Heifer International Uganda has officially launched Season 5 of the AYuTe Africa Challenge Uganda in Jinja, opening applications for young entrepreneurs with technology-driven solutions aimed at transforming agriculture and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Launched under the theme “Go Big. Go Bold.”, the competition reinforces Uganda’s growing focus on innovation-led agricultural development by providing funding, mentorship and business acceleration support to youth-led agribusinesses.
This year’s AYuTe Africa Challenge introduces two competition tracks the National Agritech Innovation Track and the Busoga Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Track, designed to help promising startups develop scalable solutions that address challenges across Uganda’s agricultural value chain.
The initiative brings together government, development partners, academia and the private sector to support innovators whose ideas can improve productivity, strengthen food systems and create employment opportunities for young people.
Speaking at the launch, William Matovu said the programme is focused on unlocking the potential of youth-led enterprises to modernise agriculture through innovation.
“AYuTe is about unlocking the potential of young entrepreneurs to build businesses that improve the lives of smallholder farmers while transforming agriculture through innovation.”
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Consolate Acayo praised the initiative for creating opportunities for young Ugandans to solve real-world agricultural challenges.
“Innovation is key to the future of Uganda’s agriculture. Through initiatives like AYuTe, we are giving young people the opportunity to develop practical solutions that improve farming, create jobs and strengthen food security,” she said.
Youth entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35 years are encouraged to apply for the challenge and compete for catalytic funding, expert mentorship and business development support.
Agriculture remains one of Uganda’s largest employers and a key contributor to the country’s economy, making investment in innovation increasingly important for boosting productivity and resilience.
Through the AYuTe Africa Challenge, Heifer International Uganda continues to support entrepreneurs developing digital and technology-enabled solutions that can help farmers increase yields, improve market access and strengthen rural livelihoods.
As applications open for Season 5, the initiative is expected to inspire a new generation of agritech innovators to build businesses capable of transforming Uganda’s agricultural sector while contributing to sustainable economic growth.
