In Press

Winners of NextGen East African Innovator Programme

Published

4 years ago

April 12, 2021

The team while at Makerere University Research Institute Kabanyolo Smart Hydroponics greenhouse — The team (AgriOT) while at Makerere University Research Institute Kabanyolo Smart Hydroponics greenhouse

Four student teams from across East Africa have won a competition seeking innovative solutions to address food-related challenges.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Hub for Eastern Africa partnered with the Technical University of Denmark’s DTU Skylab FoodLab, the Hult Prize Foundation and the Ministry of Danish Affairs to launch the first NextGen East African Innovators Programme.

Nine teams of student innovators from Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Rwanda were selected out of 156 applicants to participate in a virtual bootcamp to further develop their concepts and take part in a culminating pitch competition on 18 March 2021.

Students had the opportunity to work with qualified facilitators and experts to improve their skills in areas such as value proposition, sustainable business development, pitching and fine-tuning their venture concepts.

Four winning teams were selected at the pitch event to take part in a part-virtual, part-in-person programme with the DTU Skylab FoodLab, which is the food systems change lab of the Technical University of Denmark´s innovation hub. The teams are from Ethiopia, Uganda and two from Kenya. One of the Kenyan teams is made up of refugees based in Kakuma who are originally from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Participants in the programme will receive virtual mentoring and take part in inspirational lectures in preparation for a month-long trip to DTU focusing on intensive prototyping and research. When they return home, they will continue to interact with DTU staff virtually and exchange ideas with DTU Skylab FoodLab students.

They will also be able to connect with Skylab Experts and DTU’s strong global network of innovators and entrepreneurs. DTU National Food Institute will also be a partner in the activities and will provide scientific support and access to facilities during the programme.

“I believe that this collaboration will provide the winners of the NextGen with the possibility of living a full DTU experience and bringing back to their regions relevant knowledge that can be shared with other team members and among other fellow innovators,” said Roberto Flore, head of the DTU Skylab FoodLab.

“This is also a fantastic opportunity for the DTU Skylab FoodLab community to connect and exchange ideas with a group of bright innovators such as the winners of the NextGen East African Innovators Programme. I believe this kind of interaction will immensely enrich our DTU students,” Flore added.

The winning teams are:

Tripple P (Kenya)

Tripple P is a social enterprise dedicated to providing eco-friendly and affordable fertilizer and feed made from soldier fly larvae.

Quote on winning:

“WFP Next Gen Innovators brings together the greatest innovators in the region. We are humbled to have won in a pool of such incredible talent. We are also very excited and can’t wait for the start of a hopefully long relationship with DTU Skylab FoodLab and the continuation of the relationship with the WFP Regional Bureau for Eastern Africa.”

Team Contact Person

Gloria Cherono (Team lead)

Kenyatta University

AgriOT (Uganda)

An AI-Based greenhouse system using Internet of Things technology capable of delivering quality produce by controlling unpredictable weather conditions to ensure sufficient and consistent food production throughout the year.

Quote on winning:

” Winning is not just about being the first. It’s about working harder every day, building one another and constantly improving ourselves to be better than the day before, and being part of WFP innovation hub helped us achieve these goals. It has been an awesome experience interacting with other participants and hope we can inspire other innovators to join the hub to help improve their ideas and transform their communities and Africa as a whole.”

Team Contact Person

Derrick Locha

Makerere University

In Press

Registration without incentives won’t grow business in Uganda, experts warn

Published

2 weeks ago

August 31, 2025

Mak Editor

Prof. Marcus Larsen presenting the research insights. College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) and the Copenhagen Business School, in partnership with Uganda Small Scale Industries Association, dissemination workshop on Firm Formalization and Sustainable Development, 29th August 2025, CoBAMS Conference Hall, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

_{By John Odyek}

Business and tax registration alone are not enough to secure the survival, growth, or sustainability of firms in Uganda, according to new research that has been released.

The study conducted by scholars from Makerere University, Copenhagen Business School, and the Uganda Small Scale Industries Association (USSIA) found that formalisation must be supported by targeted reforms, government incentives, and strong backing from business associations and civil society if it is to deliver green and inclusive growth.

Titled “Firm Formalisation and Sustainable Development,” the study launched on August 28, 2025, at Makerere University.

In Press

Climate change puts Uganda’s trade future at risk

Published

4 weeks ago

August 18, 2025

Mak Editor

Dr. Peter Babyenda, Post Doc Researcher. Environment for Development (EfD) initiative at Makerere University inception workshop for two-year research project aimed at studying energy demand and efficiency among Ugandan households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), supported by a $30,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation under the CECAP program, 14th May 2025, EfD Conference Room, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

_{By Dr. Peter Babyenda}

Uganda’s growing integration into regional and global markets is facing a serious threat from climate change, according to a new study examining the country’s trade performance between 1990 and 2023. The study reveals that rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns are undermining export capacity, damaging vital infrastructure, and pushing up the cost of trade.

The writer is a Research Fellow, Lecturer and Policy Engagement Coordinator at EfD-Mak Centre, School of Economics, CoBAMS, Makerere University; Email: pbabyenda@gmail.com

In Press

The crisis of impressions in Uganda

Published

4 months ago

May 26, 2025

Mak Editor

Assoc. Prof. Mike Ibrahim Okumu officially opening the workshop. Environment for Development (EfD) initiative at Makerere University inception workshop for two-year research project aimed at studying energy demand and efficiency among Ugandan households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), supported by a $30,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation under the CECAP program, 14th May 2025, EfD Conference Room, Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

OKUMU MIKE IBRAHIM | In recent times, I have come to better understand why many frontier organisations such as the Economic Policy Research Center now prefer to observe prospective employees—through internships, consultancy roles, or temporary assignments—before offering permanent contracts. This trend reflects a broader social phenomenon: the rise of impression management, what we locally call kufera. Unfortunately, this culture of appearances has crept into the realm of public service, where form often triumphs over substance, and packaging overshadows the true content of delivery.