Makerere University through its Innovation Pod (UniPod) hosted a delegation from the Belgian Embassy in Uganda, accompanied by representatives from ENABEL and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on September 1, 2025. The visit included a tour of all ten maker spaces at the UniPod, offering guests a first-hand experience of Makerere’s vibrant innovation ecosystem.

Speaking on behalf of the Belgian Embassy, the Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Development Cooperation, Mr. Michel Dewez, who arrived in Uganda only a month ago, expressed delight at visiting Makerere for the first time. He commended the university for its well-organized approach to innovation, noting that the delegation was impressed by the creative processes underway. He added that the tools and instruments available at the UniPod not only support students but also extend benefits to the wider community.

Representatives from ENABEL described the UniPod as an “impressive and inspiring place” for their very first external engagement. They applauded Makerere not just for generating innovative ideas but also for translating them into tangible businesses already creating jobs. Congratulating the hosts, they highlighted the shared belief in innovation as a pathway to addressing challenges, creating employment, and empowering young people, particularly women. They equally expressed ENABEL’s readiness to actively seek future opportunities for synergy and collaboration.

The Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, Mr. Ian King, also praised the creativity on display, emphasizing UNDP’s strong commitment to innovation and progress. He noted that with Africa being the youngest continent, innovation is vital in addressing its pressing challenges. He expressed admiration for Makerere’s success in translating academic ideas into applicable solutions and called for the scaling of the most promising innovations through partnerships with the private sector and investors. Mr. King reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to Makerere, stressing that the organization views itself not as a donor but as a facilitator helping to identify ideas, merge solutions, and support partners in scaling them despite a challenging global financial context.

On behalf of the University, the Director of Research, Innovation and Partnerships, Prof. Robert Wamala extended a warm welcome to the guests. He expressed gratitude to the Belgian Embassy delegation, as well as UNDP and ENABEL representatives for their unwavering support towards Uganda’s development. He described the Innovation Pod as a hub where students, researchers, and innovators transform ideas into solutions for pressing societal needs. Prof. Wamala emphasized that Makerere’s research agenda aligns closely with Belgium’s focus areas, including climate change, agriculture, health systems strengthening, digitalization, gender equity, youth employment, and governance. He further noted the importance of linking innovators at Makerere with regional and international counterparts to foster collaboration, digital learning, and scaling of innovations.

The Assistant Manager of the UniPod, Dr. Margaret Nagwovuma introduced the Innovation Centre and its mandate. Established in 2020 under the Office of the Vice Chancellor, the Centre seeks to translate research outputs into commercial projects, focusing on ideation, protection, commercialization, and scaling of innovations. She added that the unit transitioned into an Innovation Pod in 2024 with support from UNDP and established ten maker spaces, including a studio used for recording lectures and presentations. She highlighted that the Centre is evolving into the Makerere University Technology and Innovation Centre (MUTIC), with a vision of enhancing commercialization and industry linkages to promote sustainable industrialization.  Dr. Nagwovuma further emphasized inclusivity, highlighting programs designed to support students, staff, industry partners, the private sector, and marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities and refugees.

During the tour, the delegation interacted with innovators who showcased their solutions. One of the highlights was a researcher who has developed a clinically tested malaria syrup effective against resistant strains. Already recognized internationally in Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, and the UK, the innovation is progressing through advanced clinical trials and is seeking industry partnerships for commercialization. Another innovator, Ms. Rebecca, a Bachelor of Science in Palliative Care student and founder of Alpha My Africa, presented reusable menstrual packs designed to address menstrual poverty. Her initiative has already reached 300 girls in five schools across Wakiso and Mityana districts and is training 30 youth to replicate the work in their communities.

The visit reaffirmed Makerere University’s position as a hub for transformative ideas and meaningful partnerships. By opening its doors to international collaborators and development partners, the UniPod continues to drive inclusive, youth-led innovation that responds to Uganda’s needs and contributes to global progress.

Makerere University Centre for Artificial Intelligence (Mak-AI) is excited to be part of this transformative program by Pathogen Economy Labs and Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat of Uganda. This initiative is more than just training, it’s an opportunity to develop real-world AI/ML solutions with expert guidance and support.

Eligibility:
Open to Ugandans and non-Ugandans living in Uganda (with at least one Ugandan per team). Individual applicants must be Ugandan.

At the end of the training program, you will be required to apply the AI/ML practical skills and knowledge to develop any ideas/solution, prototypes and MVPs through a 2 Months Ideation, innovation and business incubation training and support, where you will have a chance to qualify for seed funding (up to USD 4,000) to enable further development, launch and testing your Minimum with real users.

Deadline: September 4, 2025
For more info: http://bit.ly/4oP6nWq
Apply now: bit.ly/ideas4ai

Kampala, Uganda — Christine Kikome, a finalist in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program at Makerere University’s College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS), has emerged as the Best Pitch Winner at the prestigious Africa Innovation Fellowship (AIF) bootcamp in Johannesburg, South Africa. Kikome walked away with a prize of R10,000 (South African Rands) for her pioneering project FloralIntel – a digital health and education platform that uses artificial intelligence to identify medicinal plants and preserve indigenous knowledge.

The AIF, organized by South Africa-based WomHub in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, brings together top women entrepreneurs from across Africa to showcase their innovative ventures. Kikome was selected for her outstanding pitch and impactful innovation.

The Selection Criteria

Kikome first learned about the Africa Innovation Fellowship through Mr. Marvin Galiwango, her lecturer, who encouraged her to apply following a research project in her second-year Machine Learning course. The project had developed into a functional prototype that used AI to identify medicinal plants.

With an already working Minimum Viable Product,  Kikome applied and successfully navigated a rigorous selection process, including interviews that ran from August to December last year. She was chosen among the top 25 women-led startups on the continent.

The eight-month fellowship began virtually in January, following onboarding in December. Participants attended monthly sessions, with the program culminating in a physical bootcamp in Johannesburg from July 19. During the bootcamp, entrepreneurs received training in business leadership, personal branding, and pitching. Kikome impressed investors and judges on the final day, winning the Best Pitch Award and the accompanying R10,000 prize.

What Kikome Did to Emerge Winner

Kikome’s winning venture, FloralIntel, began as a course project during her undergraduate studies. Along with fellow Computer Science students Geofrey Okumu and Emmanuel Wagisha, and Gerald Obote, a final-year Biotechnologist from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS). The group developed a web-based application that integrates computer vision and machine learning to identify and classify traditional medicinal plants. The platform also connects users with certified herbalists, while preserving indigenous knowledge in digital format.

The innovation addresses the gap between traditional herbal medicine and modern healthcare, enabling accessibility and education for users interested in herbal treatment.

What’s Next for FloralIntel?

With a working prototype in place, Kikome’s next step is to scale FloralIntel into a mobile application and expand its reach across the continent. She plans to apply for more fellowships and seek further grants, including support from the Makerere University Innovation Hub.

“I want FloralIntel to educate the younger generation on herbal knowledge something that can save time, money, and lives,” she explained.

Unique Advantages of FloralIntel

FloralIntel stands out for its multifaceted approach to bridging traditional knowledge and modern technology. One of its most impactful features is the digitization of indigenous knowledge, creating a centralized digital database that preserves and documents traditional herbal practices—knowledge that has long been passed down orally and risks being lost. The platform also enables users to identify medicinal plants through a photo-based recognition system, which instantly provides details such as the botanical name, therapeutic uses, and instructions for application.

To ensure safety and credibility, Kikome envisions collaborating with institutions like the National Drug Authority (NDA) and Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to onboard verified herbalists who can offer both products and consultations through the platform.

Additionally, FloralIntel serves as a learning tool, offering educational content on herbal medicine, disease management, and daily updates on emerging health trends empowering users with accessible, trusted, and practical health knowledge.

Funding and Appreciation:  What the Award Means to Kikome

All travel and accommodation costs for the South Africa bootcamp were fully covered by WomHub, with Kikome only covering her visa expenses. She credits her success to the foundational support provided by the CoCIS RISE Fund, which helped transition FloralIntel from a research concept into a viable prototype.

“This milestone would not have been possible without the foundational support of the COCIS RISE Fund, your mentorship, and Makerere University’s belief in student-led innovation,” Kikome wrote in a thank-you note. This recognition is not just mine, it is a win for the College and a testament to what is possible when academia, research, and innovation are aligned.”

To Makerere University, she expressed deep gratitude for the continuous support from lecturers and administrators. She appreciated Mr. Marvin Ggaliwango and other lecturers who mentored her throughout her academic journey as well as Dr. John Ngubiri the College Coordinator for RISE Funds.

 “This award showcases Makerere’s commitment to homegrown innovations that address African challenges,” she added.

Kikome describes the win as a “powerful affirmation” of her passion for building tech-driven solutions that merge traditional knowledge with modern innovations. She also sees it as a demonstration of leadership potential.

“I’ve always wanted to be a leader from class representative to Guild Tribunal member. Founding FloralIntel and leading it to this achievement reaffirms that drive,” she noted.

To fellow students, especially young women, Kikome offers a message of empowerment: “Don’t hide your potential. You’re too visible to be broke.” She urged students to step out of their comfort zones and face challenges head-on.

To student leaders, she emphasized the need for collaboration. “Without teamwork among leaders, it’s hard to achieve meaningful impact on those we lead,” she warned.

Fighting the Odds – Surviving Three Brain Surgeries

Born to Mr. and Mrs. Musooka Drake in Kawanda, Wakiso District, Christine Kikome’s journey has been marked by resilience.

Kikome extended heartfelt thanks to her father, whom she described as her “core supporter.” Despite coming from a humble background, her father never discouraged her ambitions and, even supported her in identifying herbal plants from his knowledge and experience

Diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of five, she underwent three surgeries – two at Mulago Hospital and one at Mengo Hospital. During her recovery, her grandmother encouraged her to use herbal remedies – an experience that later inspired FloralIntel.

Educated primarily on scholarships, Kikome attended Life Day and Boarding Primary School in Seeta-Bajjo, and Code High School for secondary education, majoring in PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) at A-level.

She initially joined Makerere on private sponsorship for a BSc in Software Engineering, but later secured a government scholarship post-COVID for a BSc in Computer Science.

Reflecting on her personal journey, Kikome candidly shared her experiences growing up overcoming low self-esteem, and battling stereotypes that discouraged educating girls.

“I was often told I wasn’t beautiful, that I would disappoint my father if he invested in me because many girls drop off with pregnancies,” she recalls. “But I pushed through, got first grade in Senior Four, and proved my worth.”

She describes herself as passionate about leadership, innovation, and community impact. Though sometimes perceived as tough, she says she is a warm, encouraging person who brings positivity to those around her.

“I’ve always wanted to be seen for my brains – not my looks. And now I know, it’s not about your size, it’s about what you bring to the table.”

Kikome’s story is one of triumph over adversity, turning childhood medical challenges, stereotypes and socio-economic hardships into a source of inspiration and innovation.

Through FloralIntel, she aims not only to preserve Africa’s indigenous medicinal knowledge but also to prove that with resilience, mentorship and a supportive academic ecosystem, young innovators especially women, can change the future of health and technology in Africa.

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