The AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda marked a groundbreaking evolution this year by expanding its focus beyond AgriTech to include an Agribusiness track, reflecting a more holistic view of Uganda’s agricultural future.
The milestone was celebrated during an awarding ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Tuesday.
Hosted by Heifer International Uganda, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation,Consortium for Enhancing University Responsiveness to Agribusiness Development(CURAD), EzyAgric, Makerere University, and the Government of Uganda, the event honoured young innovators and entrepreneurs driving scalable solutions across the agricultural value chain — including input distribution, value addition, agro-processing, logistics, and export.
“This evolution is something we are deeply proud of. For over four decades, Heifer has worked alongside smallholder farmers to lift incomes, promote sustainability, and empower youth and women. The AYuTe Challenge is a natural extension of that legacy — providing a platform to discover and support ideas that transform into real businesses, create jobs, strengthen food systems, and build resilient communities,” said William Matovu, the Country Director of Heifer International Uganda.
The awards for the first time, included an agribusiness track, with a particular focus on the Busoga Subregion, highlighting the shifting of agriculture from subsistence to enterprise. The initiative aligns with Uganda’s Agro-Industrialization Strategy, which sees agriculture as a springboard for manufacturing, trade, and inclusive national development.
Apolo Segawa, Managing Director of CURAD, emphasized the value of this expansion.
“Bringing an agribusiness track into AYuTe closes the gap between bright ideas and bankable enterprises. Through incubation, mentorship, and market access, CURAD helps young founders de-risk and scale ventures across the value chain — from inputs to processing and export. This partnership ensures more youth transform prototypes into profitable, job-creating businesses.”
The Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for youth in agribusiness.
“We are equally committed to gender inclusion as an economic imperative. Women form the backbone of Uganda’s agriculture yet face challenges in land ownership, access to credit, and productivity. Addressing these barriers is central to our agro-industrialisation strategy.”
The gala Awards also celebrated the increased participation of young women innovators.
A total of Shs 222 million was awarded to the 2025 AYuTe Challenge winners and finalists, with the overall winner being Aaron Etyang, founder of The Grain Guard —a smart device designed to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses by detecting weevils, repelling rodents, and monitoring both moisture and temperature in grain storage.
Magezi Frank Rubandamayonza, founder of the Afri-Milk Check Kit, a smart and portable device is helping dairy farmers and processors detect milk spoilage and adulteration in real time, while providing digital records to build trust with buyers was the first runner up.
Muniirah Namutebi Muniirah, the co-founder of AutoAgri Technologies Limited, an innovation that helps farmers save water and increase yields through a smart automated irrigation timer that delivers the right amount of water at the right time was the best women in tech.
On the other side, Hakimu Kabalayo, the founder of Ndiko Juice Processors that has been transforming local fruit into high-quality juice products, promoting healthy living and creating jobs for young people in Bugiri was the overall winner in the agribusiness sector.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge, an initiative of Heifer International, continues to serve as a vital platform in Uganda — showcasing, supporting, and scaling youth-led innovations that reimagine agriculture and contribute to national development.
