FUE Empowers Uganda’s Young Innovators in Tech @ Work Challenge
Kampala, The Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE), in partnership with Tech @ Work, has concluded the inaugural national Tech @ Work Challenge on Thursday at the FUE offices in Namanve. The event spotlighted Uganda’s brightest young innovators, with five transformative ideas addressing critical societal challenges emerging as finalists. Out of over 100 applications, the top three received financial support to scale their innovations

The competition attracted groundbreaking solutions across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, and climate change. Tendo Angel Collette introduced Agrolink Uganda, a mobile app that connects farmers to consumers while earning a 15% commission on transactions. Despite market volatility and inflation challenges, Tendo is committed to refining the platform through detailed market research.
Ainembabazi Charity, the overall winner, presented Safemed, an app that bridges the gap between healthcare professionals and patients in semi-urban and urban areas. Generating revenue through subscriptions and premium features like health monitoring tools, Safemed also engages specialists to streamline patient care access.
Charity, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, expressed her gratitude to FUE for creating opportunities that empower young innovators. She shared her personal journey, highlighting the financial challenges she faced, including a lack of sufficient transport from Mbarara to Kampala.
She, However, expressed thanks to the encouragement of her mentors, she managed to attend and deliver her winning pitch. Charity also valued the opportunity to network with various stakeholders at the event, which she believes will greatly support her project’s growth.
Albert Kamoti pitched Smart Agrimarket Uganda, a web-based platform designed to empower small-scale farmers with access to markets, financial services, and educational resources. Targeting farmers aged 18 to 50 in rural areas, the platform aims to increase farmer incomes by 30% by 2026.
Michael Ssegujja showcased Shatoo, an innovative transport app that ensures the safe commute of school children. The app, which charges $3 per child per term, provides real time notifications to parents once their child boards the school transport. Isaac Gideon Paul represented Green Gate Youth Organization, a youth-driven initiative promoting climate change awareness through sustainable tree planting and environmental conservation campaigns.
Winners were selected based on their stage of development, relevance to national needs, potential impact, and sustainability. Safemed claimed the top prize of $3,000 for its innovative approach to improving healthcare access. Green Gate Youth Organization secured second place with $2,000 for its commitment to environmental sustainability. Shatoo earned third place and $1,000 for its practical solution addressing the safety of school children.
Speaking at the event, FUE CEO Mr. Douglas Opio lauded the participants for their creativity and resilience. He urged them to capitalize on their youth and embrace the transformative power of knowledge. “Eighty percent of challenges in Uganda stem from a lack of knowledge.
By seeking knowledge and developing the right skills, young people can create solutions to the issues around them. Tools like AI, when used effectively, can generate impactful ideas and improve livelihoods,” he said.
Mr. Opio further emphasized the importance of positive habits, time management, spiritual growth, and cultivating strong interpersonal values to ensure personal and professional success.
Mr. Amadou Sako, IOU Adviser for Africa and Tech @ Work Project Coordinator, reflected on the importance of initiatives like the Tech @ Work Challenge.
He noted that unemployment, especially among Africa’s youth, is linked to structural business challenges and emphasized the need to create more companies to unlock job opportunities. “Uganda’s youthful population is a massive asset. By supporting innovative ideas, we can address unemployment and shape a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he remarked.
The Tech @ Work Challenge demonstrated the immense potential of youth driven innovation in tackling pressing challenges. With FUE’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent, Uganda’s future looks promising as it harnesses the creativity and resilience of its young innovators to drive national development.