Ayute Africa Challenge Season 4 Officially Launched in Jinja

Jinja: The Ayute Africa Challenge Season 4 was officially launched on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Jinja in a ceremony organized by Heifer International Uganda at their Jinja offices.

The event was officiated by the State Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga, who served as the chief guest.

In his address, Minister Kyakulaga urged the youth to actively participate in the challenge, emphasizing that it is not just a competition, but a movement for agricultural development and increased productivity in the region.

“This is more than a competition it’s a movement for change that leads to agricultural transformation,” the Minister said. “Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing over 80% of our population. It sustains our families and fuels rural livelihoods.”

He acknowledged the major challenges facing the sector, including limited access to agricultural financing and low productivity. However, he expressed optimism that the Ayute Challenge could be a critical step in addressing these issues by equipping youth with modern, technology-driven skills.

The Ayute Africa Challenge aligns with Uganda’s Vision 2040, which aims to transform the country into a knowledge-based and inclusive economy. The Minister highlighted that the challenge is specifically targeting agribusiness entrepreneurs in the Busoga sub-region, and all participants will compete independently.

Inspired by the program’s progress since its inception in 2022, the Minister revealed that the best innovations will be awarded UGX 35 million in the agribusiness category and UGX 50 million in the agri-tech category.

Mr. William Matovu, Country Director of Heifer International Uganda, explained that Heifer is a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving livelihoods through agriculture. He noted that the Ayute Africa Challenge was launched to discover and support creative young minds who can transform agriculture using technology.

“Research shows that in Africa, few young people have the skills to engage effectively in agri-tech farming. That’s why we launched Ayute in 2022 to address these gaps,” said Matovu. “When youth are empowered, the agriculture sector and the challenges they face can be solved through innovation.”

He added that this year’s edition is not just about celebrating innovation, but about identifying and supporting enterprising young agri-tech entrepreneurs in Busoga, particularly women-led ventures. The total prize pool for this year is UGX 222 million, including business development training, mentorship, and equity shares.

Mr. Matovu further clarified that participants will benefit from a rigorous program covering areas like marketing, communication, and business development to help turn ideas into sustainable businesses. Top winners will also represent Uganda at the continental level of the competition.

“Over 600 youth have already benefited from the initiative, and more than 800 farmers have improved their productivity and networks through the program,” he said.

He also explained that Busoga was chosen because it faces several socio-economic challenges, including high poverty levels, a large youth population, and high rates of teenage pregnancy. The challenge aims to address these by creating 250,000 jobs and linking youth to resource networks and opportunities.

Mr. Kenneth Byarugaba, Commissioner for Research and Development at the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, represented the State Minister for ICT, Hon. Kabyanga Godfrey. He emphasized government efforts to improve connectivity through Wi-Fi hotspots and e-government platforms, encouraging youth to develop affordable digital skills to support agritech innovation.

Minister Kyakulaga also highlighted broader government initiatives under the NRM, such as privatization of the economy, return of Asian properties, cash crop diversification, market integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the introduction of UPE and USE. He reaffirmed the government’s fight against corruption and promotion of skills development.

“The NRM government believes in empowering the youth. More than 70% of Uganda’s population are energetic young people. They must be mobilized to work not just to eat,” he said.

He concluded by emphasizing that Heifer International’s work is crucial in tackling youth unemployment, building inclusive wealth, and empowering the next generation to ensure food security and sustainability.

The AYuTe Africa Challenge is a Heifer International initiative that invests in innovative, youth-led African agritech businesses.

The goal is to empower smallholder farmers by giving them access to new technologies and solutions that can enhance their productivity, improve livelihoods, and build resilience.

Heifer International is a global nonprofit organization with a focus on agriculture, employing over 200 staff in Africa.

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