Young women innovators took centre stage at Refactory Academy’s 2nd Digital Solutions Expo 2026, showcasing home-grown digital solutions designed to address some of Uganda’s most pressing challenges while highlighting the expanding role of women in shaping the country’s digital future.
The expo was held at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa under the theme “Tech Made in Uganda—Built Live!”, bringing together developers, employers, policymakers, innovators and industry leaders to explore how technology can drive economic transformation and create employment opportunities for Uganda’s youth.
The event featured participants under the 10X Program, with young women developing and presenting digital solutions in agriculture, tourism, energy and digital public infrastructure.
Through live demonstrations, they showcased technologies aimed at solving real-world problems while creating opportunities for business growth and job creation.
Speaking at the event, Refactory Academy Executive Director Michael Niyitegeka emphasized the importance of industry-led apprenticeship programmes in preparing young people for the labour market.
“The apprenticeship program takes real industry challenges and converts them into solutions built by Refactory learners. We are closing the transition gap between training and employment, and many of our apprentices have been retained by the companies where they were placed,” Niyitegeka said.
He noted that although Uganda’s technology sector is growing rapidly, gaps remain in structured pathways for developing tech talent, making platforms such as the Digital Solutions Expo critical for linking learners to industry opportunities.
The expo featured nearly 70 market-ready digital solutions developed by Refactory Academy alumni and apprentices, reflecting the expanding innovation ecosystem within Uganda’s digital sector.
According to Ivan Koreta Katumba, Apprenticeship Lead at Refactory Academy, the event has become a key platform for showcasing and nurturing local innovation.
“This is the second time we are hosting the Digital Solutions Expo, and we have learned that there are many locally created digital solutions but very few platforms to showcase and nurture them,” Katumba said.
He added that the event attracted major industry players, including MTN MoMo Uganda and Equity Bank, who engaged directly with innovators on collaboration, recruitment and investment opportunities.
Delivering the keynote address, Jemima Kariuki, Chief Product Officer at MTN MoMo Uganda Ltd, challenged the ecosystem to move beyond innovation and focus on scaling locally developed solutions.
“The question is no longer whether Uganda can innovate. The question is whether we can scale local solutions from ideas into platforms that create national and global impact,” Kariuki said.
“Uganda has the talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. What we need now is the ambition to build solutions that serve millions.”
The expo was structured around three key pillars, including a women-led BuildFest where female teams developed functional digital prototypes addressing sector-specific challenges.
The Project Discovery Zone connected businesses with technical teams to co-develop solutions, while the Talent Lounge linked employers with pre-screened digital talent for recruitment opportunities.
The Digital Solutions Expo forms part of the broader 10X Program implemented by Outbox Uganda in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, aimed at expanding digital skills and employment opportunities for young women, refugees and persons with disabilities.
The programme targets hundreds of thousands of young women across Uganda, with tens of thousands expected to access new or improved work opportunities in the digital economy.
As Uganda advances its digital transformation agenda, the Expo highlighted a growing reality: young women are not only participating in the tech sector but increasingly shaping its direction and future.
