MTN Uganda, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), has announced the three national winners of the first-ever Pachi Panda Innovation Challenge, following a round of final pitch presentations and a competitive evaluation in Kampala.
The challenge, introduced in Uganda this year, targets youth-led solutions aimed at tackling climate change, food security, water scarcity, renewable energy and environmental sustainability.
The programme followed months of business development training, technical refinement and expert mentorship for 12 shortlisted finalists.
FarmGate Digital, an online platform connecting farmers with traders developed by Ruth Kyobutungi, won first place and will receive Shs 15 million.
The KampalaBuzzline, a conservation initiative focused on bee protection led by Hannington Sserwanga, took second place and was awarded UShs 10 million.
Third place went to Bottle for Cash, a plastic recycling and value-recovery project created by Martin Kigozi, earning Shs 5 million.
Alongside the cash awards, the winning teams will receive incubation support and advanced mentorship to scale their innovations.
They will also represent Uganda at the Africa Pachi Panda Finals in South Africa, competing against innovators from Zambia, Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa.
MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Mulinge said the competition highlighted the capability of young Ugandans to deliver practical sustainability solutions.
“The Pachi Panda Innovation Challenge has shown us that Uganda’s young innovators are not just imagining a sustainable future; they are building it,” Mulinge said, noting that the winning ideas align with MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy focused on digital innovation and shared value.
WWF Uganda Country Director Ivan Tumuhimbise commended the finalists for presenting solutions with real-world impact.
“The solutions we have seen… are not just simple ideas but practical foundations for building a resilient and sustainable future for Uganda and the world,” he said.
Launched in Zambia in 2022, the Pachi Panda Innovation Challenge has now expanded to five African countries. Uganda’s top three teams will join a regional network of youth innovators working across the food–energy–water nexus and climate resilience.