Left to right: Erick Gaalya from the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre & Data Bank (NAGRC & DB), William Matovu, Country Director - Heifer International Uganda, John Walugembe, Executive Director - Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (FSME), Zilla Mary Arach, Chief Product Officer at Ezyagric and Naika Enock Julius, CEO Famunera launch the 2nd edition of the AYuTe Africa Challenge. PHOTO/ESTHER BRIDGET NAKALYA
Youth participation in agriculture is growing with competitions such as AYuTe Africa Challenge, a flagship national competition that identifies, invests in, and accelerates youth-led Agritech innovations, observers have noted.
According to William Matovu, the country director of Heifer International Uganda, since its launch in 2022, AYuTe has attracted over 600 youth, funded 12 winning ventures, and impacted over 8,000 smallholder farmers in the country.
“The winning innovations have consistently delivered improved crop yields, enhanced livestock survival rates which has subsequently improved incomes,” noted Matovu at the launch of the fourth edition of the AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda, in Jinja recently.
Cash prize
Up for grabs this year is a total cash prize of Shs222 million. Winners in the various categories will also receive production management, leadership, ecosystem development, stakeholder engagement plus finance, strategy, marketing, and sales training from experts.
This is meant to ensure that their innovations thrive beyond the competition.
“The goal is to drive productivity and prosperity among Uganda’s smallholder farmers by equipping youth with the tools, skills, and funding to deliver scalable agricultural solutions. It is only fitting that the youth of Uganda who comprise more than 70 percent of the population are the stewards of this shift,” Matovu added.
The 2025 national challenge winners will also earn an opportunity to compete at the continental level in the AYuTe Africa NextGen Grand Challenge 2026, joining youth innovators from across Africa in advancing climate-smart and tech-driven agriculture.
AYuTe (an acronym for agriculture, youth and technology) aims to push innovation and technology as essential factors in the shaping of the future of agriculture, especially today when the world faces food insecurity, sustainability, and resource management challenges.
“While innovation remains at the core of AYuTe Africa, this year we are going a step further — recognising agripreneurs with the entrepreneurial skill to turn solutions into sustainable businesses. We’re looking for change-makers who are driving job creation, stimulating rural economies, and building businesses that are transforming the future of farming,” Matovu added.
Celebrating farmers
As such, the competition is expanding its spotlight to not only identify innovative agri-tech solutions but also to celebrate entrepreneurs who are building scalable businesses and creating jobs for Uganda’s youth. Participants have up to the end of this month (June 2025) to apply.
“This initiative aligns perfectly with Uganda Vision 2040 and our national strategy to transform agriculture from subsistence to commercial enterprise. The youth who have in the past avoided agriculture claiming its dirty and strenuous are now more active because of the innovation and technology that AYuTe has encouraged,” said Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, the minister of State for Agriculture.
Kenneth Bagarukayo, commissioner for Research and Development, at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance noted that Uganda’s development blueprint — Vision 2040 — placed digital transformation at the heart of inclusive growth.
"Agriculture, which employs over 70 percent of our population, must evolve. As a ministry, we are supporting this evolution through the National ICT Policy, the National Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy, and the Digital Uganda Vision, all of which emphasise the integration of technology into every sector, including agriculture," he said.
The AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda 2025 edition is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance and MasterCard Foundation.
