The first-ever Social Enterprise Awards in Uganda concluded on Friday evening, drawing hundreds of participants and stakeholders from the social entrepreneurship sector.
Hosted at the Four Points by Sheraton, the event was organised by Astute Strategists.
Astute Strategists is a 21st-century consultancy specialising in social entrepreneurship, working to transform the landscape of social enterprises in Africa.
The organisation consists of a dedicated team of professionals committed to supporting clients from the initial idea stage through to project implementation.
The awards ceremony served as a valuable opportunity for social entrepreneurs to network, exchange ideas, and collaborate.
In his speech, Timothy Mugerwa, the CEO of Astute Strategists, noted that the awards aimed to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Ugandan social enterprises and to inspire a new generation of social entrepreneurs.
"We're here to celebrate the impact, excellence, and innovation of change-makers who are finding solutions to Uganda's most pressing challenges. By bridging the social and entrepreneurship sectors, we're fostering a community that drives positive change and sustainable growth," Mugerwa said.
He added, "This is the first edition and we are going to be running these awards every year. We had eight categories for this year's awards, including digital social enterprise, agricultural enterprise and so many.
So we've given out a total of eight awards to deserving organisations and enterprises that are transforming their communities,"
Mugerwa further mentioned that these awards significantly provide social entrepreneurs with a platform to receive training on expanding their businesses and assist them in accessing the global market.
"We are building and creating a new narrative. We are trying to create a revolution within the social enterprises sector so that our local enterprises can compete with the global market," Mugerwa said.
Mugerwa stated that the awards expert panel was assessing the sustainability, feasibility, innovation, and the potential for replicating such initiatives in other communities.
Speaking to this reporter, Dr. Hillary Kisanja, the chief guest and Private Secretary to the President of Uganda for Youth in Agriculture, Value Addition, and Export Promotion, praised Astute Strategists for organising the awards, which are the first of their kind in East Africa.
"I would like to express my gratitude to Astute Strategists for launching this initiative, which focuses on identifying young individuals in communities and societies that have truly embraced social entrepreneurship," said Dr. Kisanja.
He emphasised the vital role of social entrepreneurship in community development and its contribution to socio-economic transformation.
"A family, community, society, or nation that lacks entrepreneurial skills cannot progress. It is through entrepreneurship that we can bring about change in our societies and communities," he remarked.
The event concluded with awards presented to the best social enterprises across various categories, including agribusiness, ICT, manufacturing, and environmental sustainability, among others.
Additionally, the ceremony included a panel discussion where various stakeholders addressed the challenges faced by social enterprises in Uganda, explored opportunities for local social entrepreneurs, and discussed strategies for achieving success.
Below is a full list of Social Enterprise Awards winners
Local NGO of the Year - Waste Plus
Digital Social Enterprise of the Year- M-Omulimisa Innovative Agricultural Services
Agricultural Social Enterprise of the Year- Ever Grow Organics
Health and Social Care Social Enterprise of the Year- Joy for Humanity
Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year- Bio-Flame Africa Limited
Education and Skills Social Enterprise of the Year - Karoth Kids Foundation
Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year - Haron Odyek