The Young Achievers Awards 2018 Official Magazine

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AUGUST 2018 ISSUE #4

TECHNOLOGY The Avenue For Youth To Go Out And Change The World

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Table of Contents

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Cover Story

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Youth Jumpstarting Uganda’s SocioEconomic Development Through Technology

CONTACTS Reach A Hand Uganda Plot 7502, Block 244, Heritage village (Kitaranga) Kansanga,Ggaba Road P. O. Box 21288 Kampala,Uganda Tel : 0414 607037 Email: info@reachahand.org, Web: www.reachahand.org

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Editor’s Note Inside The 6Th Issue Rahu Team Leader’s Note The Things We Love Most About Working With Young People Article From The Co- Founders Seeking Leaders For A Startup Continent Meet The 2018 Young Achievers Awards Judges Pictorial From Yaa 2017 Award Night Entertainment Feature Milege Presenting A Musical Celebration Of African Culture Fashion Feature Brian Ahumuza; The Story Of A Well Dressed Little Fashion Dream What Constitutes Membership Or Shareholding Of A Company In Uganda?

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10 Lessons I Have Learnt Since Quitting My Job To Start A Business

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Queen Of Katwe Is An Example Of Why We Demand Better Life For Girls

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Sports Feature Rugby Fraternity Bursts Into Excitement As Kimono Returns To Action

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Why Leveraging An Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Is Important For Your Startup Meet The 2018 Nominees Mobile Money Feature The Death Of Mobile Money And Financial Inclusion In Uganda

How The 2017 Young Achievers Awards Celebrated The Pacesetters For Today’s Generation 2018 Young Achievers Special Awards Recipients Leave No One Behind

PUBLISHING CREDITS EDITORIAL PUBLISHER REACH A HAND UGANDA EDITOR IN CHIEF Gilbert Beyamba @Kyama_Chama

Inside the 6th Issue

EDITOR’S NOTE

MANAGING EDITOR Ibrahim Waiswa Batambuze @ibatambuze COPY EDITORS Maureen Andinda Tanne Heathershaw FIona Elliot CONTRIBUTORS Sylvester Nyombi Helen Patricia Amutaire Davis Kawalya Bernard Mukasa Stone Atwine Brenda Katwesigye Awel Uwihanganye Ivan K. Serwano GRAPHIC DESIGN Pixel City Ltd. PRINTING Ooh! Media Ltd.

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You will agree with me that Safeboda is on it’s way to becoming Uganda’s most successful start up story. The company is bringing the classic mode of bodaboda (motorcycle) transport into the technological age by providing the ability to hail a ride at the click of a smartphone, and it’s all thanks to Ricky Rapa Thompson (a 2017 Young Achievers Award winner for Business) and his team. This year, the company has expanded to Kenya and boosts of over 10,000 rides per day with almost zero accidents.

This is perhaps a great example of “local solutions for local problems” just like Akorion, an agtech company digitizing agricultural value chains.

Co-founded by Zilla Mary Arach, the 2017 Overall Young Achiever, Akorion enables all commercial farmers and other agribusinesses to access high-quality production and marketing services through the flagship platform EzyAgric. Another local solution is Ensibuuko, Cofounded by Gerald Otim, our 2017 Young Achievers Award winner for Innovations and ICT. It is providing modern electronic banking infrastructure to financial service entities, unique to the developing world through their main service which is a cloud-based banking software platform for microfinances and SACCOS. In his column, our Founder & Team Leader Humphrey Nabimanya, will reveal to you why we (Reach A Hand Uganda) love working with young people. You can read about how we are putting fellow young people at the “frontline” in all our focus areas both in and out of school, a classic example of meaningful youth participation. In the Young Achievers Awards Co-Founder’s Note meanwhile, Awel Uwihanganye & Ivan Kyambadde will give you a case as to why and how young people are contributing to the socio-economic transformation of Uganda. A good read!

We also havestories about a few other Young Achievers Awards past winners, Milege, Presenting A Musical Celebration Of African Culture, Brian Ahumuza of Abryanz Collection, and the story of a well dressed little fashion dream and the super talented rugby player Justin Kimono who returned to action this year.

Bernard Mukasa, a Senior Associate at ENSafrica law firm will give you a step by step analysis on what constitutes membership or shareholding of a company in Uganda, while emerging entrepreneur Brenda Katwesigye will sharethe 10 lessons she has learnt since quitting her job to start a business.

Elsewhere in the magazine, we have Stone Atwine examining the death of mobile money and financial inclusion in Uganda. In the pictorial, we bring you highlights from last year’s award night in case you missed it, and lastly, you will get to meet the judges for this year’s edition of the awards as well as the finalists.

It’s another corker, folks—have at it!

Ibrahim Waiswa Batambuze

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The Things We Love Most About Working With Young People

REACH A HAND UGANDA TEAM LEADER’S NOTE

people are more likely to hear and personalize messages, and thus to change their own attitudes and behaviors, if they believe the messenger is similar to them and faces the same concerns and pressures. www.youngachieversawards.ug

“Why do you like working with young people?” is a question I constantly get asked. The response I give is without a doubt always the same; “At Reach A Hand Uganda we do it because we love it!”

Twist the question the other way round, and you’ll get to hear quite intriguing responses. A few years ago when we were still in our infancy stage (we were once just a weekend outreach program, can you imagine?!), I asked an elderly friend why she doesn’t like working with young people and she told me point blank; “Most young people are arrogant. Some are willfully destructive and some have shown no remorse for the things they’ve done.”

I partly believed this, but as we became a fully fledged youth led organization working in over 30 districts across the country with a pool of over 500 peer educators from almost all the five regions, I began to see differently. In all our work, we have come to believe that most young people are just not comfortable being around people who are not their peers.

The solution lies in our peer educators (all below 25 years). Research suggests that people are more likely to hear and personalize messages, and thus to change their own attitudes and behaviors, if they believe the messenger is similar to them and faces the same concerns and pressures. Numerous studies have demonstrated that peers influence their fellow youth’s health behaviors. Peer education draws on the credibility that young people have with their peers, leverages the power of role modeling, and provides flexibility in meeting the diverse needs of today’s youth.

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The things we love most about working with young people Young people still possess a sense of honesty that many adults have traded off, and this attribute is just one of their many qualities that contribute to the smile on my face.

Here’s a fact. In the schools we work with, young people are always running to our peer educators (who undergo a full month training by the way, on how to address issues affecting young people in all walks life, and then go onto work with us for a year) to tell them how they need safe spaces for menstrual hygiene management, and to talk about body changes. They’re there to talk about any topics necessary, you name it.

Young people feel they can’t go to a matron or warden to talk about such things as they are so much older and often “judgemental”, so the peer educators are there to be the source of advice that is needed.”

Our role then, has been to open dialogues with key school administration personnel to mitigate how these challenges can be addressed by bridging this generational gap. This is an especially big issue in our main area of focus- sexual reproductive health and rights.

This year we have even made it bigger. Through our partner Light for the World, we started taking in young people with disabilities as well as disability inclusion facilitators, who trained all our peer educators on how to work with persons with disabilities (just search for Make 12.4% Work on Facebook and Twitter to see how we are doing).

Truth is, each day presents a new challenge that keeps my team and I stimulated to learn more. The work can be very frustrating or fantastically rewarding, but it is never ever boring. I become energised when surrounded by their conversations and creativity. Young people still possess a sense of honesty that many adults have traded off, and this attribute is just one of their many qualities that contribute to the smile on my face.

They are among the most engaging and intriguing audiences you can work with, they have the same rights as adults, but their circumstances create challenges that can only be met with determination, creativity and integrity. I think it is the challenge that makes working with, and for, children and young people so incredibly fulfilling.

Ever doubted their creativity? Let this year’s Young Achievers Awards finalists stop you. These top 45 top finalists, from over 400 applications, are about to make headlines in Uganda for their incredible work across different fields. They are building companies, running campaigns and initiatives, sequencing rare diseases, exploring the stars, making music, saving lives and striving to bring everyone forward. Because they don’t plan on leaving anyone behind!

Fiona Elliott, 2018 Intern

To move forward, we must achieve equality no matter our differences, this means including young people as equals, because they are future. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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The Make

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An estimated 80% of persons with disabilitie s in Uganda does not have access to economic opportunities.

This needs to change

Are you ready to open up employment and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities?

Please ask yourself: • Do we employ or include persons with disabilities?

• Are our products, services and interventions disability friendly?

• Is our staff disability aware and do they feel confident to communicate with persons with disabilities?

• Is our company or organization accessible for persons with disabilities?

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Tel: +256 788 728 478 W: www.wecanwork.ug

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Seeking Leaders For A Start-Up Continent

ARTICLE FROM THE CO-FOUNDERS

At this very moment powerful forces are a foot, working to divide Africa. The spotted violence that seems endemic to the African Great Lakes region belies a more violent subterranean action.

Indeed the Great Lakes themselves, as well as the scenic rift valley that cradles the eastern grasslands of the continent, and the mountains that dot the edge of what we call East Africa, are in reality the manifestation of a tectonic quarrel.

The African tectonic plate on which much of the continent sits, and the Somali Plate on which East Africa sits are being torn asunder. From our chronological perspective, it all seems rather pedestrian. However from a geological perspective, the aggression could not be more overt. The action will eventually scythe East Africa from the body of Africa, and maroon us on an independent island sub-continent.

the actions we take today can go a long way in determining the dignity of the future inhabitants of the new continent. www.youngachieversawards.ug

It is safe to say, none of us will live long enough to see Fort Portal turned into a coastal town. Yet the actions we take today can go a long way in determining the dignity of the future inhabitants of the new continent. While the geographical implications of our divorce from Africa can only be left to the imagination, the sociological structure of the continent is very much subject to our present day agency. In fact we shoulder it as a responsibility.

A glance at any index that tracks the aggregate wealth and standard of living of citizens will make for poor reading in the region. If GDP per capita has any value as a measure of quality of life, then East Africans, by a stretch, live the most miserable existence on earth.

The people tasked with ensuring our quality of life have offered several platitudes for our current state of wretchedness. The corrosive effect of the slave trade, the crippling effect of colonial subjugation, the exploitation of

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Everywhere in the world where development has occurred, it has been preceded by the will and the agency to take command of one’s destiny.

This agency always begins with the conscious creation and adoption of a unified identity and unified goals.

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H.E President Yoweri Museveni receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Young Achievers Awards Co-Founder Awel Uwihanganye at the 2009 Awards

neocolonialism, the cancer of corruption, the state capture by men who monopolize guns, and many other excuses aimed at seeking exemption for blame.

While some credence can be given to all these excuses, they are all nothing but symptoms of a more fundamental problem. The chronic failure to adopt a unified identity. A failure, we are well in our rights to lay at the foot of every single preceding generation.

East Africa is the longest inhabited region in the world. Modern man was birthed somewhere in between the two arms of the East African Rift valley.

Even a rudimentary grasp of phylogenesis would inform that the implication of the region’s lengthy inhabitation is broad genetic drift. Indeed, standing in testament to the region’s role in birthing humanity is the fact that East Africa is one of the most genetically diverse regions in the world.

in order to thrive we must resolve to work together.

Our tribal identities should be abandoned to the history books. Our still nascent and arbitrarily formed national identities should be incidental.

Above all, we must begin to see ourselves as East Africans, or even Africans for that matter.

A consequence of this diversity has been the adoption of ethnic identity constructs that have kept the societies that populated the region fractured.

The rapid Bantu migration a millennium ago offered some reprieve from the crippling social splintering. But even the cultural links and the thriving cross sub-Saharan trade that the migration left in its wake were unable to forestall the pull of tribal identity.

The immediate result of this division was the capitulation to the indignity of the slave trade, and later on to the imperialism of the west. The specter of our fractured identity still looms to date. The ethnic violence that seems endemic to the region, and the corruption and sectarianism that defines our politics remain a powerful testament to our incapacity to unite. All of which are factors that have contributed to our current state of socio-economic desolation.

Everywhere else in the world where development has occurred, it has been preceded by the will and the agency to take command of one’s destiny. This agency always begins with the conscious creation and adoption of a unified identity and unified goals.

The great failing of Africans, past and present, is a failure to recognize that identity is a social construct subject to our agency. Who we are should not be a function of genetic makeup, but a function of what we want to achieve.

The failure to take agency over our own identity has left the African a passive victim to the whims of history.

If our goal is to prosper, then we must recognize that providence has thrown our lot in together, and in order to thrive we must resolve to work together.

This resolve begins with the adoption of a unified identity. Our tribal identities

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H.E President Paul Kagame and H.E President Yoweri Museveni with Young Achievers Awards Co-Founder Ivan K. Serwano at the 2011 Awards

should be abandoned to the history books. Our still nascent and arbitrarily formed national identities should be incidental. Above all, we must begin to see ourselves as East Africans, or even Africans for that matter.

The Young Achiever’s Awards have long recognized the value of constructing a unified East African identity. While the awards to date have been limited to the borders that make up Uganda. That limitation has been mainly due to resource constraints.

We, the founders, have long harboured ambitions to disregard the inchoate regional borders. This has been reflected in our ever ambitious drive to honour, recognize and host leaders from across the region; H.E. Paul Kagame in 2011, ADB president Donald Kabureka in 2014, Ali Mafuruki in 2017, and H.E. William Ruto in this year’s event.

This is a mindset that the young honorees we exhort at the awards would do well to adopt. If anyone of them has ambitions that are limited to their borders, they adopt a ceiling to what they can achieve. Show me a thought leader who identifies principally by tribe, and I will show you a person with limited influence. Show me a generation of leaders with a common identity and a common goal, and I will show you the genesis of a great people. A unified region bares more than just economic returns, it proffers self-determination and the dignity it entails.

The great calling of the next generation of Africans is the liberation of the African from the vagaries of fate. The young leaders and entrepreneurs of today shoulder the responsibility to nurture a new unified identity. The destiny of the unborn East African Continent depends on it. If we fail in this calling, we doom our descendants to a life of wretchedness. Just like our forefathers, in passivity, bequeathed to us the bottom-rung, socio-economic status we endure today.

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If we succeed in marshalling our destiny, by discarding our malformed identities, and adopting a united front; then we have prepared the ground for a better tomorrow. This tomorrow need not be over the horizon on the shores of a future continent. It can take root now, in our lifetime, on this grand old continent.

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Live Your Dream T H E

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Our dream is to become leaders of our country

THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

Mentorship and support from one generation to another will help us to make it (G4G) For more information and counseling, call the toll free number 0800200600 and follow #LiveYourDreamUG

At UNFPA, we aspire to see that every young Ugandan achieves their dreams. That is why we invest in young people, reaching the most vulnerable adolescents and youth first, with particular attention to given adolescent girls, young people with disabilities and refugees.

We pay close attention to young people as drivers of social change and development. Our programmes advocate for measures that enable young people to make healthy lifestyle choices, protect their rights and contribute to their own development and the whole nation. We strive to influence policy and programmes to ensure young people’s access to accurate information and services related to sexuality and reproductive health, prevent teenage pregnancy and child marriage.

All over the world, young people say: “Nothing about us, without us!” At UNFPA, we have heard, learned and taken this principle to heart. Our partnerships with young people are, and must always be, based on their active and meaningful participation.

UNFPA Uganda’s focus for young people stands on four pillars; • Let Girls be Girls by addressing the issues that hinder the girl child’s ability to achieve her full potential like Gender-based violence, lack of access to family Planning, child marriages and teenage pregnancies; • Choose Books before Babies: Speaks on keeping girls in school by addressing barriers to education and promoting access to appropriate education on sexual and reproductive health; • With You(th): Reflects on the need to invest in young people to unleash their full potential, exploring opportunities to engage and work with young people and empowering them for innovation and social change, and; • Generation for Generation Dialogues by bringing generations of the old and young together to create synergies between the young and elderly, harness the energy of the young with the wisdom of the old to improve policies that affect Uganda’s future.

Uganda’s young population is an opportunity.

More than three out of ten people in Uganda are young people age 10-24 years, making Uganda one of the youngest countries in the world. If the right investments are made in their education, health and employment for their empowerment and fulfillment of their potentials, young people can shape and build the foundation of the country’s future.

Every young person has a right to access to; Sexual and reproductive health to ensure healthy successful transition to adult life Education to inspire and develop skills and acquire knowledge to keep them healthy Empowerment to support them build resilience and create innovations for health, wealth and social change Participation by building capacity and leadership of youth-led organisations to advocate for their human rights and development priorities.

“The hopes of the world rest on young people… We must invest so that young people have access to education, training and decent jobs to achieve their full potential.” Antonio Gutierrez, United Nations Secretary General (International Youth Day, August 2018 www.youngachieversawards.ug

#LiveYourDreamUG Twitter: @unfpauganda Facebook: facebook.com/UNFPAUG Website: www.Uganda.unfpa.org

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Youth Jumpstarting Uganda’s SocioEconomic Development Through Technology www.youngachieversawards.ug

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On 12th August 2017, Ricky Rapa Thompson, Zilla Mary Arach and Gerald Otim took home the Young Achievers Award for the categories of Business, Farming and Agro-processing, and Innovation and ICT respectively. The three, like all other winners of the night, had risen up against the stiffest competition in their different categories to win. Zilla experienced double joy because she was crowned The Overall Young Achiever, an award reserved for the most compelling success story amongst all the winners of the night.

What stood out for the three winners however, was that despite being in different categories, they had a unifying core characteristic for their award winning inventions; technology. With this single element, they have created remarkable impact in three key aspects of daily life transport, the food chain and financial inclusion through savings. They are the brains behind Safeboda, Akorion and Ensibuuko.

The case of Safeboda highlights how a traditional form of transportation, the use of Bodas, was improved and made easier, more accessible, safer, and cheaper, while Ensibuuko provides for financial inclusion among what is Uganda’s most informal and yet most productive sector, agriculture/farming. Akorion on the other hand is supporting farms and farmers in profiling of their business thus easily assisting them to acquire financing as well as supporting them to productively gain from their farming ventures.

Ricky Rapa Thompson and Safeboda; Riding All The Way Up

Ricky has built a network of over 1,000 trusted and professional boda riders in Uganda, a model that has been emulated by several other of his competitors, ultimately solving the problem of unsafe and unprofessional boda riders in Uganda.

Ricky Rapa broke through at a time when the Boda business was characterised by numerous irregularities. There were too many accidents, evidenced through reports such as one from Daily Monitor, a local news publication, in February 2018 that highlighted that Bodas had claimed over 7,000 lives in the past three years. Another report (the Road Safety Performance Review Report) by the United Nations (UN) about safety on Ugandan roads has shown that at least 10 people die daily on Kampala roads due to boda boda related accidents. Ricky and the team at Safeboda identified the bikes as a major source of income for the riders, having been riders themselves. He envisioned training them, to further professionalise the business, and with this done, had to come up with a space in which the now trained riders could easily be reached by customers. That is where the technological idea struck. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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He envisioned training them, to further professionalise the business, and with this done, had to come up with a space in which the now trained riders could easily be reached by customers. That is where the technological idea struck.

A mobile based app was designed, through which a person can hail themselves a boda direct to their destination. The rider then gets an alert, and unlike the usual procedure where the customer needs to go to the roadside to find a boda stage, the Safeboda picks the customer from a location of their choice. Alternatively, you can easily pair with a boda from the roadside, simply enter their helmet number and hop onboard, no need to order. It comes with a second helmet for the customer, and a hairnet to prevent direct contact with the helmet. The journey is calculated and costed through the app, so all the customer has to do is sit, get to their destination and pay. No haggling, less hustles of directing, and there is a toll free number to call incase of any complaints or inquiries.

Gerald Otim’s Ensibuuko; Increasing Financial Access To Rural Farmers

Ensibuuko has grown impressively to provide financial solutions to over 60 banking institutions, and envisions opening out operations in 6 countries in Africa including Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.

While growing up in Eastern Uganda, Gerald Otim witnessed first hand the importance of farming to a rural Ugandan. It was a channel through which his tuition was raised, and one he actively participated in as a young boy. He had time to understand rural farming wholly, and one of the fields he keenly observed was financing. He discovered that most farmers preferred saving with SACCOs and on mobile money over the traditional banking system, though they didn’t get to enjoy the services resulting from technological advancements like the folks using the banks did. That is where the idea sprouted from, and Ensibuuko was born.

Ensibuuko enables rural farmers access improved financial services such as getting and repaying loans and constantly tracking their savings from the comfort of their homes. www.youngachieversawards.ug

Ensibuuko was founded with the major aim of providing equalised banking services to all, whether using traditional banking or nontraditional banking institutions. In so doing, it would enable rural farmers access improved financial services such as getting and repaying loans and constantly tracking their savings from the comfort of their homes.

With most banks situated in towns and charging superfluous interest rates, the rural farmer had been maligned, whereas the urban people, with access to internet and high tech gadgets were maximising the services.

Ensibuuko has built back end systems for non banking institutions like Mobile Money and SACCOs, which have brought the very same services of traditional banking into the hands of the rural farmers. Their main product, the MOBIS System, even goes as far as to provide free internet banking, where a farmer can deposit, withdraw, check balance, access and repay loans by simply following prompts as one would do when

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loading airtime. Ensibuuko has grown impressively to provide financial solutions to over 60 banking institutions, and envisions opening out operations in 6 countries in Africa including Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. The technology used by Otim and colleagues is for the user; that is, practical software solutions that don’t require the user to first go through training to use them. They are based on what the user already knows, and are tailored to suit what they already do.

Zilla Mary Arach and Akorion; Presenting A Different Narrative To Agriculture

Akorion has served 60,000 farmers and digitally profiled 42,000 farms through a network of 480 village agents and 100 farmer associations.

In a country like Uganda where the economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, people like Zilla Mary Arach need special applause.

Zilla is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Akorion Technologies. She has already been recognised, both locally and internationally, as an outstanding innovator and problem solver for the agribusiness sector.

She joined with friends and co-founded Akorion Technologies, an agricultural innovation company that uses technology to provide services and products to farmers and agriculture-related entities in Uganda.

Akorion’s Ezy-Agric software suite is a web and mobile platform for farmers in agribusiness to profile their farms, seek innovative agricultural ideas and to source for financing.

The catch about her idea is how it seeks to achieve high level production, availing improved marketing strategies and bridging the gap for service delivery.

The catch about her idea is how it seeks to achieve high level production, availing improved marketing strategies and bridging the gap for service delivery. Akorion has served 60,000 farmers and digitally profiled 42,000 farms through a network of 480 village agents and 100 farmer associations.

It is important to note that neither Zilla, Gerald nor Ricky was born with a silver spoon. They are just young people who saw the huge avenue that is presented by technology. They are ordinary people who simply figured out the solutions to life challenges using technology, a large and not fully utilised resource. It is only wise that other young people should try taking the same direction, regardless of their different dreams and ideas. They will achieve their goal, and ultimately transform this world.

Sylvester Egumire Nnyombi, Communications and Advocacy Officer Innovation is simply the art of identifying a social challenge and figuring out a way to overcome it. The creativity for this lies strongly among youth, so they should be motivated and celebrated. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Meet the 2018 Young Achievers Awards Judges

The English adage “as sober as a judge” places anyone addressed by that title in a very serious position. They have to be alert, knowledgeable, discerning and impartial. For this edition of the Young Achievers Awards, like all editions before it, we ensured that those are exactly the judges we found. The judges brought a wide range of expertise to the award, which was well exhibited in the judging process. This was a rigorous full day activity during which they studied each of the over 400 nominations received, weighed them, pitted them against each other and came up with the top 5 for each category. These are the people whose knowledge, specific skill sets and industry have defined Young Achievers Awards 2018.

Omukungu Joseph Kigozi Mr. Kigozi has gained over 10 years experience in the broadcast industry.

He is currently the Chief Strategy Officer of Next Media Services.

Formerly, he was the CEO of the Kingdom of Buganda owned television station, Buganda Broadcasting Services (BBS) Terefayina. He doubles as the chairman of Reach A Hand, Uganda’s Advisory Board. He is a peer educator, mentor and motivational speaker.

Ivan Serwano Kyambadde Motivated by the realization that the key to improving the fortunes of Africa lay in improving the economic and social outlook of her citizens, Ivan has worked through interventions like the Young Achievers Awards to recognise, mentor and work with young entrepreneurs and leaders.

He envisions the promotion of youth economic inclusion, and through interventions like The East African Movement (TEAM), safeguards the rights of the wanainchi in the East African integration process.

Sheila Kangwagye Sheila is the director of SKPR a public relations, marketing and events management firm. She is a secretary general of the Public Relations Association of Uganda for 2016-2018, and the marketing director of the family-owned Kasangati Resort Centre. She has core competencies in marketing communications and promotions, public and corporate relations, digital media marketing, project management, customer care and events management.

Anna Adeke Ebaju Hon. Adeke Anna Ebaju is the National Youth MP in the 10th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda as a National Female Youth MP. She held several leadership positions in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party before being elected as a member of Parliament. She also has a Bachelor of Law degree and during her time at the university, she served www.youngachieversawards.ug

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as a Guild President at Makerere University and was a member of the University Council. She graduated on the Dean’s list with a second class upper degree from Makerere University in January 2015.

Tracy Kakuru Otatiina Tracy Kakuru Otatiina is a 29 year old marketing professional and entrepreneur. She holds a Masters degree in International Marketing, Communication and Brand Strategy from the International University of Monaco. She has worked in Johannesburg, Monaco and Kampala specializing in brand strategy, consumer behaviour, public relations, luxury and event management. She is a brand manager at Pepsi Uganda (Crown Beverages Limited), founder of Strat Bridal and a member of the board of directors at Eden International School.

Rhona Arinaitwe Rhona has over 8 years’ experience in the field of Communication and Public Relations, five of which have been with the Corporate Relations department at Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) which has given her experience in managing internal and external communications, brand building, and management, alongside running sustainability programs.

Rhona is passionate about people and changing their lives for the better.

Sylvia Wilson Namutebi A renown marketing concept consultant, Sylvia Wilson Namutebi was Miss Uganda 2011 and is currently in strategic management. She is still actively involved in the fashion industry and organises and manages runway shows. She is the project coordinator for the Miss Uganda beauty pageant and also runs a charity organisation, Mission Wide Love as well as being a volunteer with Reach A Hand Uganda.

Jaffar Tonda Jaffar Tonda is the CEO/team leader of Synergy Partners Ltd, a residential development company with a focus on developing sites and providing services related to land development. He is primarily responsible for land acquisition, capital raising, sales/marketing, general strategy, and overseeing the management team.

Annet Mbabazi Mbabazi was the coordinator of the Young Achievers Awards project in 2010 - 2011 and has over the years continued to provide strategic advisory support to the project. Additionally, she is a member of Faculty with the Young Emerging Leaders Programme (YELP) and a 2018 Youth4Policy fellow.

Richard Zulu Richard is the founder and lead at Outbox, a Google for Entrepreneurs partner hub that helps new and upcoming African entrepreneurs interested in using technology with workspace, mentorship, and training programs. Through partnerships, it allows them raise funding and access markets. He has over six years experience in building support systems for startups and developing communities. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Collins Mugume Collins is the Marketing and PR Manager for Kwesé, which is a subsidiary of Econet Media, with a portfolio of five products; Kwesé Pay TV, Kwesé Free Sports, Kwesé iflix, Kwesé Play and Kwesé Digital. He has also worked in sectors like petroleum with Vivo Energy, ecommerce with Kaymu, now rebranded to Jumia Market, finance with Uganda Security Exchange and KCB Bank, and the beverage industry with Nile Gold and Club Twist while working with one of the leading agencies in East Africa, Aggrey and Clifford.

Dr. Naboth Coole Dr. Naboth Coole is an Established scholar, lecturer, human rights activist, human resource development expert, motivational speaker, researcher and a life coach. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences, Masters in International Relations & Diplomatic studies, Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation, Diploma in Information and Technology and a PhD in Human Rights. Dr. Naboth is a member of RAHU’s Advisory Board.

Rev. Rukundo Richard A member of RAHU’s advisory board, Rev. Rukundo is a dedicated man of God who feels strongly about the choices that young people make and the struggles they go through. He has worked with Kampala Diocese in the children’s department for 10 years and was ordained as a deacon in 2011. At the time of his appointment, he was working in Bukoto Parish as a curator. He’s a qualified teacher and holds a Masters degree from Uganda Christian University.

Ambrose Mulangila Ambrose has a B. SWSA and Masters in Social Sector Planning and Management. He holds a Post Graduate Certificates in Economic Governance as well as a PGC in Countering Terrorism and Radicalization from the University of Zurich. Ambrose has been an active youth and disability activist from his high school days at Ntare School in Mbarara District. He currently works as a Disability Inclusion Advisor at Light For The World, a Dutch international organization specialising in disability inclusion. Ambrose is a Disability Inclusion Facilitator with Make 12.4% Work Initiative by Light for The World.

Allan Senabulya Allan is passionate about empowering young people and giving them a chance to realise their full potential, particularly through education and sport. For over 8 years, he has worked as a finance director at Uganda Children’s Trust Fund, a Charitable organization that has supported under privileged children through education and sport. Through this he has had the opportunity to engage directly with the children, empowering young emerging leaders through mentorship programmes, training, and also creating and providing avenues for career opportunities. Allan also runs Afrimech (U) Ltd a company supplying heavy construction machinery and equipment primarily moving said equipment from Europe into East Africa for the various civil works, and infrastructural projects across the region. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Young Achievers Awards 2017 Award Night

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Daphne Asiimwe, Finance Manager

Every country’s destiny lies in how it’s young people’s health and skills are nutured. If we believe in better states, then investments in their health and livelihoods is a must. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Milege Presenting a Musical Celebration of African Culture

ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

Milege receiving their award at the YAA 2017 “And the winner is, Milege!” The announcement was almost unbelievable.

The creative arts (music) category had been arguably the most hotly contested, and here was Milege, stepping up to the podium to carry the award home. Having heard the acceptance speech, all and sundry accepted that the award was well deserved.

Milege Afrojazz Band, commonly known as Milege, is a world music band from Uganda, made up of young talented musicians from Uganda whose enthusiasm is derived from the diverse cultural music traditions of the different tribes of Uganda into which they fuse contemporary elements to express the likeness of Uganda’s people in a more current, fun, and musical context. Milege is a Japadhola word meaning ankle rattle whose sound symbolises the coming of the chief or king.

Milege was started in 2009 playing folk traditional Ugandan music using both modern and traditional music instruments such as the guitar, ankle rattles and traditional drums to make the first sounds of the band. They were popularised by their unique signature song ‘Nankasa Zi Wuna’.

Since then, they have pursued a journey of creativity and originality which has seen them share stage with some of the biggest names in African music history including Zimbabwean Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, Maurice Kirya, Mame N’Diack from Senegal and Uganda’s oldest band, Afrigo Band.

The catch about Milege is how the band provides a free platform for any talented people to express themselves. Their Acoustic Jazz Project is held in different universities, attracting talented instrumentalists, spoken word stars, singers and all forms of creatives. It is from here that Wekesa, commonly known as “Wake” found his ground. He was a frequent spoken word reciter at the Poetry Night in Makerere University, and is now soaring high among the youngest and most renowned spoken word artistes in Uganda.

Milege also boasts of multiple projects, such as the 3 in 1 kids Jaunt, the Mosaic patterns Project and the World Music Festival. In these they celebrate African culture, and promote African talent and stories with a fee that is affordable by the common man.

Percussionists at the Milege World Festival last year.

(Observer.ug photo)

www.youngachieversawards.ug

We all agree that music is a form of art that speaks to people regardless of age, color, race, political affiliation, or tribe. With music, our inner souls are aroused and sometimes even our physical self as we dance.

Through music, Milege has made music a celebration, and managed to gather people all over the world.

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Brian Ahumuza; The Story of a Well Dressed Little Fashion Dream

FASHION FEATURE

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There is something about fashion and style; it is an art reserved for the wildest of creatives, and the most persistent of dreamers. Brian Ahumuza, commonly going by ‘A Bryanz’ is a pure definition of such character. Eight years after launching his brand “ABryanz collection”, he has become a household among celebrities, models, the average person on the street, and without doubt, the country as a whole. As a matter of fact, the mention of fashion in Uganda triggers the name A Bryanz almost every time.

For him, it was always a thing to dress well. Even while working his first job as a cleaner, he ditched the shabby look that comes with the cleaner stereotype, and dressed to kill. His peers liked his unique sense of fashion and often time asked him to hook them up with one apparel or another. It was here that the idea of actually selling clothes hit him.

As a student in Kyambogo University, he was a common sight, with a backpack strapped on day and night. In this loyal bag he carried all his stock, just waiting to run into his next customer. He would unzip, unpack, sell, repack and go his way.

Today, A Bryanz has two stores, and holds one of the regions most reputed fashion experiences, “The Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards”, which attract fashion icons from all over the continent. It is a relentless effort from him, always coming up with new and creative ways to stay on top of the game. His clothing line is applauded for authenticity, genuineness and uniqueness.

After such effort, it was only fair that he clinched the Young Achievers Award for Creative Arts (Fashion). In his acceptance speech, he reminded us all that hard work alone is not enough. Passion is the root of it all, the hard work follows and trusting that the plan will work caps it off.

His is a success story that every young dreamer out there can achieve anything you want as long as you put your mind to it, and put the work in.

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Events Management

Events Warehouse (U) Limited P.O Box 2906 Kampala Plot 1085 Kiwafu Road, Kansanga

www.eventswarehouse.biz +256 414 250 260

Corporate Events. Concerts. Promotions. Product Launches. Road Shows. Equipment Hire www.youngachieversawards.ug 23

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What Constitutes Membership or Shareholding of a company in Uganda?

*By Bernard Mukasa

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When is one a shareholder or member of a company? This issue was recently considered by the Supreme Court of Uganda in Matthew Rukikaire v Incafex Limited, which ruled that a person who has not fully paid up their shares may be considered a member and shareholder of a company with rights to full participation in the affairs of the company to the extent allowed by the types of shares they hold. In addition, companies are responsible for concluding the registration of members by entering their names into the members’ register. The consequences of failing to execute this duty cannot and will not be visited on unregistered members.

This case not only clarifies what constitutes membership and shareholding in a company, but also addresses what actions by companies may be considered oppressive and justify winding-up.

In this case, the appellant, Matthew Rukikaire, had petitioned the High Court, alleging that the affairs of Incafex Limited (the “company”) were being conducted in a manner oppressive to him as a member of the company. He claimed that he had been excluded from meetings and the company had refused to convene any meetings at his request.

The company, however, contended that the appellant was not a member of the company as he had not paid for the shares allotted to him and he therefore had no standing at company meetings or to file the petition.

The appellant had neither proof of payment for the shares nor a share certificate, and his name was not entered into the members’ register. As proof of his membership in the company, the appellant submitted an annual returns form with his name included, a return of allotment form and a memorandum of understanding naming him as a signatory to the company’s bank accounts. He argued that non-payment for the allotted shares did not bar his membership of the company.

The High Court held that the appellant was a shareholder and therefore a member of the company. The court also found that there was sufficient evidence of oppression by the company.

The matter went on appeal to the Court of Appeal, which overturned the High Court’s decision, holding that the appellant was not a member of the company as he had failed to furnish proof of his subscription to the allotted shares. Consequently, his lack of membership in the company deprived him of legal basis to sue the company to enforce his rights as a member and barred him from claiming oppression.

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On a subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal’s decision was reversed and the decision of the High Court reinstated.

The Supreme Court agreed that the appellant was a member of the company and that he was oppressed. In reaching this finding, the court relied on the definition of a “member” under the Companies Act, 2012, which states that a member is either a subscriber to the memorandum of a company and on its registration entered into its register of members, or upon agreement to become a member of a company and entry into the register of members. This case involved membership by way of allotment of shares subsequent to the formation of the company.

*Bernard Mukasa is a Senior Associate at ENSafrica.

This article was first published

by ENSafrica (www.ENSafrica.com) on 29 November 2017.

No information provided herein may in any way be construed as legal advice from ENSafrica and/or any of its personnel. Professional advice must be sought from ENSafrica before any action is taken based on the information provided herein, and consent must be obtained from ENSafrica before the information provided herein is reproduced in any way. ENSafrica disclaims any responsibility for positions taken without due consultation and/or information reproduced without due consent, and no person shall have any claim of any nature whatsoever arising out of, or in connection with, the information provided herein against ENSafrica and/or any of its personnel. Any values, such as currency (and their indicators), and/ or dates provided herein are indicative and for information purposes only, and ENSafrica does not warrant the correctness, completeness or accuracy of the information provided herein in any way.

The court also ruled that membership cannot be proved exclusively by the presence of an individual’s name on the register but rather by a purposive reading of the Companies Act, coupled with the steps taken between a shareholder and the company; for example, possession of a share certificate and appearance of the name on company returns.

A further issue considered by the Supreme Court was whether payment for the shares by the appellant was necessary to determine his membership of the company. The Supreme Court held that the obligation of a shareholder of a company limited by shares to pay for the shares arises either when the company calls upon the shareholder to make payment for the unpaid shares during its operation or when the company is being wound-up. Therefore, the lack of evidence that the appellant had paid for the shares did not affect his membership.

The court ruled that while oppression of a member would be determined on a case-by-case basis, certain acts deliberately made by the company to exclude a member from exercising their rights in the company are oppressive. Prejudicial treatment of minority shareholders by the company’s management and/or majority shareholders, abuse of discretion by the company’s management and advancing their own interests above those of minority shareholders or other members may be considered oppressive. In this instance, failure by the company to convene an annual general meeting to provide an avenue for feedback from members or shareholders was found to amount to oppression.

Similarly, holding extraordinary meetings to the exclusion of the appellant as a member, as well as excluding him from participating in the resolutions passed thereunder, were oppressive.

Sharon Banura Winyi, Partnerships and Reputation Coordinator

Partnerships should be built on the strongest of foundations because it’s through these that sustainable growth is measured. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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10 Lessons I Have Learnt Since Quitting My Job to Start a Business

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*By Brenda Katwesigye

Today marks one year and 8 months since I officially resigned my job at a top consulting firm to start my own business(es). For the last 20 months, I have been filled with either extreme anxiety or euphoria and sometimes, both feelings have coexisted. It has been an experience like none I had had before; extremely excruciating but also immensely fulfilling. Taking the leap to quit a comfortable job with potential for growth was not a difficult decision for me to make. I grew up believing I had the “midas” touch — that everything I touched would turn to gold. I was optimistic.

The prospect of extreme success was very exciting. I wanted to build the next Bloomberg or the next Warby Parker. I was like a child on their first day to school. And indeed — my entrepreneurship journey has been more of a school than anything I had imagined. Here are just a few of the lessons I have learnt and feel anyone planning on quitting their job to start a business should know.

Humphrey Nabimanya, Founder and Team Leader

If we want a better future for young people, we need to holistically invest in their wellbeing including but not limited to sexual reproductive health, life skills, livelihoods name it. That starts today, without question. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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1. Your 9–5 job is just as important to your dream as the dream itself I have read a lot of social media articles “bashing” employed people for building other people’s dreams instead of their own and I feel that these “motivational” quotes and articles are in such bad taste. A Lot of my progress and support have come from connections I made while at my job. My job taught me so much about managing my business and through it, I interfaced with top CEOs and management people that have since become personal friends and supported my business. My first client came from my former employer. I am mentored by my former boss. The beautiful people modelling Wazi glasses on our website are my former workmates. If I had not had that job, I would not have much mileage today.

2. Keep your business simple Always keep your core business simple. Simple to implement. Simple to understand. Simple to pitch. Simple to share. Simple to scale. Innovation does not always equate complexity and just because your concept is complex does not mean it will be profitable.

3. Before you quit your job, have enough savings to last you at least a year Nothing sucks like having to invest in business and also worry about your house rent at the same time. Stow away enough cash for yourself to survive for at least a year before taking the leap. And by “survive” I mean your budget should also have an entertainment budget line — to fund those business coffee meetings and social gatherings. Do not go into business thinking your business will feed you from Day 1 because reality is that it won’t. And yes, some people will argue that you can never save enough. I disagree!

4. Do not quit your job unless you have actually started your business Yes — they say no one wants to work for a part time CEO. But no one wants to work for a broke business either. If I could do it again, I would wait till my business has clear cut cash flows before I take the leap. Sometimes strategy works easier and more efficiently than “hustle”.

5. Do not stop learning Maureen Andinda, Manager Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning

As we (young people) create, build and innovate, so must we account.

Growth will only happen when we hold our own feet to the fire and reflect deeply and consciously on our roles in the outcomes of our work.

The best investment you can make is an investment in yourself as an individual. Ofcourse, we have heard success stories of ‘kikuubo’ men who have made lots of money with no education. But education and business success are not mutually exclusive. As long as you have the opportunity, learn as much as you can. Do that online course. Take part in that workshop. Do that masters. Do that professional course. Granted, you may not need the degrees and certifications in the short run, but they will come in handy later and add to your credibility.

6. Start a business you understand Nothing takes longer and costs more than a business you have no experience in or understand. I cannot begin to count how much money www.youngachieversawards.ug

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I wasted paying ‘experts’ to make me furnaces that did not even work or molds that were defective. Don’t even get me started on how much time I wasted back and forth with excuses from the said experts as to why work was not getting delivered on time. Although I eventually pulled the business model off and actually started to make revenue, I think it gets any entrepreneur more mileage, success and fun doing something they actually know and understand.

7. Beware of the busy bee syndrome Many times entrepreneurs get busy with everything. Busy taking boda bodas or driving to meetings to discuss new ideas. Busy running up and down to make meetings that add no value to their business. Busy trying one idea after another day after day. Busy applying to every startup competition. Busy busy busy busy. Busy does not always equal efficiency and entrepreneurs need to treat their time like they treat their money.

8. Get a mentor or two I have been lucky to have mentors throughout my entrepreneurship journey. They have not only offered me invaluable entrepreneurship advice but have also opened up their networks and shared their skills.

They keep me accountable and on my toes every time I slack.

9. Grow some thick skin If anyone had told me entrepreneurship would make me lose sleep in the middle of every night for a week straight, I would probably not have started. I have wanted to give up an average of twice a day over the last one year alone. As an entrepreneur, somethings will hit you so hard you will want to close shop and with your tail between your legs, go ask for your job back. You will hear terrible things about yourself and about your product. You will get aggressive competition. Your workers will go on strike, and your most trusted ones will leave. You will want to give up. But everyday you don’t, your skin grows thicker and you go harder.

Eventually, it gets easier.

10. Do not be a parasite

*Brenda Katwesigye is the Founder of Wazi Vision, a Ugandan start up company focused on providing more affordable eye care to everyone.

This article first appeared on her medium platform and has been shared here with her permission.

Follow her on medium via https://medium.com/@Kazville www.youngachieversawards.ug

Overtime, I have learnt that as an entrepreneur, you are as good as your network. But sometimes we forget and become the parasitic types of entrepreneurs. Always calling people only when we need favors. Keeping people’s phone numbers only to tap into who they can introduce us to. If you want to build a strong network, add value to it. Call your advisor just to take them to lunch to talk about anything but your business. Buy a present for your neighbours dog. Offer to connect other people in your network to each other. Encourage someone to apply for that opportunity. Buy another entrepreneur’s product. Whatever you do, always add value to the people in your network instead of only being on the receiving end.

Ps: I have tried to keep my experience as honest and as authentic as possible. If you feel encouraged or inspired by this article, please share within your network.

It might help someone on your timeline.

Namaste!

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Segal Family Foundation is building an equitable community of visionary organizations— both donors and doers—so that together we can improve the lives of millions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

We believe in a world where development is steered by

grassroots leaders and power is shifted into the hands of communities. We want to change the power dynamics

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Why Leveraging An Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Is Important For Your Startup

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*By Richard Zulu

Uganda has a growing entrepreneurship ecosystem. This is demonstrated by the growing number of entrepreneurs starting out each year, the increasing amount of capital available for startups and the growing Government subsidies for startup. An entrepreneurship ecosystem is a dynamic, self-regulating network of many different actors that affect the local entrepreneurship landscape.

Over the last six years during my work at Outbox, I have spent the bulk of my time working with entrepreneurs that are putting every pint of sweat in ensuring the success of their startups. During that time, I have seen the difference between startups that leverage the opportunities and resources a community has to offer, and those that do not. We have seen better results from the entrepreneurs that opt for the former. I would like to share three things that these entrepreneurs have received from the ecosystem.

First and foremost is the credibility. This is where entrepreneurship support organisations like business incubators, accelerators come in handy. Time and again, startups and entrepreneurs reach out to us at Outbox for referrals and recommendations to different partners and investors. As such, it is important that an entrepreneur affiliates with a community nearest to them. This could be an incubator, accelerator or co-working space. Pay a courtesy visit to an incubator, or even relocate your physical address there, let them know what you are up-to and the help you need.

The second is capital. Entrepreneurs that have taken the time to interact and understand what various actors have to offer to their entreprises have succeeded in learning how to raise capital. One thing we have heard the entrepreneurs in our programs tell us is that the rigour of our programs enabled them not only set-up the right structures for their organisations, but also help them engage confidently with various investors thereafter.

In a four month health accelerator called Up Accelerate that we implemented last year, three startups went on to raise $85,000 in followon seed funding after graduating from the program.

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Davis Kawalya, Communications Officer

No man is an island, thus the need to empower young people. We all need that kind of support.

Lastly is the access to markets. Limited or no access to markets is one of the biggest risks you face as an entrepreneur. I have had the opportunity to work with corporates like MTN and development partners like UNFPA. Such ecosystem actors can provide startups with access to market channels thus reducing their time to market. As an entrepreneur, you would like to leverage opportunities to engage with corporates and development partners As such, it is important that as an entrepreneur, you take the time to tap into the ecosystem support mechanisms around you to improve your chances of success.

*Richard Zulu is a founding partner and lead at Outbox, an entrepreneurship support organisation that provides early stage Ugandan entrepreneurs with business incubation, shared office space and technical training programs.

“ Outbox provided us with business incubation and introductions to local partners, this helped us validate and grow our business. �

Gerald Otim, Co-founder Ensibuuko.

Winner - Young Achievers Award 2017, ICT and Innovations Category.

www.outbox.co.ug

www.youngachieversawards.ug

We believe In Entrepreneurs.

We Believe In Community.

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Meet The 2018 Nominees

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From a pool of over 400 nominations sent in online and offline, our magnificent panel of judges managed to sort through all the clutter and point out 45 nominations that are the best of the best. Every nomination in every category went through the same rigorous judging process, in a bid to end up with only the best and most suitable nominations, so here they are;

Innovations & ICT This category recognises information communication technology innovations that serve the needs of our community. ICT achievers provide a full range of technology solutions from private PC sales right through to development of corporate and education software solutions and communications networks. These individuals and businesses have a wealth of knowledge and experience with software, hardware, networking, server technologies and security.

Phyllis Kyomuhendo Co-Founder, mSCAN mSCAN , the innovation co-founded by Phyllis Kyomuhendo, is an ultrasonic probe and software that will support ultrasound scanning in low resource areas. This technology addresses the problem of inadequate ultrasound services for expectant mothers. Her childhood dream was to grow into a secretary because they were always smart, but by the age of 12 Phyllis had found a new passion, to go out and help others. It was this that pushed her to pursue a medical course, while doing this she realised that most of the medical challenges could be solved by technology. She discovered the unmet need for ultrasound scans, and together with her team, went on to build this award winning intervention that just might change the fortunes of many expectant mothers countrywide. mSACN allows ultrasound services to be accessed by all, regardless of their financial status or geographical location. She firmly believes no mother should die giving life.

Andrew Mugerwa Founder, MyLib App Andrew Mugerwa realised two constants among young Ugandans; a poor reading culture and a heavy dependence on the internet. Through the start up known as Softbox Limited, he and his team went on to build “My Lib App”. It was designed to not only cultivate a better reading culture among school going children in Uganda, but also make the curriculum more interesting and understandable. My Lib App is a digital compilation of Uganda classroom curriculum notes made exciting with animation, illustrations, voice overs and simple easy to read sentences.

Yvonne Mpambara, Communications and Advocacy Officer

Youth symbolize high energy, positivity and spirit to make things happen. The attitude and approach of the youth of the nation is the reflection of the future. We all are hopeful that with our efforts, we are going to lead our nation to new heights. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Jacqueline Mutumba Founder, Digi Health Ltd Data collection is an important process for health service delivery.

However, the process is tedious and subject to many inaccuracies. It is this challenge that Jacqueline Mutumba and her team sought to address through Digi Health. DigiHealth Mobile is a web and mobile tool that digitises the process of data collection and reporting to improve information integrity for the institutions that will rely on this information to make decisions, plans and recommendations. It works both online and offline, making it widely usable for all health data collectors who can access a mobile phone.

Julius Naika CEO & Founder, Naika Group & famunera.com In 2016, Julius Naika launched Famunera, a platform that has opened out limitless opportunities to local farmers. In the two year period of existence, it has served over 100,000 farmers and created more than 200,000 indirect jobs in the agricultural value chain. A farmer can register on the platform as a seller and get linked to buyers in the various countries across Africa in which the platform is operational.

Brian Gitta Founder, Matibabu Brian Gitta is the CEO and Co-Founder of Matibabu, a company that offers a non-invasive malaria diagnosis kit. 24-year-old Ugandan inventor Brian Gitta, created a device called “Matibabu” which detects malaria without drawing blood. “Matibabu,” which means “treatment” in Swahili, works by examining red blood cells when clipped to a patient’s finger and does not require a specialist to operate. The device shines a red beam on a patient’s finger which identifies malaria symptoms and sends the results of the patient’s test straight to their cell phone in under two minutes.

Farming & Agro-Processing Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, therefore these young people deserve all the praise we can give. They have become leaders and role-models for future farmers, and have come up with solutions to issues previously unfixable.

Here we recognise the people constantly advancing this field, modernising farming and consequently impacting the society around them.

Fiona Rukwanzi Founder, Nyunya Fiona is the Director of Mwigo Holdings, the stewarding company for her product “Nyunya”. Nyunya is a healthy, delicious and probiotic yogurt with health benefits to people with diabetes and digestive disorders.

The fact that most yoghurt available on the market is sweetened makes it difficult to diabetic people, who ordinarily would kill to have a taste of it. It is for this that Fiona thought of Nyunya, and is strategically turning Mwigo Holdings into a powerful African Success Story. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Bazil Mwotta Founder, AgroDuuka Basil Mwotta has received nods in various international awards, especially for his innovation AgroDuuka, which is a platform for direct farmermarket interaction. It is a GSM supported interface, where a farmer can simply send a text message expressing intention to sell their farm produce prior to the harvesting period; a unique identification number is generated for the farmer by the AgroDuuka System. This message is displayed on the AgroDuuka interface where distinct buyers can view this information, place their offers, and make orders and the farmer can go ahead to directly connect with the buyer.

Jean Onyait Founder, Akellobanker Onyait is the CEO of Akellobanker, a data driven mobile platform that enable farmers, women, youth and disabled to access mechanised agricultural services, improved seed and medical services on credit. To date, he has enrolled over 40,000 beneficiaries, who now have credit IDs to access credit from any partner cooperatives, shops and medical centers.

Edward Mukiibi Founder, Developing Innovations in School Cultivation Edward Mukiibi formed Developing Innovations in School Cultivation based on his personal experiences. He came up with the initiative to offer alternative out of class learning, while doing farming to the students who were on punishment. The platform has made farming an enjoyable practice, getting spread out to 310 schools and communities in Uganda as well as 36 other African countries.

Khamutima Tumwebaze Founder, Young Farmers’ Champions Network Khamutima Tumwebaze has been passionate about farming from his childhood. Through Young Farmers Champions Network (YOFCHAN), he is pushing the agricultural agenda by cultivating a mindset change about agriculture among the youth today, while establishing a network, where those who have tasted the fruits of agriculture can act as role models to their peers. The network is currently working with 1500 youth groups in 15 districts across Uganda.

Business This category recognises the titans of the Ugandan business sector, including those involved in merchandise, trading, procurement, or retail business. These young achievers are changing the face of business, one company at a time.

Josephine Namirimu

One can start from nothing- we must turn this into a song for every young person.

The greatest step is starting, not concluding. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Ronald Hakiza Founder, UgaBus Having almost missed out on a bus to attend a burial because all seats were taken, Ronald Hakiza founded Ugabus.com to ease long distance bus travels to customers. The platform is an e-ticketing company for buses, that enables travelers within East Africa to buy bus tickets online, providing secure mobile money and Visa card payment options and enabling customers to avoid long queues at Bus stations. Ugabus is currently available for all East African routes with operations across Uganda and East Africa.

Samson Wambuzi Co-Founder, Yiya Engineering Solutions Samson’s initiative, Yiya Engineering Solutions, is crafted around education. Yiya is a nonprofit start-up which designs projectbased engineering curricula and provides engineering educational opportunities to students in secondary schools in northern Uganda. It uses a model that seeks the practical application of science and math topics from the national syllabus. Yiya provides curriculum development, teacher training, and co-teaching support in the classroom.

Emmy Omongin, Campus Bee Campus bee comes off as a business with a critical understanding of its audience. Just like its name, it is tailored for the university student, or campuser, as the common term goes. Campus bee has grown from a single Facebook page, to a website, and now to the 140 million UGX business that it is valued at. It is a hub for university gossip and news, and also a reference point for a student in search of key elements of university education, such as hostels and internship placements. Campus Bee has been ranked among Uganda’s 20 most visited websites in Uganda with traffic of over 100,000 visitors a week and over 400,000 views a month.

Muhammed Sekatawa, Responsible Suppliers Uganda Limited Muhammed established Diner’s Rice under his initiative Responsible Suppliers Uganda Limited, to cater for the needs of the customers as pointed out by the survey. He identified rice farmer groups from Butaleja, Pallisa and Mbale to supply his company with paddy/rough rice, which was delivered to a contract miller for de-stoning, milling, polishing and grading but packaged and branded as Diner’s Rice. As of June 2016, Responsible Suppliers could process 30 tons of rice a day.

Nataliey Bitature, Co-Founder, Musana Carts The 28 year old Nataliey and two colleagues, came up with an innovation, the Musana Cart. Musana Carts provide urban street vendors with a cleaner, safer and more efficient solution to their cooking, storage, and financing needs. The Musana Cart comes with what every street food vendor needs in Africa: an eco-friendly stove, light bulbs and phone chargers powered by a solar panel. Musana also provides access to finance, business and WASH training, as well as a business license. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Musana Cart is designed to help and make the workload of vendors easier to produce quality induced goods and services, particularly the average ‘rolex’ guy. Tackling the major constraint of poor access to energy infrastructure which leads to low profitability which is then compounded by operating illegally within the system, Musana Carts is built to help street vendors maneuver through it all.

Social Entrepreneurship This category recognises individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social challenges. This category includes consideration for profit and not-for-profit ventures, and youth leaders/activists in the social and political realm. They have used entrepreneurial principles to organise, create and manage a venture or campaign to start positive social change.

Andrew Mukose Andrew founded Gifted Hands Network that trains visually impaired women to become certified medical examiners. The platform specialises in early detection and prevention of breast cancer, utilising the heightened sense of touch visually impaired people have to detect cancer lumps. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Gifted Hands Network are conducting a Cancer Free Uganda campaign across the country, where doctors educate women about the causes, risks, effects, treatments, and preventative measures of breast cancer that are available.

Monica Nyiraguhabwa As Co-Founder and Executive Director of Girl Up Initiative Uganda, Monica Nyiraguhabwa has created a unique model for girls’ empowerment and education. The organisation provides young girls and women with opportunities to succeed and thrive as leaders in their slum communities through holistic education and economic empowerment. Growing up in a slum herself, Nyiraguhabwa recognises firsthand the issues girls face, therefore wanted to create a better environment for young women to achieve their goals. The Girl Up Initiative main programs promote gender equality, economic self-sufficiency, and education and sexual health and rights and gender based violence.

Moses Nkesiga

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Whilst at university, Moses Nkesgia would mobilise his classmates and take them every weekend to marginalised communities, to provide legal advice on matters such as will writing and land disputes. From this a network grew, and is now a nation-wide group of young lawyers known as Strategic Response International. They also developed an app that will bring quick engagement with a lawyer, for those in rural and remote locations and who cannot afford much help.

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Stephen Katende Stephen is the founder and team leader of Kisobooka Africa, an initiative that aims to ensure financial inclusion in rural areas of Uganda through securing access to financial services, improved standards of living, and education for children. Kisobooka Africa is implementing a unique model - the School Community Bank - whereby parents will come together to save money and also borrow money to start income generating projects from which they can pay back their loan.

Richard Kalungi Home Doctors Uganda is a social enterprise based in Kampala with a mission to provide inclusive home healthcare services. As co-founder and lead doctor, Richard Kalungi runs a team of 15 employees and has carried out over 300 home visits, as well as 67 television and radio talk shows promoting education and the healthcare home services. The main target is patients with chronic illnesses who are unable to travel to centres - the Home Doctors are able to go to them and provide them with the support they require.

Fashion The fashion industry is one of the largest in the world, yet this scale does not mean Uganda is excluded. The incredible creators from our country are making their mark with their unique and innovative designs, and this category celebrates their outstanding achievements that reflects the powerful convergence of fashion and culture.

Charles Mulumba Creative Director, brand MulC Ug A student at Makerere University Business School, Charles is the Creative Director of MulC Ug. He mentors budding fashion designers/ stylists/ models and encourages the youth never to give up on their dreams.

Anita Beryl Founder, Beryl Qouture A Ugandan born fashion designer, couturier and entrepreneur Anita is the founder of this luxury fashion brand established in 2011. Focusing on Haute Coutur and bridal wear the brand also has ready to wear pieces for all genders. Under this brand is the ANITA BERYL Mentorship Programme which intends to create a new generation of fashion spearheads. They undergo training at the fashion house and are assisted with booking their first runway showcase. This programme hopes to guide young people through the industry he’s,ping them achieve their full potential.

Tanne Heathershaw, 2018 Intern

Believing in our youth is believing in our future - whatever is needed, believe these people have it covered. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Christabel Kente Founder, Kente Christabel Haute Couture A self taught fashion designer Christable concentrates on the classic African culture with a touch of modern style in her brand Kente Christabel Haute Couture. Focusing on embracing creativity and originality her Afro-heritage Couture line to embodies Ugandan identity in fashionable clothes. She aims to enhance the beauty of African fabrics and their desirability through her designs.

Juliana Nasasira Founder, Kwesh Launched in 2012 Kwesh creates ready-to-wear and bespoke pieces for all genders. Targeted at the youth they focus on contemporary Africaninspired designs, rich colours and urban fabrics. Nasasira saw fashion as an avenue to express her creativity and passion and has created a strong presence in the market having dressed Hollywood actress Lupita N’yongo. She hopes the local fashion label will give hope to other young Ugandans to pursue their fashion dreams.

Kennedy Zziwa Founder, Hair By Zziwa Zzwia Hair Studio merges traditional styling with modern trends to provide a bespoke experience for all customers. The salon is in the process of transforming to an eco- friendly space, focusing on using green products, renewable energy resources and recycling. Subsequently reducing the salons impact on the environment in all aspects of their work. They acknowledge the importance of salons in creating safe spaces for women to converse and have crafted a social support network. The salon and hair academy have provided employment for 70 young people.

Film & Photography This category represents those paving a new direction for film, including talented filmmakers, photographers and cinematographers, who are achieving greatness and exhibiting the power that the creative arts have.

Beorhts Beards: Photographers Beorhts Beards is a collective of creative photographers and filmmakers sharing their art. They pride themselves in vibrant, high quality work delivered with exceptional customer service. Their approach encourages collaboration and offers the opportunity to share work and skills with fellow creatives.

Edgar Kwesiga, Founder of Spire Creative (Film Sandra Nabunnya, Project Liaison The future is purchased by the present. In whatever you do now, do it to the best of your ability. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Production Agency) After starting his journey aged just 15 watching others edit and being a runner, Edgar now owns his own film production agency: Spire Creative.

A self taught motion graphic designer, the agency produces film, TV, radio commercials, motion graphic design and branding. They focus on producing quality content within the shortest period of time at affordable prices. This means Spire can produce a 360 campaign in under a week.

Mulindwa Richard Movie Producer, Writer & Director Milindwa Richard has produced nine movies, he is currently working on ‘The Torture’ and ‘Mistakes Gals Do’. His agency, Limit Productions ltd attracts upcoming actors and now has seventy actresses and actors. His work focuses on problems of the ordinary citizen making them relatable for audiences.

Oscar Ntege, Photographer Boasting two studios employing a minimum of ten people, Oscar enjoys sharing his passion for photography with others. He has different bespoke internship programmes which mentor up and coming photographers in Uganda. Furthermore his Clicks of Hope campaign brings photographers together to give back to the community.

Tibaweswa Stuart, Photographer With a focus on experience, Tibawesa creates photos that tell a story to their audience. His photos are emotional, engaging and visually interesting; paying sharp attention to detail and the subject matter.

‘Surviving BidiBidi’ is such a project that tells refugees stories and generates a positive perception of this group of people focusing on providing a sense of humanity. He is part of a mentorship with the UPPA on what it is like to be a youth today, as well as photographing for NBS. he won the Uganda Photo Press Photographer Award (UPPA) 2017.

Performing Arts Performing Arts celebrates and recognises the outstanding achievements of those who entertain and inspire us everyday.

These people show immense talent in fields such as dance, writing and music, and reflect on the powerful ability that these activities have to ignite change.

Gilbert Beyamba, Chief of Staff

“We all benefit by having young people exposed to “how things are done” and not just telling them “the way things were done in the past” and “the way things are being done’”. That is the only way we will tap into the power of young people. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Eddy Kenzo Former street child Eddy Kenzo has made a huge name for himself since his first Ugandan hit ‘Yanimba’ in 2008. Eddy is recognised at an international level, he was nominated for the International Reggae and World Music Awards in 2014, Won the Kunde Awards for Best East African Artist in 2014/15 and was named Artist of the Year 2014/15 at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards among many more. He has also been named Uganda’s tourism ambassador. Furthermore, he supports other youths from the streets.

Felix Byaruhanaga, Founder of The Tribe Ug Felix started The Tribe Ug during his time at university as a way for youth to engage readily with the growing culture. They organise the Ugandan hip-hop awards, the first of their type in East Africa, created to provide a platform for artists. The Tribe Ug has been nominated for the best entertainment site at the 2015 and 2016 social media awards.

H2C Dance Group Created by three young men, H2C aims to use dance to bring about positive social change in communities through their mission ‘Dance 2 Inspire’. They conduct outreaches in schools and communities teaching and developing youths dance talent and exposing them to the world outside of school and their communities. They aim to inspire youths to focus their energy on dance so as not to become idle.

Mathias Mulumba, Writer A writer and poet Mulumba concentrates on portraying ordinary life in Uganda. He is the author of two collection of poetry and a novel, The Honking. His work has been featured on the Pan-African poetry platform, Badilisha Poetry Radio. Furthermore, his story “Chasing my tail” was runner up for the October 2013 Africa Book Club short reads story whilst his work Poetry in Motion was called ‘an enterprising first’ by the Africa book club.

Rehma Namakula Rema began her journey by singing karaoke in high school and by 2013 had released her first solo ‘Oli Wange’. In 2016 she was selected to represent Uganda at the fourth season of Coke Studio Africa. She has won various HipHop Music Awards in both 2013 and 2014 including Best Female Artist. Rema is an inspiration and spokeswoman to many mothers nationally and internationally.

Paul Waiswa, Evaluation & Learning Officer

Young people should not be seen as merely beneficiaries of project interventions; they need to be engaged to become active players at all levels of the development process. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Journalism This category includes young journalists in print and electronic media who cover various topics, including the news. We want to promote and recognise excellence in African journalism, as well as reiterating the importance of journalists’ role in Uganda’s development.

Abaas Mpindi Mpindi is the creative mind behind the Media Challenge Initiative which aims to build the next generation of journalists. The academy section of this provides media students a platform to gain experience through training, mentorship and experiential peer to peer learning. This helps bridge the gap between journalism schools and the market. They also help promote solutions journalism, which focuses on how journalists can be part of the solutions dialogue, not only reporting on problems.

Allan Darren Kyeyune At only 24, Allan boasts six years in all-round sports journalism. He currently works with the Daily Monitor and NBS and has previously worked for NTV Uganda. He aims to address the gap in up do date sports information by utilizing social media to provide live updates of ongoing matches. He has also launched an online show ‘Just Darran’ that runs on Facebook and YouTube. He has been recognised as the 2016 Best Journalist on Social Media at the Sports Journalist Awards and in 2017 as the Sports Journalist of the Year at the Sports Journalist Choice Awards.

Canary Mugume With a keen focus on investigative journalism, Canary is a political reporter who believes in holding power accountable through telling the untold stories about governments in Africa. One project is the Investigative report on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) which focuses on the regulation of GMOs to the market. He is a journalists with the Next Media Services where he reports for NBS Television and writes for Nile Post.

Raymond Mujuni From editor of his school newspaper, Raymond has grown to an investigative journalist and news anchor for NBS TV and column writer for the Daily Monitor Website. During his previous work for Uganda Radio Network he gained experience breaking big stories such as the Israeli-Uganda arms deal for refugees, a story that won him the runners up award in the 2014 Journalism Awards. He makes the news easier to understand for example by using a piece of bread to illustrate the allocations of the budget during the budget speech. He tries to tell not only the story but also its impact, encouraging journalists to becoming agents of change. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Peter Malinz Kisadha, Founder Digest Africa Digest Africa focuses on telling the stories of startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs that are making an impact on society today. They aim to increase attention they receive and so help grow the businesses.

The team has grown from soley Peter to include five people in one year as well as expanding their cover to East Africa. In this time they have published over 350 stories on small businesses. In March 2018, Peter was selected among the 1000 entrepreneurs to be awarded a $5,000 grant as being part of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme.

Outstanding Sports Personality The past few years have been pivotal for our nation concerning sports, and have essentially been what has put us on the map. This category seeks to recognise youth that have been involved in sports and have been positive ambassadors for our great nation in this field.

David Emong A 28 year old disabled athlete, Emong competed in the 2016 Paralympic Games where he became the first Ugandan to win a Paralympics medal (silver) in the men’s 1500m T46, and went on to win gold at the 2017 World Para Athletic Championships in London. These were milestones for Ugandan sport, as the wins were the first of their kind for Uganda, and Emong’s accomplishments propelled Uganda onto the world stage.

When not competing, Emong is a model to fight the stigma surrounding people with disabilities, and aims to show that they are capable of much more than what is expected.

Douglas Smith Founder of Ibanda Young Stars Soccer Academy (IYSSA), Douglas Smith is supporting hundreds of children, many of whom are orphans, by enrolling them in his soccer programme. The initiative, which requires no entry fee, aims to support children by empowering them, teaching them, and providing basic necessities in order to improve their quality of life. Alongside just playing sport, IYSSA has partnered with local schools meaning that 65% of the children who were previously not in school now attend, funding means that the materials necessary such as shoes are provided, and the soccer clinics help to improve awareness of illness such as HIV/AIDS and have succeeded in decreasing drug abuse in the area.

Ibrahim Nkonge, Programs officer, Communities and Schools We are only as strong as our networks, we need to invest more in building others. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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Ivan Magomu Ivan Magomu began his rugby career in 2009 when he represented his school at the Schools Super 8 tournament - and being a key factor in their win. He then went on to win a further two Schools Super 8 titles with 2 different schools, making him the first player to ever win 3 titles with 3 different schools. Magomu joined the Black Pirates thereafter, and has represented Uganda for rugby at a senior level. He is an inspiration to many upcoming young rugby players all over, from his home district of Mbale all the way to Kampala.

Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei A long distance runner, Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei is using his talent and reputation to create change. After facing injury, and national embarrassment, and finishing last in a race in 2017, Cheptegei could have abandoned sport; but he persevered. He went on to compete in the 2017 World Championships in London, where he won a silver medal in the 10,000 metres. This courage inspired others, teaching them to never give up even when things are tough.

Lady Cranes The Lady Cranes 7s rugby team is Uganda’s national women’s rugby team, representing Uganda at international championships all over the globe. Problems with funding have caused issues such as transport and equipment, but the Lady Cranes motto of “I can, I shall” motivated them to fight for their team, and push for what they needed in order to play.

Playing at an elite level dispels the myth that rugby is a man’s sport, and helps to fight the barriers women face in the sports industry everyday.

Women can constantly be inspired by the team members, and are encouraged to follow their lead and gain confidence, make better life choices, and become more educated on related issues.

Bashir Kabuye, Program Officer

Young People are the backbone of growth, and that’s why we should nurture them no matter what. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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LIVE AT 9 We tell the story beyond the story.

#NBSLiveAt9 www.youngachieversawards.ug

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The Death of Mobile Money and Financial Inclusion in Uganda

*By Stone Atwine

The death of Mobile Money in Uganda is imminent if the government’s proposal to tax transactions is approved in the 2018/19 budget. In an inexplicable move, the Excise Duty (Amendment) Act 2018, proposes to tax mobile money transactions; “on receiving, payments and withdraws” — 1% of the value of transactions.

It’s easy to think this is 1% of your money which is terribly high, but it goes further than that; you get charged 1% to receive and 1% to withdraw. Mobile money is already taxed through a 10% charge on the fees charged by Mobile Network Operators. This tax is also proposed to increase to 15% in the same bill.

To put this in perspective, if you need to send someone UGX600, 000, you will be charged 2,000 by the Mobile Network Operator to send.

The recipient will receive UGX600,000 less UGX6,000 government tax.

She will then be charged UGX12,500 by the MNO and UGX5,940 tax to withdraw the money. The cold hard cash in hand will be 575,560.

The total cost for moving 600,000 within the borders will be 4.41% with UGX12,325 going to the Mobile Network Operator and UGX14,115 going to the taxman. If you’re sending UGX7,000,000 the government will take UGX146,950 as a tax for using mobile money.

This tax, which is not applied to transactions initiated by banks clearly discriminates against the poor and in the simplest terms will be a huge blow for the financial technology industry.

Mobile money has been instrumental in improving financial inclusion.

People like smallholder farmers, refugees and most low income earners who would otherwise be unserved by banks and other financial institutions were pulled into the financial services sector by Mobile Money services.

All the successes and gains made will be undone by this piece of legislation as people resort to cash transactions. And the poor will be left out of the financial services loop again.

Akello Tabitha, Finance and Office Admin Youth involvement in all developmental aspects must not only be called for but greatly supported by the status quo.

Financial inclusion plays a vital role in the reduction of poverty, inequality and (inclusive) economic development. It is especially critical in the stimulation of job creation. The presence of a highly developed and available financial infrastructure especially mobile technology offers exciting opportunities for expanding financial inclusion.

Economies around the world are hoping to find new ways to provide financial services to all their citizens. In Europe, where financial services

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are available to almost everyone, the European Commission has realised that banks and traditional financial institutions are too rigid to provide seamless services and has passed new regulation, the Payment Services Directive 2 (EU) 2015/2366 that removes banks’ monopoly on their customer’s account information and payment services.

The purpose is to increase pan-European competition and participation in the payments industry also from non-banks, and to provide for a level playing field by harmonizing consumer protection and the rights and obligations for payment providers and users. The new EU directive mandates banks to open up their APIs (Application Programing Interfaces) to other financial technology companies to provide better services.

This attitude and regulation from European governments has led to new financial institutions like the digital only banking services N26, Monzo, Monese and Tandem among others. We are working on a similar project called eversend.co for the African market which will provide superior services and easy access to financial services. *Stone Atwine is the CEO, Eversend.co

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All the organizations that have been working towards the goal of financial inclusion should work hand in hand to make sure this legislation is not passed. But even more critical is for Ugandans to unite and oppose this proposed extortion. Contact your Member of Parliament and get your voice heard.

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THINK ABOUT IT,

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Queen of Katwe is an Example of Why we Demand Better Life For Girls

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*By Humphrey Nabimanya

I had an opportunity to be invited for the VVIP premiere of Queen of Katwe. I was hesitant to attend at first because I was flying to Mexico later that night to meet with a series of world leading change makers and philanthropists at the opportunity collaboration summit.

Then I remembered this was a story I have witnessed with my eyes long before Hollywood picked interest in Phiona Mutesi. I had no option but to attend. It was worth it.

The first time I interfaced with the then 17-year-old Phiona was at the 4th Young Achievers Awards in 2013 where she was celebrated as the most outstanding sports personality of the year.

I was shocked that there was - under our noses - a teenage global champion who hails from Uganda who wasn’t celebrated.

Almost four years later - thanks to Tendo Nagenda and Mira Nair who were behind the casting and directing of the Walt Disney movie based on Tim Crother’s book, Queen of Katwe that tells Mutesi’s real life story a heroine is now before everyone’s eyes across the globe ready to inspire every little girl who is still trapped and unable achieve her potential due to circumstances.

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Ibrahim Waiswa Batambuze, Communications and Advocacy Manager

Our focus should be on empowering women & youth regardless of their sex, race, ethnicity and background, to contribute to their own & their communities’ development through realization of their right to live healthy and productive lives.

My purpose here, is not to narrate the plot of the story, but rather highlight reasons why- if you have a sister, daughter or know any teenage girl - should take them to either watch this movie or buy them the book, or better still, understand why we all need to advocate for a better life for girls.

First of all, empowering and inspiring young girls starts with us. Imagine if Robert Katende, Mutesi’s chess trainer and Nakku Harriet,Mutesi’s mum never believed in her. Right now she wouldn’t be a law student and a globally celebrated chess champion. Phiona is simply a perfect portrait of a girl who learns not to be defined merely by her roots and sex but by merit and potential.

Secondly, young girls need heroes like Katende who remains a father figure and hero in Muteisi’s life. He portrays the kindness of man who saw a potential escape for a young girl and did whatever he had to make it happen. Katende lives his life being proud of talent he saw, groom and inspire teenage girls. On the other hand, Theo is the ‘villain’ who exploits Mutesi’s teenage sister Night and impregnates her, cutting short her future dreams. We need more Katendes in this world, not Theos!

Thirdly, is the joy of reaping benefits of empowered girls. The 2011 Uganda Demographic Health Survey still shows how the prevalence of child marriages, teenage pregnancies, low ratio of girl child education empowerment compared to boys, are still high. As UNFPA states, If we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must fight for, and invest in girls’ sexual reproductive health and rights as well as their right to be free from harmful practices like child marriage, female genital mutilation and gender based violence.

If we are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must fight for, and invest in girls’ sexual reproductive health and rights as well as their right to be free from harmful practices like child marriage, female genital mutilation and gender based violence. *Mr Nabimanya is the team leader & founder of Reach A Hand, Uganda

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Lastly, we need to celebrate our own. Queen of Katwe has become a global inspirational story that we are all proud of fortunately. If we don’t tell our stories, no one will. Mutesi’s story needs to be celebrated beyond the movie. The story needs to be taken to schools, communities and all places where young girls can watch it or read her story and be inspired so as to know that no matter where they come from, their dreams remain valid as Lupita Nyong’o says.

For us at Reach A Hand, Uganda, we pledge to celebrate her and her story the way we celebrate our cultural icons like Joy Doreen Biira, Mama Angella Wapakhabulo, Sarah Kizito, Mariam Ruyombo, Nina Karugaba, Nana Kagga, Stella Atal, Maureen Wavamuno, Seanice And Nancy Kacungira, Thereza Mbiire, Vivian KItyo, Irene Kulabako, Dr Maggie Kigozi and Cleopatra Koheirwe and many other young women and girls who in the path of their lives have become inspirations for many.

It is, without doubt, that Queen of Katwe deserves an applause—both for the story it communicates and how it’s communicated. If we want to have the real joy of an empowered society, let’s start grooming more Phiona Mutesi’s in Uganda.

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Rugby Fraternity Bursts Into Excitement as Kimono Returns To Action

FASHION FEATURE

At the sound of the name Justin Kimono, every Ugandan rugby fan relates to that 2011 Confederations of Africa Rugby Cup match against Zimbabwe at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Kampala.

Kimono, then a 19-year-old high school graduate, debuted for the Uganda rugby Cranes, putting in a noteworthy performance that saw him score two tries and take out two Zimbabwean players with the biggest of hits.

That moment onwards, Kimono pursued a spectacular career that saw his signature dearly hunted by a number of international professional clubs. However, the star suffered an injury that sidelined him for close to a year and a half, until Saturday 10th June 2017 when he ran out for the Cranes against the Kenya Simbas, much to the excitement of the Ugandan rugby fans. It was understandable why his return was such a highly anticipated event.

He carved a career out for himself as early as senior 2 in Namilyango College School. He was about 14 then, and is one of the youngest players to ever feature for a school’s senior side. He was known for bursting runs, crunching tackles and brutal raw power that made him hard to tackle.

With his combination of pace and power, he was almost invincible. His name lives even among the present day Namilyango students given the cult hero status he cultivated while there.

He debuted for the Betway Kobs (Then UTL Kobs) just two weeks after leaving high school and he quickly showed his potential, which earned him a national team call up. He recalls this day vividly.

Helen Patricia Amutuhaire, Program Officer

Since each achievement requires a lot of effort and sacrifice, it is a great thing to celebrate every young person’s success story. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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“I was given a trial chance seeing as I had been in good form in the league. I started the game and was supposed to come off (for Jude Keremundu) in the second half” he recalls.

He duly represented, scoring two quick first half touchdowns. What was more memorable though was that he knocked out a man almost twice his size as he headed for his second try. This performance ensured that Kim J, as he is amicably known cemented his number on the team for good, making a more than perfect replacement for Keremundu who left the country the next year.

In that same year (2011) Kimono notched the Young Achievers Award for the outstanding Sports Personality. He felt fulfilled.

“It was a good experience being in the same room with two presidents (H.E Paul Kagame and H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni). I am proud to be the only male rugby player to win the award.” he says with a smile, adding that his prize money was a big push to his business which he is doing right now.

His return also left many with the hope that he would carry on from where he had stopped in early 2016. By the time he suffered the injury, Kimono had been one of the top try scorers for the domestic league.

So when he jumped on versus Kenya in the first leg of the Elgon Cup in Kampala, the fans sat back and waited. He received the ball and treated them to one of those trademark runs of his and the nostalgia could hardly be kept at bay. He did not score a try that day; but a player of his class just needs to regain his form, and he would score a try any day.

Elizabeth Amanya, Finance Officer

Our minds must be filled with thoughts and imaginations of supporting each other and our hands must do just that.

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How To Apply: Download the application form from our website www.reachahand.org/pea , fill it in and send it back via email info@reachahand.org or drop it at our office on Plot 7502, Block 244, Heritage Village (Kitaranga), Kasanga, along Ggaba Road.

OR Fill in the form directly online at www.reachahand.org/pea

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How the 2017 Young Achievers Awards Celebrated the Pacesetters For Today’s Generation www.youngachieversawards.ug

Last year in three awards, we celebrated people who have exhibited bravery, strength and selflessness through their youth and adulthood to build and maintain the reputation that the Young Achievers Awards boast of today.

Years before, those who had shown that their spirit could not be broken by anything have been recognised by these special awards. Chiefly among those are Yvonne Namaganda, who gave up her own life to save others as a fire gutted her dormitory in Buddo Junior School. There was no better display of a heroine act, and it heralded the receival of the Heroine Award of 2009, the debut year of the Young Achievers Award.

The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Noerine Kaleeba, the founder of The AIDS Support Organisation (TASO), arguably the most renowned AIDS support organisation in Uganda, that has worked tirelessly to break myths and misconceptions on HIV/AIDS, and to end stigma. The award also noted the Late Professor Senteza Kajjubi, who is one of Uganda’s most influential figures in Uganda’s education for his enormous to the development of Universal Primary Education.

Other recipients of the special award include Esther Kalenzi, the founder of 40 days over 40 smiles, Pastor Gary Skinner, who has given a straw of life to underprivileged children in Uganda through Watoto Ministries, The Late Dr. Matthew Lukwiya who died while fighting Ebola, The Late James Mulwana for building a business empire and Sister Racheal Fassera, pivotal to the safe return of the abducted Aboke girls by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels, to mention but a few. These set precedence for the reputed recipients of the awards in 2017.

On that night of glamour, the youthful soul of Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, Dr. Peter Mugenyi and Ali Mufuruki were revived as they walked home with the Star Hall of Fame, Hero and Lifetime Achievement Awards respectively.

As the majorly youthful audience listened to their earnest acceptance speeches, the message of motivation, persistence and sacrifice was driven home.

Hon. Amelia Kyambadde wields years of experience working in the civil and non-profit sector, and over the time, she has reinforced her interest in fostering a strong

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and self sustaining youthful population. This has over time been reflected in her nurturing and growing of the Young Achievers Awards, which she coolly echoed in her speech, “I am very proud to associate with the Young Achievers Awards� she concluded her remark when receiving the Star Hall of Fame Award.

Indeed, she has directly stewarded the growth of the award through providing guidance, advice and support, while also lobbying for resources and opening out endless opportunities.

Even in her capacity now as minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, she continues to demonstrate her belief in the vision of the award, to grow and surpass the limits of borders.

It was through her office that the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni handed down seed capital of 5 million shillings to each of the 9 winners. That was only a refresher of how much zeal she has to grow the award. she has been a strong force, one we recognised and celebrated with the utmost respect.

The Star Hall of Fame category is designed to recognise those who have given both commitment and sacrifice to the Young Achievers Awards.

While accepting the Hero Award, Dr. Peter Mugyenyi, a medical researcher and campaigner, took us down memory lane. After leaving Uganda in exile in the 70s and living what could be argued as a much more comfortable life in the UK, Mugyenyi returned to his roots in the 90s and proved pivotal in our battle against HIV/AIDS. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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He trained in HIV epidemiology, co-founded the Joint Clinical Research Center which is Africa’s largest AIDS treatment and research center, and served as Chairperson of the AIDS task force at the Ministry of Health. This post enabled him to lead the development of the national plan to increase HIV care, which was pivotal for the Uganda AIDS Control programme.

That however, was not all. He recognised the need to reduce the loss of life and increase access to low cost effective medicines. He exhibited proactiveness, taking the situation into his own hands, and ordering low cost generic ARVs from India. This was violating Uganda’s patent laws and faced opposition from international pharmaceuticals, but like any hero, he had to rise above the norm. He proceeded to camp at Entebbe airport until the drugs were allowed in and agreements reached ensuring future shipments would be allowed to enter.

This effort led, almost overnight, to a tenfold increase in the number of ARVs in Uganda and to the end of the blockade of low-cost generic AIDS drugs into Africa.

The Hero Award recognizes selfless service of individuals for the good of society.

In his acceptance speech Dr. Mugyenyi he reminded us that HIV is still a threat but applauded efforts saying “ We have gone a long way from the time when everyday was a nonstop funeral to now when AIDS funerals are rare.” There is no doubt in our minds that this huge feat was, in part, due to Dr. Mgyenyi’s work for this we continue to applaud him.

There was one more award to the night; the Lifetime Achievement Award, that went duly to Ali Mufuruki, founder and chairman of Infotech, and founder of African Leadership Initiative East Africa.

Mufuruki is a champion of youth empowerment, and his initiative has a mission to engage the talent of emerging leaders in Africa, and sharpen their potential to allow them to build a good society for their nations. His determination to build a mass of value-based leaders, and the time he has given to create sustainable social and economic development highlights his deserving of this award.

This highly respectable award is reserved for an eminent person who, throughout their admirable career, has done nothing but work hard to create positive development, and has become an inspiration to young people all over.

The Young Achievers Special Awards are for the best of all generations, those who have exceeded in multiple realms and demonstrated initiative that is too great to be confined to an individual category. These three winners have proven their worthiness through spending their lives acting for the betterment of young people and the rest of society. There is nothing big enough to give them the praise they deserve, but we hope these awards are a start.

Janet Kukundakwe Byaruhanga, Finance Officer

We should all front the aspect of accountability and that’s when Young People will develop the zeal to work harder and be more productivity. www.youngachieversawards.ug

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2018 Young Achievers Special Awards Recipients

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Besides recognizing and rewarding outstanding achievement among young people, the award established special categories where individuals outside the youth bracket are recognized for their contribution to youth empowerment in Uganda and beyond.

These are the Lifetime Achievement Award: reserved for successful and eminent persons who are role models for the young generation, have contributed to growing opportunities and for advancement of Africa, Heroes/Heroine Award: recognizes selfless service of individuals for the good of society and the Star in the Hall OF Fame Award: reserved for individuals who have contributed to the development of the Young Achievers Awards from inception.

Some of the past recipients of the special Awards include; Lifetime Achievement Award (H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, H.E Paul Kagame, Noerine Kaleeba, Dr. Sarah Nyendwoha Ntiro, and the Late Dr. James Mulwana), Hero/Heroine Award (Late Dr. Matthew Lukwiya, Esther Kalenzi, Sr Rachelle Fassera, Gary Skinner and the Late Yvonne Namaganda), and Star Hall of Fame awarded to Mrs. Olive Kigongo.

Lifetime Achievement Award H.E William Samoei Ruto the Depu ty President of Kenya is the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. He is one of Africa’s rising stars in politics and government. He has overcome adversity and poverty to emerge as one of the leading politicians in Kenya, rising to the position of Deputy President. His story of ambition, determination and perseverance is an inspiration to millions of Young Africans. On top of being a recipient of this special award, we are honored to host Him as the 2018 Keynote speaker and as a recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Star Hall of Fame Award Hon. Betty Bigombe is the recipient of the 2018 Star Hall of Fame Award presented to her in recognition of her enormous contribution towards the development of the Young Achievers Award initiative from its inception. Hon. Betty provided her time as a Member of the Board of Directors, in guiding the team of Young People who championed the Award initiative. Alongside other distinguished leaders, she lent her name, and personal resources to make the Young Achievers Award Initiative, what it is today.

Furthermore, We recognize her fearless leadership when she led the peace mission to end war in Northern Uganda in the early ‘90’s, including confronting Joseph Kony in the bush when no one would dare engage him because of his notoriety as a merciless killer. Her efforts in peace building and peace promotion on the continent and around the world makes her one of the most outstanding leaders of our time.

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Leave No One Behind

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The Young Achievers Awards 2018; A Unique Celebration For Disability Inclusion Uganda is a nation of amazing young people, all doing incredible things for the betterment of society. Here we are celebrating the creme de la creme of our communities and this award is no exception. To move forward as a nation we must focus on viewing each individual as our equal, the Hero Award recognises an exceptional person pushing equality through exceptional work in disability inclusion.

The Hero Award recognizes selfless service of individuals for the good of society. The Hero/ Heroine this year is a person who has shown commitment, and put so much personal efforts and energy in making disability inclusion work.

One may wonder why there is this eminent focus on Disability Inclusion. The Young Achievers Awards showcase young talent; recognizing and celebrating outstanding Ugandan youth who have excelled in various realms.

However, many youth worldwide with impairments have not been able to develop their talents to their full potential. They face negative attitudes, with their talents and abilities not being valued or recognized as they should.

Many young persons with disabilities do not have the opportunity to go to school, because their parents are not supportive, because they cannot enter the school buildings, or teachers are not able to communicate with them. A large number of graduates with disabilities are not able to find jobs because potential employers only see their impairment and fail to see their abilities.

Even then, we don’t lose hope for an inclusive society. Around the nation people are working to ensure we look past impairments to the person underneath. Furthermore, the ‘leave no one behind’ principle is finally gaining ground. It is part of the Sustainable Development Goals; seeking for more and more development efforts, be it in the field of health, education or livelihood that are deliberately including persons with disabilities.

Herman Namanya, Programs Assistant

For every nation’s radiant future, the youth must be bedecked with the most dynamic information to prepare them to handle any challenges that recur at their forefront.

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We are extremely honored and proud that this year the Young Achievers Award is also recognizing the importance of disability inclusion. After all, we are talking about over 3 million young people with different types of impairments in Uganda who are, or are ready to be Young Achievers. We strongly believe that celebrating efforts in disability inclusion will inspire everyone working to empower young people to go that extra mile to deliberately target young persons with disabilities. Let this Heroine be our role model, and our inspiration in our own daily life

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A project of R each a Hand Uganda

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