for Uganda’s Startup Ecosystem ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2025/01/23/our-2025-predictions-for-ugandas-startup-ecosystem/): 2025 will mark a pivotal moment in narrative ownership. For too long, the story of African innovation has been told from an outsider’s perspective. This year, Ugandan startups will harness the power of storytelling to share their successes and challenges authentically. Platforms like Tech Cabal Insights, with whom we partnered to release the Digital Economy Outlook report, are setting a precedent for data-driven narratives that centre African voices. 
- [Rising from the Shadows of War Abduction to Entrepreneurship ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/11/15/rising-from-the-shadows-of-war-abduction-to-entrepreneurship/): Born in 1986 amidst the tumult of Uganda's National Resistance Movement (NRM) takeover and the rise of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), Grace Anena’s life has been one marked by survival and resilience. Her ancestral home near Pabbo in today’s Amuru district, Acholi sub-region, bore the brunt of the LRA insurgency, leaving her family of subsistence farmers caught between relentless confrontations. 
- [Unlocking Africa’s Potential through Collaborative Ecosystems ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/10/17/unlocking-africas-potential-through-collaborative-ecosystems/): Africa stands at a critical juncture in its journey of development. While the continent holds vast biodiversity potential, the energy gap remains a significant obstacle, especially in rural Sub-Saharan Africa, where 80% of the 775 million people reside without electricity.  
- [UGANDA’S JOURNEY TOWARDS BUILDING THE E-MOBILITY SECTOR ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/09/25/ugandas-journey-towards-building-the-e-mobility-sector/): As global conversations on climate change and sustainability gain momentum, Uganda is making a compelling case to lead the transition to sustainable and innovative e-mobility solutions.  
- [SMEs Urged to Build for Sustainability Through Innovation ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/07/22/smes-urged-to-build-for-sustainability-through-innovation/): Uganda’s business landscape is dominated by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which play a crucial role in the country’s economic growth and GDP. Despite their significance, many SMEs struggle to survive past their first or second year due to challenges such as limited financial resources, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient access to broader markets. 
- [How Ronald Kiyimba rose from being a Charcoal Seller to an aspiring Industrialist](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/07/10/how-ronald-kiyimba-rose-from-being-a-charcoal-seller-to-an-aspiring-industrialist/): Ronald Kiyimba honed his business acumen at the age of 12 while trading in charcoal to finance his school needs in his home district of Mukono in central Uganda.
- [FY2024/25 Budget: What Lies Ahead for Entrepreneurs and Innovators ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/06/13/fy2024-25-budget-what-lies-ahead-for-entrepreneurs-and-innovators/): As the hours draw closer to the national budget reading, the anticipation among Ugandans intensifies. This year, the government's proposed Ushs72.1 trillion national resource envelope has captured significant public interest, especially as it marks a substantial Ushs20 trillion increase from last year's budget. The burning question is: What are the priority areas justifying this significant hike in allocation? 
- [Enhancing farmers’ access and usage of affordable Solar technology Solutions ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/06/10/enhancing-farmers-access-and-usage-of-affordable-solar-technology-solutions/): In effort to enhance the adoption and usage of solar technologies to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers, Innovation Village, in partnership with Agri Share Uganda, last week, held an AgriSolar community engagement in Luweero District. 
- [Brick by Brick: Kigozi navigates the highs and lows of running his family’s solar business ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/06/06/brick-by-brick-kigozi-navigates-the-highs-and-lows-of-running-his-familys-solar-business/): In 2018, Jude Kigozi was ready to steer the family- owned solar business forward, after his father went into early retirement. Youthful and full of vigor, Kigozi saw it as a career defining moment for him.  
- [Zaake’s AgriShare App: Farmers’ digital bridge to solar irrigation](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/05/30/zaakes-agrishare-app-farmers-digital-bridge-to-solar-irrigation/): AgriShare App empowers farmers' access to affordable irrigation equipment  Paul Zaake, a 34- year-old innovator runs AgriShare, an innovative application-based platform that connects farmers to a vast database of agricultural machinery, equipment, and resources in their select locations to help them have more options for hiring and purchase.  Farmers can hire irrigation and processing equipment, land, farm workers and tractors.  However, the digital application has become popular for its ability to connect farmers to affordable solar irrigation equipment for hire, providing a more convenient solution for reliable access to water in agriculture.  Zaake's motivation to start the AgriShare digital application was borne out of a deep childhood desire to help farmers access agricultural equipment. Just like any Ugandan child growing up in a typical farming household, Zaake experienced firsthand the harsh reality of families failing to afford, or access good agricultural equipment. 
- [Innovation Village Launches Science Discovery Centre](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/05/22/innovation-village-launches-science-discovery-centre-a-dynamic-haven-for-young-minds/): Today marks the official launch of the Science Discovery Centre, a vibrant and dynamic haven designed to ignite a passion for science among young, curious minds.  
- [Adebo’s solar water pump initiative helps Obongi’s farmers’ fields to flourish ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/05/22/adebos-solar-water-pump-initiative-helps-obongis-farmers-fields-to-flourish/): Cosmas Adebo hails from Yakinemiji, a small fishing village along the River Nile in Obongi District, West Nile region.  Here, fishermen begin their days before sunrise to set up their nets for the best catch. 
- [CHEQUEMATE THE VILLAGE NEWSLETTER JAN-MARCH](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/05/21/chequemate-the-village-newsletter-jan-march/)
- [Enhancing the Digital Economy through Digital Skilling](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/05/15/enhancing-the-digital-economy-through-digital-skilling/): Uganda’s ICT Sector continues to play a crucial role in driving the country's socio-economic growth. Like many other countries, Uganda has experienced a significant digital evolution propelled by advancements in digital infrastructure, increased technology access, growing investments in technology innovation, and a rising entrepreneurial spirit.  
- [IRA InsureX Program: Facilitating growth of Uganda’s Insurance Sector ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/04/23/ira-insurex-program/): The insurance sector in Uganda has experienced tremendous growth over the last five years. A recently released report by Financial Sector Depending Uganda, FINSCOPE Uganda 2023, shows an increase in formal insurance uptake since 2018, rising from 1% to 2% 
- [Scaling Businesses Through Innovation ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/04/12/scaling-business-through-innovation/): In today’s disruptive age, established corporations with traditional business models are under attack, facing rapid displacement from counterparts that have integrated technology into their ways of work. Scaling businesses is no longer largely about expanding reach; but much about fostering a culture of continuous improvement and embracing creative problem-solving methodologies. 
- [The Journey of Abel Ogwang in transforming homecare services in Gulu city ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/03/26/the-story-of-abel-ogwang/): Originating from the bustling business city of Lira, Abel Ogwang relocated to Gulu with aspirations of establishing his own business. His spirit for entrepreneurship was deeply influenced by his single mother's unwavering commitment to caring for their family. Despite numerous obstacles, she tirelessly provided for them, primarily through the humble craft of washing clothes. Her unyielding spirit and relentless hard work left a lasting mark on Abel's heart. 
- [Investment in Women is a Catalyst for Community Transformation ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/03/21/investment-in-women-is-a-catalyst-for-community-transformation/): As we commemorate the remarkable contributions of women to Africa's economic development this month, I am filled with excitement and hope for the progressive realization system that leads to a World where we can all achieve impact through investing and empowering women.  
- [Annual Insurance Week: Leveraging innovation to enhance insurance penetration in Uganda  ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/03/05/annual-insurance-week/): Last week, the Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda, along with its partners, announced the third annual insurance week, scheduled to take place from March 11th to 15th, 2024 at Railway Grounds, Kampala under the theme "InsureVate - Igniting Excellence in the Insurance Industry." 
- [Legal Innovation: The African Perspective](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/02/23/legal-innovation-the-african-perspective/): The “Golden Year” for legal tech, is what many described 2023 to be, and the African continent was no exception. While the legal tech Community in Africa is in its early stage, it experienced a boost as legal tech became the talk in many boardrooms and much traction was gained across different platforms.  
- [Waape: Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for job search and hire ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/02/09/waape-harnessing-the-power-of-artificial-intelligence-for-job-search-and-hire/): A team of 12 young innovators at Innovation Village are re-inventing the wheel in job search and hiring using their artificial intelligence solution - 'Waape'. 
- [Building bridges: How a Youth Tourism Association rose from scarcity to success ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/02/01/building-bridges-how-a-youth-tourism-association-rose-from-scarcity-to-success/): When Eliot Mugisha set out to invest and cash in the lucrative tourism business in 2019, it was no bed of roses for him. 
- [Mastercard: Driving Digital and Financial Inclusion in the Agriculture Sector  ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/01/16/community-pass-driving-digital-and-financial-inclusion-in-the-agriculture-sector/): Last week, Mastercard held its second annual Community Pass Summit at Lake Victoria Serena Hotel - Kigo marking a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to promote digital and financial inclusion in Uganda and beyond.  
- [2024 The Year of Becoming](https://innovationvillage.africa/2024/01/09/2024-the-year-of-becoming/)
- [What is the Future of Ugandan Startups in the Digital age? ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2023/12/12/what-is-the-future-of-ugandan-startups-in-the-digital-age/): In a world where technology is rapidly advancing, business operations are changing on a daily basis.
- [The digital economy could be derailed unless we invest in science, innovation and inclusivity. ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2023/11/07/the-digital-economy-could-be-derailed-unless-we-invest-in-science-innovation-and-inclusivity/): To mark the World Science Day for Peace and Development on November 10th the Science Technology and Innovation (STI) secretariate has officially kicked-off the National Science Week celebration to highlight Uganda's strides in fostering a science-driven economy. 
- [Blueprint for Success: 10 Steps to Launch Your Start-Up](https://innovationvillage.africa/2023/08/04/blueprint-for-success-10-steps-to-launch-your-start-up/): There's a unique thrill in taking an idea and transforming it into something tangible — something that has potential to bring about change or make our lives better in some way. Yet, the journey from ideation to launch is filled with challenges that demand courage, resilience, and an adaptable mindset.
- [The Future of Entrepreneurship: Fueled by Innovation and the Future of Work](https://innovationvillage.africa/2023/07/12/the-future-of-entrepreneurship-fueled-by-innovation-and-the-future-of-work/): As we move further into the age of technological innovation and adapt to an ever-shifting professional landscape, the future of entrepreneurship is predicted to undergo significant changes. The fact is, the entrepreneurial field has always been a hotbed of innovation and continuous development, demanding constant adaptability and the capacity to embrace new trends and technologies.
- [From Boot Strapping to Attracting Venture Capital](https://innovationvillage.africa/2023/06/07/from-boot-strapping-to-attracting-venture-capital/): If you are engrained in the startup world, you are familiar with the term boot strapping. Most individuals attempt to build their companies from their personal money or even the small revenues that come from the initial stages of the business itself. It is a tough road for many until they have received or attracted sound investment something startups always look out for.     
- [Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) partners with Innovation Village to digitise farmers ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2023/02/02/uganda-national-farmers-federation-unffe-partners-with-innovation-village-to-digitise-farmers/): The Uganda National Farmers Federation (UNFFE) has signed a partnership with the Innovation Village to support the digitisation efforts of farmers under the Digital Doors Program.  
- [Legal Tech: Confronting challenges of the emerging sector](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/12/16/legal-tech-paving-way-for-the-emerging-sector/): LegalTech has become an increasingly intriguing topic of discussion in Uganda’s mainstream Legal industry today. Every day, lawyers and entrepreneurs are developing tech innovations for the legal sector. Whether it's streamlining operations for law firms and in-house teams, an online marketplace for lawyers, or enabling access to justice to citizens, the legal tech Startups are showing great promise in reinventing the Ugandan legal industry.
- [Cosmonauts, Innovation Village unveil Future Lawyer Week Africa](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/12/07/future-lawyers-week-africa/): London, December 2022: Cosmonauts and the Innovation Village present Future Lawyer Week Africa, taking place at the Innovation Village in Kampala, Uganda between the 21st and 23rd February 2023, bringing the latest in legal innovation to in-house departments, private practice law firms and litigators around the world!
- [FUNDRAISING FOR STARTUPS: TIPS FOR FEMALE FOUNDERS](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/09/21/tips-on-fundraising-for-your-business/): By Hellen Mukasa
- [Why it’s crucial to digitalize the agriculture sector ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/09/13/why-its-crucial-to-digitalize-the-agriculture-sector/): Digital technology has significantly affected every sector of the economy and agriculture is no exceptional. 
- [Breaking Barriers to High Impact Innovation in Uganda    ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/08/16/breaking-barriers-to-high-impact-innovation-in-uganda/): In Uganda today, approximately 24 patents only have been registered by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau. An assessment conducted by Quinn and Cameron, (2013) on Innovation in Uganda found that Ugandan innovators are generating an abundance of ideas, but of those ideas, few “reach a stage of full implementation, or demonstrate scalability and self-sustainability”.  
- [TRANSFORMING STARTUPS THROUGH FORMALISATION](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/07/12/transforming-startups-through-formalisation/): Entrepreneurship in Africa has gained traction and is gradually being fronted as the solution to Africa’s development challenges. In Uganda, Startups play a vital role in creating employment opportunities, enhancing production and supply chains, value addition, technology transfer, development and innovation and if harnessed well, they have the potential to facilitate the transition of our economy to an innovative, inclusive, transformative growth trajectory. However, startups continue to grapple with a wide range of social, economic, policy and regulatory challenges that impede their growth and effective performance.
- [How the budget will support entrepreneurs and innovators](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/07/12/how-the-budget-will-support-entrepreneurs-and-innovators-2/): In the days that led to the national budget reading this June, the government made a number of statements on the economy and what it was trying to do to reduce the brunt of the COVID-19 impact as well as high commodity prices. Big sections of the public eagerly waited to hear the interventions that would be brough forward to ease Ugandans out of these unusual times.  
- [Life in the new future of work: Where can youths start?](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/05/17/life-in-the-new-future-of-work-where-can-youths-start/): When youths gathered for three days at this year’s National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Career Expo organized in partnership with The Innovation Village at MoTIV in Kampala, three words were words on everyone’s mind. 
- [Rampant Road Accidents: Innovation can  contribute to the solution](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/05/11/rampant-road-accidents-innovation-can-contribute-to-the-solution/): On January 18, 2020, Nicole Blessing Ahumuza got onto the road like any other regular passenger. In her 16 years alive, she’d exhibited leadership skills, she had friends, she cared for people with empathy and compassion. But on that day, a tragic accident ended almost two decades of her life.  
- [The Digital Economy and exploring opportunities for youths](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/05/10/the-digital-economy-and-exploring-opportunities-for-youths/): The digital economy is slowly revolutionizing our lives and work environments. There’s an underground movement slowly growing which embraces the future of work and that is the job skills that are currently needed in the labour market.  
- [Intellectual Property: How to protect your rights while fostering innovation](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/05/04/intellectual-property-how-to-protect-your-rights-while-fostering-innovation/): Today, most entrepreneurs or creatives rely on creating bright business ideas, great brands and eye-catching designs but forget to protect these ideas from being exploited by others. In September 2010, the Parliament of Uganda passed the Trademarks Act, 2010 to capture all aspects of intellectual Property rights, and protect or enable their businesses to benefit from their creative ideas or innovations. This law covers all aspects of in-borne ideas, information and creation that are both tangible and intangible in nature and includes forms of: - Patents, Trademarks, Copyright, and Trade secrets.  
- [Time is ripe for bridging gender divide in ICT](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/05/03/time-is-ripe-for-bridging-gender-divide-to-ict/): On April 28, 2022, we joined the rest of the World to celebrate International Girls in ICT (Information, Communication Technology) Day 2022 under the theme, “Access and Safety.” International Telecommunication Union (ITU) states that “The digital gender gap continues expanding in many developing countries, creating a specific need to support digital gender equality. Globally, women and girls use the Internet 12.5 percent less than men and boys.” 
- [In conversation with Paul Kirungi, Founder, Zofi Cash](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/04/29/in-conversation-with-paul-kirungi-founder-zofi-cash/): A report published by Financial Sector Deepening Uganda in April 2021 on the economic resilience of Ugandan households during COVID-19 indicates jobs returned by September 2020 but 73 per cent of respondents reported lower incomes compared to 2019. Two out of three respondents would not be able to raise Shs115,000 in seven days for emergencies. Most respondents borrowed money from family and friends and 15 per cent borrowed from digital applications. These are not just numbers, but a reflection of the economic hardships faced by the working population today. Our community member, Zofi Cash made its entry on the market in 2021. We talked to Paul Kirungi about the startup’s planned impact.   
- [Digital Economy key to pandemic recovery but interventions needed](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/04/05/digital-economy-key-to-pandemic-recovery-but-interventions-needed/): The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption and use of digital technologies and highlighted the prominence and importance of the sector as an enabler of a speedy economic recovery and source of work.  
- [Uganda can benefit from investment in entrepreneurship post COVID-19](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/03/17/uganda-can-benefit-from-investment-in-entrepreneurship-post-covid-19/): From the limited access to market, appropriate talent to lack of investment capital, Ugandan entrepreneurs are grappling with a litany of challenges.  
- [A lot lost from not harnessing digital economy potential- EPRC Researcher](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/02/02/a-lot-lost-from-not-harnessing-digital-economy-potential-eprc-researcher/): Digital technologies have transformed society at an unprecedented scale over the last two decades. They have changed the ways we live, work, learn, commute, and interact. Today, digital technology has the potential to usher in widespread socioeconomic change. Consequently, it has become crucial for nations to understand and cater to the needs that enable the digital economy to grow. At The Innovation Village, we believe that the digital economy is key in accelerating opportunities for young people, women, and small businesses and we will continue to support the ecosystem to achieve growth in that area.  
- [Oil and Gas FID and areas Startups can tap into](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/02/01/oil-and-gas-fid-and-areas-startups-can-tap-into/): After years of negotiations between governments and oil and gas companies, Uganda has penned the Final Investment Decision (FID). For those ready to make their investment in the sector, the FID is a stamp of approval that companies can begin operations and that their “money will also be safe.” 
- [Startup Investment in 2022 and what entrepreneurs need to know](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/01/26/startup-investment-in-2022-and-what-entrepreneurs-need-to-know/): The global startup ecosystem is always brimming with new ideas given that emerging challenges, whether at global or national level, require solutions. Ideas aside, investment in startups on the African continent have been growing over the past years. The unprecedented growth has been driven by an influx of investors hoping to get in on the ground floor of an ecosystem ripe for innovation.  
- [The Media Industry: How do we re-imagine its future?](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/01/18/the-media-industry-how-do-we-re-imagine-its-future/): In November 2021, Deutsche Welle Akademie (DWA), the non-profit arm of the German public state-owned international broadcaster, partnered with The Innovation Village as well as Ultimate Media Consult and Focus on Africa to train 12 media viability consultants in Uganda. In an interview, we speak to Takako Mino, a consultant, to understand the project, opportunities for media entrepreneurship and how innovators can shape the future of the media industry as it faces disruption in the digital era.  
- [RE-OPENING THE ECONOMY: WHAT IT MEANS FOR STARTUPS](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/01/18/re-opening-the-economy-what-it-means-for-startups/): As 2021 wound up, President Yoweri Museveni lifted the two-year lockdown of the country. In his address on December 30, 2021, he announced that all sectors in the economy would be fully opened. This was a decision that was made after government found new solutions to managing the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccinating 22 million Ugandans above 18 years, among other things.  
- [Schools reopen: One player’s view on Future of EdTech Innovations](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/01/12/schools-reopen-one-players-view-on-future-of-edtech-innovations/): Uganda reopened all learning institutions on Monday this week, bringing an end to the World’s longest school closure. With 15 million students stuck at home without learning opportunities for the last two years in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus, some parents and teachers adopted the use of EdTech to ensure children continue to study even in the lockdown. This has created the emergence of EdTech platforms. But what happens now that physical learning has resumed? In an interview about the future of EdTech Innovations about, we talk to Charles Thembo Lwanga, Chief Executive Officer of The Lesson, a cloud-based academic portal incorporating the Ugandan curriculum subjects for primary and secondary school in video format.  
- [17 Startups to watch out for in 2022](https://innovationvillage.africa/2022/01/11/17-startups-to-watch-out-for-in-2022/): As we settle into the new year, we are reflecting with optimism about the months ahead, preparing to once again tackle the challenges on the way with new solutions.  In 2021, several startups rose to the occasion and provided a way through various individual, community and sector challenges health, transport, education among other things. Below are the startups that stood out in 2021, many of which we ought to keep an eye on in 2022.  
- [The year 2021 through the lens of Future Lab](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/12/16/the-year-2021-through-the-lens-of-future-lab/): Future Lab, a department at The Innovation Village, is building the largest corporation innovation platform in East Africa.  Future Lab identifies innovation as a key driver for growth to solve several socio-economic challenges by leveraging innovation and design thinking principles to support organizations’ growth, especially in times of rapid change. At the helm of this is to identify and link startups that are mission-oriented to capture social issues leveraging technology -based solutions to organizations. We spoke to Samantha Niyonsaba, Future Lab Lead on what 2021 looked like.  
- [The year 2021: UPSKILL’s in-demand skills training progresses](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/12/09/the-year-2021-upskills-in-demand-skills-training-progresses/): As the world migrates into the fourth industrial revolution, UPSKILL, a venture under The Innovation Village seeking to bridge the demand and supply gap of talent for Uganda’s youth through a physical and virtual skilling platform is making sure that they are buckled up for this new era. UPSKILL is achieving this through equipping young people with today’s in-demand skills that link them to opportunities.  
- [2021: A year of progress in the Entrepreneurial ecosystem? ](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/12/08/10945-2/): Kenneth Legesi, Chief Executive Officer, Ortus Africa Capital
- [2021 DevScape Report: What are the opportunities?](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/12/07/2021-devscape-report-what-are-the-opportunities/): Early last week, the first ever report on Uganda’s developer community was released, sparking a conversation about technology and the state of those who form a large part of the sector’s labor force.  
- [Nurturing entrepreneurship in 2021: How The Innovation Village Gulu has supported youths](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/12/06/nurturing-entrepreneurship-in-2021-how-the-innovation-village-gulu-has-supported-youths/): In January 2020, The Smiling Panda, a popular nightclub in Gulu city, got a facelift but most importantly a new purpose when it was chosen as the home of The Innovation Village (TIV) in Northern Uganda.   
- [Global acquisitions: The art of it all and how startups can position to benefit](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/11/23/global-acquisitions-the-art-of-it-all-and-how-startups-can-position-to-benefit/): In 2020 Beyonic, a home-grown Ugandan startup providing digital payments solutions in five countries was acquired by MFS Africa, the largest digital payments hub in Africa. In a young entrepreneurial ecosystem like Uganda where many startups are fast strapped for cash, and where the failure rate is high, an acquisition of a business like Beyonic which was founded in 2013 and dominated well on the East African market raises questions on what such an acquisition means.  
- [The Innovation Village Jinja counts its 2021 wins](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/11/18/the-innovation-village-jinja-counts-its-2021-wins/): When The Innovation Village, (TIV) spread its wings to Eastern Uganda in 2020, Jinja was chosen as its host city. Located on Plot 5, Main Street in the heart of the industrial town, the innovation ecosystem which is home to entrepreneurs from a region with approximately 33 districts, is also ushering the region into the Fourth Industrial Revolution through merging network, talent, capital and physical assets. The end goal is to create a destination that grows businesses that matter and are centered around solving the biggest industry and community challenges.  
- [World Children’s Day: How do we use the Tech revolution to create a better future for children?](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/11/16/world-childrens-day-how-do-we-use-the-tech-revolution-to-create-a-better-future-for-children/): In almost every society down to its smallest unit, children are regarded the vessels of every society’s future and continuation. Every year on the 20th day of November, the world celebrates children by putting them at the center of their plans and discourse that seek to enhance their wellness and existence. 
- [Building Climate-Ready Communities: Why Science, Technology & Innovation matters to us all](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/11/09/building-climate-ready-communities-why-science-technology-innovation-matters-to-us-all/): For the last 10 days, over 20,000 delegates from 200 countries have been at the Glasgow Climate Conference discussing ways to keep climate change under control. This global discourse around climate change points towards one fact; we are in a climate emergency and researchers say that we have seven years to fix it before it is too late. One of the world’s most pressing concerns is how to stay beneath the carbon budget, which refers to how much carbondioxide countries can release into the atmosphere before the world is guaranteed to warm at at least 1.5 degrees celsius as set by the goals of the Paris climate agreement. 
- [Digital Economy is crucial to socio-economic transformation](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/11/02/digital-economy-is-crucial-to-socio-economic-transformation/): In 2020, The Deputy Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Xiaozhun Yi, wrote that a digital economy also known as economic activity that results from daily online connections among people, businesses, devices, data and processes, is the cornerstone of sustainable development.  
- [Skilling partnerships: How a coding program is shaping careers](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/10/28/skilling-partnerships-how-a-coding-program-is-shaping-careers/): During the course of 20 weeks, 19 young men and women dedicated at least four hours every day to acquiring skills in trending technologies. On September 12, 2021 they graduated from the CODEIT Institute of Technology coding program with skills in Python, Cloud and Blockchain Technologies. The online program which started in February 2021 has been described as challenging, fun and mind-opening by the participating students. Various projects ranging from food apps to digital cultural databases that have been conjured by the minds of the participants during their training have also highlighted the great potential of young Ugandans.  
- [Technology breakthroughs can fight emerging crime](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/10/26/technology-breakthroughs-can-fight-emerging-crime/): Despite the challenges in 2020, Uganda got one thing right, and that was a significant reduction in crime. The 2020 annual crime report by the Uganda police indicates 215,224 cases were reported in 2019 compared to 195,931 cases reported in the year 2020. This is an 8.9 per cent decline in the volume of crimes.  
- [National Payment Systems Act: Will new regulations deliver growth in Fintech sector?](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/10/19/national-payment-systems-act-will-new-regulations-deliver-growth-in-fintech-sector/): It’s been thirteen years since the Ugandan payments landscape was disrupted by the First mobile money system. MTN Uganda introduced the service in 2009 changing the tide in this cash-based economy.  
- [Ending gender digital divide: What more can we do for girls?](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/10/12/ending-gender-digital-divide-what-more-can-we-do-for-girls/): Digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in our history; reaching around 50 per cent of the developing world’s population in only two decades and transforming societies. In 2021, we are surrounded by evidence of the transformative power of digital technology. Through our digital gadgets, we enjoy more connectivity, better access to information, and increased access to services in every industry.  
- [Design hackathon empowers young innovators](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/10/12/design-hackathon-empowers-young-innovators/): Zephaniah Maxwell Anyuru is a 24-year-old Graphics designer who spent last week participating in a design hackathon organized by Garage48 in collaboration with The Innovation Village and with support from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation.  
- [Eric Osiakwan tips local startups on raising capital](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/10/05/eric-osiakwan-tips-local-startups-on-raising-capital/): They say experience is the best teacher and, in this case, the best advice for startups always comes from those who have walked miles in the entrepreneurship journey. That is why when Eric Osiakwan came to The Innovation Village to interact with startup founders, we could not think of a better person to answer the most pressing question on their minds, “How can startups raise capital?”
- [International Literacy Day: How to bridge the digital divide and advance literacy](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/09/29/international-literacy-day-how-to-bridge-the-digital-divide-and-advance-literacy/): Long before digital platforms went from a luxurious accessory for learning to a necessity for education continuity in the current climate, Robert Atwine, a Digital Education Enthusiast, had been working to streamline EdTech solutions in Uganda. 
- [Innovation can enable equal participation in tourism sector](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/09/24/innovation-can-enable-equal-participation-in-tourism-sector/): For decades, tourism businesses have been a preserve of foreign investors and Uganda’s wealthy upper class. Why? From accommodation services to transport services, the high costs of starting a business while investing in infrastructure and attractions have been a huge barrier to entry.
- [Stopping cybercrime will require more than individual vigilance.](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/09/21/stopping-cybercrime-will-require-more-than-individual-vigilance/): Almost a year ago, hackers targeted a third-party technology company and stole billions of shillings from mobile money service providers and digital payment systems. Reports in the media indicate telecoms and banks that used Pegasus Technologies as a transaction aggregator at the time fell victim to the hack.
- [Embrace Design Thinking to solve your innovation problems](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/09/15/embrace-design-thinking-to-solve-your-innovation-problems/): “Design is at the centre of everything that we do whether we think about it or not,” says Eugene Kavuma, an enthusiast of Design and Founder of Kampala Design Week (KDW) says. 
- [Tax compliance critical aspect for startup growth](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/09/14/tax-compliance-critical-aspect-for-startup-growth/): For two years, Sam Kajubi (not real name) has run a web design company that builds e-commerce platforms. But in the period of operation, not once has the business paid its taxes. The business has never been registered with Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and neither does its founder know where the process of paying one’s taxes starts or ends.  
- [Startup Act: Strides made and how it can be a game changer for entrepreneurship](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/09/07/startup-act-strides-made-and-how-it-can-be-a-game-changer-for-entrepreneurship/): When Italy passed the world’s first-ever Startup Act in 2012, it sparked off a trend that drove other countries to work on legislation that encourage the growth of their startup ecosystem. 
- [Desperate calls to reopen schools: Innovation needs to speed up](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/08/31/desperate-calls-to-reopen-schools-innovation-needs-to-speed-up/): Even though Nirere has always looked optimistically to the future because she is solution-oriented, the current climate of uncertainty around education in Uganda is weighing down her spirit. 
- [Future of Commerce: Why business must adapt E-Commerce](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/08/24/future-of-commerce-why-business-must-adapt-e-commerce/): The impact of Covid-19 and its containment measures have shifted the landscape of how trade can be conducted. Today businesses are seizing every opportunity pro vided by digital technology and innovation to offer enormous products that drive economic growth and business development. 
- [Youth Innovation is key to transforming our food systems](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/08/13/youth-innovation-is-key-to-transforming-our-food-systems/): In 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared August 12, as the International Youth Day to celebrate the involvement and contributions of the young people to the national development agenda, while drawing attention to the day-to-day challenges they face in pursuing their dreams and aspirations to live a decent life free from poverty, unemployment, inequality and exclusion.
- [Health Innovation is key to eradicating the Covid-19 crisis](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/08/11/health-innovation-is-key-to-eradicating-the-covid-19-crisis/): In his speech to the nation on July 30, 2021, President Yoweri Museveni partially reopened most parts of the economy after 42-days of the lockdown.  This was after the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 drastically dropped from 21 per cent to 10 per cent, largely attributed to limited human interaction and movement.
- [Rise of Tech and Workforce need to meet halfway](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/08/03/rise-of-tech-and-workforce-need-to-meet-halfway/): Sheba Ayinzabyonna has always held the career of programming in high regard. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Information Technology (IT) and has since then served as an Information Communications Technology (ICT) teacher for secondary school students.
- [Talking Innovation: What Alvin Mbugua told Senior Executives](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/08/02/talking-innovation-what-alvin-mbugua-told-senior-executives/): Alvin Mbugua spent the earlier years of his career in West Africa and East Africa before finding his way to South Africa. He knows too well what it is like to set up systems in corporate organisations across the continent. Each of these countries, be it Senegal where he worked or Kenya where he hails, has taught him a lot about innovation. 
- [UPSKILL: What 42 Days of Digital Marketing tells us about the Future of Work](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/07/29/upskill-what-42-days-of-digital-marketing-tells-us-about-the-future-of-work/): Talking of thriving, at UPSKILL, a digital services marketplace that matches highly skilled talent with industry in new ways, there has been a hive of activity from discussions about the state of digital marketing in Uganda, flash talks about necessary skills to establish oneself in this service to masterclasses meant to improve one’s digital skills.  Digital marketing encompasses online marketing approaches that exist to digitally connect a company with prospective customers. It covers a broad range of tactics from the business website itself to online branding assets, digital advertising, email marketing, online brochures, banner and popup ads, among others. Research by LinkedIn rates digital marketing as one of the top ten jobs with the largest openings.
- [CleanTech: The urgent need for concerted efforts in its adoption](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/07/27/cleantech-the-urgent-need-for-concerted-efforts-in-its-adoption/): When it comes to climate change, Uganda has been doing one thing right and that is maintaining a small carbon footprint. According to the information from Our World in Data, 2017 statistics stood at 0.12 tonnes per capita. This is the contribution of a single citizen to carbon emissions. Uganda joins other sub-saharan counterparts including Chad, Niger and Central African Republic whose average footprint is about 0.1 per year. Data indicates this is more than 160 times lower than what the United States of America, Australia and Canada emit. 
- [Rethinking youth skilling key to meeting Uganda’s needs](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/07/13/rethinking-youth-skilling-key-to-meeting-ugandas-needs/): “A well-mentored, well-tutored and well-guided young people are not only an asset to their society and their community but also an important link between the past and the future.” These were the words of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni when he presided over the Young Achievers’ Awards in 2018. 
- [Startups need support to rise from this pandemic](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/07/06/startups-need-support-to-rise-from-this-pandemic/): In May 2020, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) compiled its findings on the impact of COVID-19 on Ugandan Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The UNCDF report indicated that only about 15 per cent of surveyed companies could sustain more than three months of operation on their cash flow at the time. The report further indicated that 85 per cent of all Ugandan businesses would be in financial distress after three months of lockdown measures while 50 per cent of informal businesses would be out of business or fall below the poverty line after just one month.
- [Digital Innovation: A Missed Opportunity For Tourism’s Recovery](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/06/30/digital-innovation-a-missed-opportunity-for-tourisms-recovery/): Before COVID-19 virus arrived in Uganda, the Tourism sector was registering a steady rise in foreign exchange from tourists. According to the Annual Tourism Sector Performance Report for Financial Year 2018/2019, revenue rose from $1.45 billion in 2017 to $1.6 billion in 2018.
- [Technology can enable farmers and agribusinesses to reap big](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/06/15/technology-can-enable-farmers-and-agribusinesses-to-reap-big/): A compelling projection was made by the World Bank on the future of Agribusiness in 2013. Its report titled “Growing Africa: Unlocking the Potential of Agribusiness”, stated that by 2030, African farmers and agribusinesses could create an African $1 trillion food market. But therein, there were conditions to this growth including access to capital electricity, better technology and irrigated land. For a sector that is the backbone of the continent and Uganda as well, this projection restores tremendous hope in the potential improvement of livelihoods. 
- [Legal Tech Lab: Taking the lead on innovations for the Legal sector](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/06/14/legal-tech-lab-taking-the-lead-on-innovations-for-the-legal-sector/): In the recent national budget read by newly appointed State Minister for Planning Amos Lugolobi, about Shs376.9 billion has been allocated to the Judiciary arm of government. Out of this, Shs18.2 billion has been earmarked for implementing the Electronic Court Case Management Information System and the Prosecution Case Management Information System. 
- [Education: Why the sector is ripe for digital disruption](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/06/08/education-why-the-sector-is-ripe-for-digital-disruption/): On June 6, 2021, President Museveni delivered his much-anticipated speech in his second address to the nation since the newest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country. With scores of students infected according to recent media reports, the president only confirmed a lockdown many saw coming. He closed schools for 42 days to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.
- [Private sector calls for National Startup Policy](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/06/03/private-sector-calls-for-national-startup-policy/): Kampala, Uganda; May 27, 2021- Private sector players have asked the government to expedite the formulation and implementation of a National Startup Policy in order to address major impediments to the growth of entrepreneurship and innovation in the country. 
- [Growth of tech-preneurship is on track but threatened by internet tax](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/06/01/growth-of-tech-preneurship-is-on-track-but-threatened-by-internet-tax/): The 12 per cent levy on internet bundles recently approved by Parliament under the Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2021, will further deny startups and entrepreneurs a chance to grow their businesses. 
- [STARTUP FINANCING: SOURCES AND WHY INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS MATTER](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/05/07/startup-financing-sources-and-why-innovation-ecosystems-matter/): There is no shortage of good solutions to the problems that plague Uganda, but there is a challenge with finding financial support to fund these solutions until they can survive on their feet.
- [Tech and Data: How The Innovation Village is revolutionizing the sector](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/04/30/tech-and-data-how-the-innovation-village-is-revolutionizing-the-sector/): Nestled within The Innovation Village is a major organ that profoundly supports its core work.  The office, filled with big computers perfectly planted in front of some of the best tech and data minds in the country, is key to assisting this ecosystem which has made it its life’s purpose to grow innovation in Uganda.  
- [The Innovation Village and JICA: Building a game-changing startup ecosystem](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/04/23/the-innovation-village-and-jica-building-a-game-changing-startup-ecosystem/): In the process of building an entrepreneurial community flowing with an abundance of opportunities, there are key partners who contribute tremendously in realizing this dream. 
- [THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT LIES IN THESE YOUNG HANDS](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/04/19/the-future-of-transport-lies-in-these-young-hands/): Ask any Ugandan about their frustrations with the public transport system and you will get a litany of grievances. The complaints rotate around unjustified delays caused by taxis scavenging for passengers, taxis that wind up as traps set up by gangs of thieves and that is just the tip of this troubling iceberg. 
- [Quick Talk with Ivan Sewajje](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/04/07/quick-talk-with-ivan-sewajje/): What is your name and what do you do at The Innovation village?
- [RESILIENCE: Smiling at Adversity](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/04/07/resilience-smiling-at-adversity/): The word resilience brings to my mind a beautiful lake side resort that I visited after being drawn in by its picturesque website. Kalanoga resort is located on a small peninsula on the shores of Lake Victoria, in Busaabala, 15 Kms from Kampala. On getting to Kalanoga, I found that besides the spacious dining area that sits on the most elevated part of the land, made of brown timber floors and green canvas ceiling – everything else looked grim.
- [A year later, many women work on relentlessly](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/03/18/a-year-later-many-women-work-on-relentlessly/): “Rest! What is rest for a mom working in the corporate world?” Grenia Nalumansi laughs before she provides a glimpse into her life. She considers herself the pivot of her family and crucial axis of her workplace as a Public Relations Officer at a busy technology company in Kampala city.
- [What Could the Future of Education for Uganda Look Like? An Invitation to Imagine](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/02/18/what-could-the-future-of-education-for-uganda-look-like-an-invitation-to-imagine/): So far uncertainty hangs in the air about the future of education in Uganda. It’s clear that the move towards online classes for instance will widen the inequality in education owing to issues of internet access. Furthermore there is concern about the quality of education and the ability for students to grasp their lessons without personal contact with the teacher. After interviewing a couple of students who have experienced online learning they have all echoed the difficulty that is in concentrating in a zoom class or even being able to participate. Other students are concerned about the cost of internet.
- [THE FUTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/02/12/the-future-of-entrepreneurship/): Becoming an entrepreneur is a goal for many. The lifestyle, flexibility of working hours and the ability to set yourself up financially and potentially for life, is a call that thousands each year find difficult to ignore. Taking the leap and setting out on their own business ventures is their biggest dream. What puts a large fraction of potential entrepreneurs off, however, is the inability to decide what kind of business best to venture into in the first place. Additionally, factors like what consumers favour and what makes them more likely to succeed leave them confused and more so demoralised. As much as all our dreams come true when fervently pursued, entrepreneurship has been shaped by many trends and changes that are determining not only how enterprises have to function but also dictating the future of entrepreneurship. Let’s dig in to what the future of entrepreneurship is and where it is headed. 
- [Unlocking Opportunities in Uganda’s Tech Community](https://innovationvillage.africa/2021/02/04/unlocking-opportunities-in-ugandas-tech-community/): The most experienced developers in Uganda’s tech ecosystem started out over 20 years ago, but we only began to see real growth in the industry 10 years ago. This is evident in the age group data, with 85.5% lying between the ages of 18 and 30. Even with a slowly rising growth curve, the ecosystem is faced with several challenges and this has never been more evident than it is now.

## Pages
- [AgriFlex](https://innovationvillage.africa/agriflex/): AgriFlex is a comprehensive digital agriculture platform designed specifically for African farmers, enhancing agricultural productivity across the continent through innovative solutions, data-driven insights, and cutting-edge technology tailored for African farming practices.
- [Stories](https://innovationvillage.africa/stories/): Stay updated on the innovation ecosystem with our blogs
- [Our People](https://innovationvillage.africa/our-people/): Our team is composed of passionate individuals who bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to driving innovation across Africa. Led by industry veterans, our leadership team is dedicated to empowering the next generation of African innovators.
- [Our Bets on Africa](https://innovationvillage.africa/our-bets-on-africa/): By nurturing growth across these areas, we aim to democratize entrepreneurship and drive sustainable innovation in Africa. 
- [Why Innovate With Us](https://innovationvillage.africa/why-innovate-with-us/): Transform your ideas into impactful solutions with us
- [Finance](https://innovationvillage.africa/finance/): Providing the financial support needed to scale impactful ventures
- [Build](https://innovationvillage.africa/build/): Partnering with Industry Leaders and Startups
- [Innovation Village Hub Initiatives ](https://innovationvillage.africa/innovation-village-hub-initiatives/): At The Innovation Village, we recognize that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of economic growth and job creation. Through our Small Business Development Centers, we offer comprehensive, innovative support to help these businesses thrive. Our strategy focuses on fostering sustainable, scalable, and investable businesses that can address real market needs and drive long-term impact. 
- [Empower](https://innovationvillage.africa/empower/): Creating the foundation for innovation to thrive
- [Careers](https://innovationvillage.africa/careers/): Are you passionate about innovation and looking to make a difference? Join our dynamic team and be a part of Africa's leading innovation partner. We are always on the lookout for talented individuals who share our vision and values.
- [About Us](https://innovationvillage.africa/about-us/): Empowering a new generation of innovators to build a brighter future
- [Innovation Village](https://innovationvillage.africa/): At Innovation Village, we are dedicated to turning Africa’s brightest ideas into impactful solutions. Our mission is to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation across the continent.  

## Theme Builder
- [About](https://innovationvillage.africa/?uicore-tb=about): From the start, we’ve focused on making an impact through innovation and collaboration, growing into an organization that supports ventures and communities.
- [how we work](https://innovationvillage.africa/?uicore-tb=how-we-work): An ecosystem of innovation spaces dedicated to fostering social impact and community development. We empower innovators and changemakers by providing resources, mentorship, and collaborative spaces to create sustainable solutions for pressing social challenges.
- [our mission](https://innovationvillage.africa/?uicore-tb=our-mission): We create environments where innovation can flourish by equipping communities of practice, extracting insights through deep analytics, and activating interdisciplinary think tanks.
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