KAMPALA — Innovation took centre stage at National Science Week 2026 as three standout teams were crowned winners of the FutureMakers Hackathon 2026, securing up to Shs300m in funding and support to scale their solutions.
The winners — Zuula Care, Ladu, and Mpora Innovations — emerged from a competitive field of ten finalists who pitched solutions aligned with Uganda’s ambition to build a $500 billion economy.
Health Innovation Takes Top Spot
Zuula Care, a team of graduate students from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), was named Best Overall Pitch, winning the top prize under the Inclusion & Accessibility category.
Their innovation, ZuulaCare GastroDx, is a dual-target molecular diagnostic test capable of detecting both Helicobacter pylori and Salmonella Typhi from a single stool sample — a breakthrough aimed at improving diagnosis in underserved communities.
In a statement, MUST praised the team’s achievement: “This is a major innovation milestone… ZuulaCare GastroDx addresses the challenge of limited access to reliable diagnostics, particularly in underserved communities.”
The team, led by Musau Immanuel Afrika alongside Mutyaba Ronald, Moses Ainembabazi, Victor Mugambe, and Edith Mirembe, combines LAMP amplification with CRISPR-Cas12a technology to deliver rapid, point-of-care testing.
Energy and Mobility Solutions Recognised
Ladu secured the second overall position under the Energy Access & Efficiency category, standing out for its practical approach to expanding energy access — a critical pillar in Uganda’s industrialisation drive.
Meanwhile, Mpora Innovations took third place in the Transport & Mobility category for its road safety solution, designed to reduce accidents caused by speeding through a GPS-enabled monitoring and alert system.
Investment in Innovation, Not Just Awards
According to the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat (STI Secretariat), the winners will receive funding, mentorship, and partnership opportunities — positioning the awards as long-term investments rather than one-off prizes.
“This is not a prize, it is an investment in Uganda’s next generation of builders,” the Secretariat said in a statement.
The hackathon, held from April 28 to May 3 with final pitches at Kololo Independence Grounds, attracted over 250 applications from innovators across the country.
Driving Uganda’s $500 Billion Vision
Speaking during the broader National Science Week activities, STI officials emphasised the importance of practical, scalable innovations in driving economic transformation.
Catherine Muwumuza, Superintendent of Support Services at Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat in the President’s Office (STI-OP), underscored the shift toward results-driven innovation: “We are focusing on solutions that are practical, scalable, and capable of delivering real economic impact.”
The FutureMakers Hackathon challenged participants to build working prototypes addressing real-world problems in sectors such as health, energy, transport, and urban development.
The competition brought together developers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and students, reinforcing Uganda’s growing innovation ecosystem.
Out of the ten finalist teams — including solutions in gig economy platforms, solar energy, urban drainage systems, and e-commerce logistics — the top three stood out for their technical execution, scalability, and real-world impact.
