From Ideas to Impact: How Heifer International Is Cultivating a New Generation of Agri-Innovators in Uganda Uganda’s young innovators are redefining agriculture with technology, creativity, and purpose. Through Heifer International’s AYuTe Africa Challenge, they are turning ideas into impact—building agribusinesses that feed families, create jobs, and power a more resilient future for farmers.

By William Matovu

Uganda’s story is one of youth and potential. With more than 70% of the population under the age of 30, our young people are the pulse of the nation; they are creative, determined, and unafraid to innovate. 

Agriculture is no exception; it is being reimagined by a new generation using technology and fresh ideas to transform how food is grown, processed, and distributed.

In September this year, we marked the fourth edition of the Africa Youth and Technology (AyuTe) Africa Challenge – Heifer International’s annual platform that identifies and supports breakthrough agritech innovations aimed at improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Heifer International, Uganda’s goal is to improve the livelihoods of 400,000 smallholder farmers by 2030 through production and productivity increase and stronger market linkages, among others. 

The AYuTe Challenge is one of the key avenues through which we are achieving this goal.

Since 2021, AYuTe has inspired more than 1,500 youth in Uganda to harness technology and creativity to solve the everyday challenges faced by farmers. 

Of these, about 50 youth innovators have been awarded, receiving a total of USD 150,000 (UGX 500 million) in seed funding. As a result, over 8,000 smallholder farmers have been positively impacted over the period.

In Uganda, AYuTe has become a launchpad for young innovators who are proving that Agriculture can be smart, profitable, and exciting.

Expanding the Horizon: The 2025 Challenge

The 2025 Challenge was a special milestone. For the first time, the competition expanded beyond agritech to include agribusiness entrepreneurs from the Busoga region (Eastern Uganda), recognising that building thriving businesses that create jobs, add value to produce, and strengthen communities is equally essential.

We have seen solar-powered tractors that make ploughing affordable, irrigation systems made from recycled materials, weevil-detecting and rodent-repelling gadgets, and disease-resistant crops designed to withstand the effects of climate change. These ideas are not just clever; they are life-changing as they enable farmers to earn more, feed their families better, especially with nutritious food, and send their children to school.

At Heifer International, we have worked alongside Ugandan farmers for over four decades, helping them increase incomes and build resilience. But what inspires us most is the brilliance and creativity of our young people. When given opportunity, mentorship, and support, they rise and prove that agriculture is not a last resort, but a first choice.

Celebrating the 2025 Winners

This year, winners of the AyuTe Challenge shared a prize pool of USD65,000 (UGX 222 million). The overall champion, Aaron Etyang, received UGX 50 million to scale his enterprise. His innovation, Grain Guard, reduces post-harvest losses by detecting weevils, repelling rodents, and monitoring moisture and temperature to protect stored grain. 

This year, 307 youth participated in the Challenge. I am particularly encouraged by the over 80 young women who participated in this year’s AyuTe Challenge. Their numbers have increased over the years, bringing them to a total of 238 female youth who have taken part in the challenge since 2021. Women are the backbone of Uganda’s agriculture, and their leadership is vital for inclusive and sustainable growth. At Heifer, we are committed to ensuring women are not just participants, but take the lead in agri-business.

But as I often say, the true prize is not the cheque. It is the mentorship, training, and networks that open doors for these young innovators.

To the youth of Uganda, I say this – agriculture is your opportunity to create jobs, to innovate, and to build enterprises that can compete on a global stage. It is the sector that will define Uganda’s future, not just in terms of food security, but in prosperity and resilience.

To the development actors, public and private sector actors, we ought to support our young innovators. Let us celebrate their courage, invest in their ideas, and recognise that the future of our nation depends on their success.

The message from this year’s AyuTe Challenge is clear that Uganda’s agriculture is alive with innovation. Our youth are not waiting for change; they are creating it. Together, we must ensure that no farmer is left behind, and no young dreamer is left unsupported.

The future of Uganda’s agriculture is young and bright!

The writer, William Matovu, is the Country Director, Heifer International Uganda