The AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda is back for its fifth season — and it is bigger, bolder, and more focused than ever. Powered by Heifer International Uganda, backed by the Mastercard Foundation, and implemented in partnership with CURAD, Season 5 is a national platform for young innovators aged 18 to 35 who are building technology-driven and business-led solutions that work for real farmers, in real communities, across Uganda.
Winners will access UGX 205,000,000 in catalytic financing, alongside mentorship, incubation, and entry into a powerful ecosystem designed to help ideas grow into scalable businesses. Since 2022, AYuTe Uganda has engaged over 900 young innovators, awarded catalytic funding to 36 winning ventures, and trained more than 200 youth in business model development, pitching, and compliance.
Season 5 introduces a sharper focus. Every applicant must align their solution to defined agricultural challenge areas, ensuring that every funded innovation directly responds to a real, documented barrier affecting Uganda’s farming systems. Applications are accepted in English, Luganda, and Lusoga.
The Two Competition Tracks
Track 1: AgriTech Track — National Competition
This track is open to youth-led agritech ventures across Uganda building technology-driven solutions that transform agriculture. Solutions may focus on:
- Precision and climate-smart production
- Livestock and aquaculture technology
- Post-harvest solutions and storage
- Farm mechanisation and energy
- Digital market and finance innovations for farmers
To qualify, your startup must be less than three years old, beyond the concept stage, have demonstrated demand, and show the potential to scale impact across Uganda.
Track 2: Agribusiness Track — Busoga Sub-Region
This track targets young entrepreneurs operating within the Busoga sub-region across two challenge areas:
Challenge Area 1 — Growing Small-Scale Processing into Market-Ready Products: For agribusinesses turning raw agricultural produce into higher-value, market-ready goods within Heifer International Uganda’s priority value chains — horticulture, dairy, oilseeds, and poultry. Eligible enterprises must have at least one year of revenue and trading history, demonstrate clear market demand, and show potential for job creation and scale.
Challenge Area 2 — Youth-led Green and Circular Agribusinesses: For agribusinesses converting agricultural waste, losses, and inefficiencies into income-generating opportunities. Innovation areas include agro-waste-to-value enterprises, post-harvest loss reduction, circular and biodegradable packaging solutions, and renewable energy solutions for productive agricultural use. Enterprises must be based and operating in at least one Busoga district with verifiable farmer customers and demonstrate potential to scale across the sub-region within 12 to 18 months.
Who Can Apply:
- Young innovators and entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35
- Ventures beyond the concept stage with demonstrated demand
- Applicants across Uganda for the AgriTech track, and those based in the Busoga sub-region for the Agribusiness track
How to Apply:
- Choose your track and identify which challenge area your solution addresses
- Complete the application form available on the website or via WhatsApp at +256757000152
- Record a two-minute video pitch explaining who you are, what problem you solve, and what funding you need
- Submit your form and video via the online portal or WhatsApp
Applications are accepted in English, Luganda, and Lusoga.