Students of Aga Khan High School have been recognised for their continental success as Absa Bank Uganda and Junior Achievement Uganda officially launched the 2026 Company of the Year (COY) schools’ competition.
The launch ceremony, held in Kampala on February 25, 2026, doubled as a celebratory handover of a USD 1,000 prize cheque to the school’s student innovators following their victory at the 2025 Junior Achievement Africa Regional Competition in Abuja, Nigeria.
The Aga Khan team was crowned Africa champion after emerging national winners in September 2025 with their climate innovation project, ‘Renewablock’. The solution earned them a place at the continental finals, where they triumphed against top student enterprises from across Africa.
Speaking at the ceremony, Helen Basuuta Nangonzi, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience at Absa Bank Uganda, congratulated the students and reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to its three-year partnership with Junior Achievement Uganda.
“We are incredibly proud of Aga Khan High School for not only representing Uganda but for winning at a regional level,” Nangonzi said. “As we launch the 2026 Company of the Year competition, we are calling upon even more young innovators to step forward. At Absa, we believe financial literacy and entrepreneurship are the cornerstones of economic freedom.”
The 2026 COY competition will run under the theme AI – Augmenting Innovation. Students will be required to establish and manage mini-companies, gaining hands-on experience in business operations, financial management and problem-solving, with professional mentorship in ideation and project management.
This year’s theme places emphasis on how artificial intelligence can be harnessed responsibly to strengthen innovation and address economic challenges.
Rachael Mwagale, Executive Director of Junior Achievement Uganda, described the moment as a testament to the power of partnerships and youth innovation.
“Aga Khan High School’s victory in Abuja proved that Ugandan innovators can compete and win at the highest levels,” Mwagale said. “With Absa’s continued support, we are expanding our reach to empower more learners with the entrepreneurial mindset required to thrive in the 21st century.”
The 2026 Company of the Year competition is now open to secondary schools nationwide. Organisers expect to reach more than 200,000 youth and attract participation from at least 55 schools, with the national exhibition and finals scheduled for September 2026.
