Kampala, Uganda – Etyang Aaron, a young Ugandan innovator, has been crowned the overall winner of the 2025 AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda, taking home UGX 50 million in seed funding for his agro-tech solution aimed at solving post-harvest losses.
Organized by Heifer International Uganda, the AYuTe Challenge—short for Agriculture, Youth, and Technology is in its fourth season and continues to spotlight innovations at the intersection of agriculture and technology, empowering youth to lead Africa’s food systems transformation.
Innovation That Could Save Millions for Farmers
Etyang’s award-winning solution, the Grain-Guard Monitor, is an Internet of Things (IoT)-powered system that detects post-harvest threats such as mold, pests, rodents, and suboptimal storage conditions, offering real-time monitoring to farmers and grain handlers.
“My innovation is designed to detect early threats like weevils and mold that destroy grains in storage,” Etyang explained. “It helps farmers act early, protect their harvests, and avoid total losses. This journey started from mere prototyping and has now reached deployment stages on real farms.”
He noted that with improved access to production tools and tax exemptions on import components, the technology could scale much faster, reducing unit production time from a week to mere days.
UGX 222M in Total Awarded to 15 Finalists
The AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda awarded UGX 222 million in total, distributed among 15 outstanding youth innovators. The first runner-up, Frank Magezi, co-founder of Afri-Milk Check, received UGX 30 million for his device that enables dairy farmers to test milk quality on-site before it’s delivered to processors.
Heifer International Uganda’s Country Director, William Matovu, praised the journey of the competition since its launch in 2022.
“From just ideas to full-fledged businesses impacting over 5,700 smallholder farmers, AYuTe has become a transformative platform. Our goal is not just awarding winners, but building an ecosystem of young innovators solving real agricultural challenges,” he stated.
He noted that since inception, over 1,200 innovations have been discovered, ranging from irrigation systems and data-driven farming to agri-logistics and post-harvest solutions.
A Vision for Scalable, Youth-Led Agribusiness
This year’s challenge introduced a new Agripreneur category, specifically targeting the Busoga region, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, aiming to create jobs through enterprise development across the agricultural value chain.
Speaking as chief guest, the State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara emphasized that the future of Uganda’s economy and food security lies in transforming agriculture from a fallback sector into a tech-enabled, profitable industry.
“Agriculture employs two-thirds of our population and contributes significantly to GDP. If we want to create jobs for Uganda’s youth, we must invest in modern, data-driven agriculture. Platforms like AYuTe do just that,” he said.
He commended the organizers for reaching underdeveloped regions like Busoga, Karamoja, and Bukedi, and called on leaders to discourage unproductive monocultures like sugarcane in favor of food security crops.
Beyond the Prize: Incubation and Mentorship
Heifer International emphasized that the prize money is only a beginning. Winners will receive post-award support including mentorship, incubation, financial linkages, and access to certification and regulatory agencies. This is part of Heifer’s broader mission to develop sustainable, scalable agribusinesses in Uganda.
“We’re not just recognizing great ideas—we’re nurturing them into impactful businesses that create jobs, boost food systems, and uplift communities,” Matovu added.
Over its four-decade presence in Uganda, Heifer International has evolved from livestock donation models to enterprise incubation, now leveraging partnerships with actors like CURAD and Private Sector Foundation Uganda to accelerate youth-led agribusinesses.
AYuTe Africa Challenge 2025 Prize Breakdown
Agri–Tech Awards (Nationwide)
Overall Winner: UGX 50,000,000
Winner: Etyang Aaron, founder of the Grain Guard
Founded by 3 young innovators, the Mukono based innovation is a smart device helping farmers reduce post-harvest losses by detecting weevils, repelling rodents, and monitoring both moisture and temperature to protect stored grain.
1st Runner-Up: UGX 30,000,000
Winner: Magezi Frank Rubandamayonza, founder of the Afri-Milk Check Kit.
Founded by 3 young innovators, this smart and portable device is helping dairy farmers and processors detect milk spoilage and adulteration in real time, while providing digital records to build trust with buyers.
2nd Runner-Up: UGX 15,000,000
Winner: Namwaya Emilly, founder of Hertech Foundation Limited.
All the way in Terego district, this solar-powered irrigation system uses moisture sensors to automatically control water flow, conserving water, reducing costs, and ensuring higher yields even in drought-prone regions like Northern Uganda.
Best Women in Tech (1st Winner): UGX10,000,000
Winner: Namutebi Muniirah, co-founder of AutoAgri Technologies Limited.
Founded in 2024, this innovation helps farmers save water and increase yields through a smart automated irrigation timer that delivers the right amount of water at the right time.
Best Women in Tech (2nd Winner): UGX10,000,000
Winner: Nanzala Joyce Mary, co-founder of Aqua Hack.
Jointly created, this low-cost smart device is helping fish farmers monitor water quality in real time—tracking temperature, pH, ammonium, and more—while sending instant SMS alerts to protect fish health and boost yields.
Agri – Business Awards (Busoga Subregion)
Best Entrepreneur Overall: UGX 35,000,000
Winner: Hakimu Kabalayo, founder of Ndiko Juice Processors.
This entrepreneur has been transforming local fruit into high-quality juice products, promoting healthy living and creating jobs for young people in Bugiri.
1st Runner-Up: UGX 20,000,000
Winner: Zura Nakitende, founder of Hicu Group of Companies.
This enterprise has three shareholders working together to grow agri-business opportunities in Jinja.
2nd Runner-Up: UGX 10,000,000
Winner: Shannon Tumushabe, founder of Kysi Mango Juice, the makers of Sip Mango Juice.
Founded by four young entrepreneurs, this enterprise produces refreshing mango juice for the local market in Bugiri.
Female Entrepreneurs (1st Winner): UGX 7,000,000
Winner: Esther Namayindi, founder of Knowledge Enhancement Network Foundation. Founded by four young entrepreneurs, the Namayingo based enterprise has been in operation since 2021 engaging in the production of BSF protein meal, organic fertilizers, and maggots.
Female Entrepreneurs (2nd Winner): UGX 7,000,000
Winner: Chepkurui Mercy, founder of Eyo Foods Company Limited.
Owned by 2 shareholders, this venture produces nutritious composite porridge flour to support better diets and food security in Busoga.
Most Innovative Product: UGX 14,000,000
Winner: Winnie Akayezu, founder of Kitchen Yoghurt
Based in Kamuli, this enterprise produces fresh and plant-based yoghurt for the local community.
Runner-Up (Innovative Product): UGX 7,000,000
Winner: Kyarisiima Elizabeth, founder of Isiima Farm Supply and Services Operating since 2021, this enterprise is pioneering eggshell powder production and bringing innovative solutions to waste utilization
