Ugandan university students have made the country proud by excelling at the Huawei ICT Global Competition 2024–2025 Finals held in Shenzhen, China. Representing institutions like Gulu University, Muni University, Kabale University, Uganda Martyrs University, and Cavendish University, the students impressed judges with their talent, innovation, and technical acumen—earning second prizes in both the Cloud Track and Innovation categories.
Out of over 210,000 participants from 2,000+ institutions across 100+ countries, only 179 teams from 48 nations advanced to the finals. Uganda’s performance highlighted its growing strength in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education and innovation.
Dr. Kedrace Turyagenda, Permanent Secretary at Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports, praised the students while representing First Lady and Education Minister Janet Museveni. She noted the government’s commitment to digital empowerment, particularly through partnerships like the one with Huawei. Uganda’s Ambassador to China, Ms. Judyth Nsababera, also commended the students during the awards ceremony and encouraged them to channel their knowledge into solving local challenges.
One standout project came from Gulu University’s Agrikbot team, which designed an AI-driven solution for agriculture. Their innovation monitors plant health and predicts crop stress—offering real-time intervention to prevent losses. The Innovation Track required students to create practical solutions using technologies like AI, cloud computing, big data, and IoT. Meanwhile, the Cloud Track tested participants’ theoretical knowledge, teamwork, and hands-on skills through an intensive eight-hour technical challenge.
Beyond accolades, the competition fostered cross-cultural exchange, collaboration, and skill-building. It also reinforced Huawei’s mission to develop ICT talent globally. Since launching in 2015, the Huawei ICT Competition has become a key platform for nurturing innovation, enhancing technical skills, and promoting digital inclusion around the world.
As Uganda continues to invest in ICT capacity-building, the global recognition of its young tech talents reflects the country’s potential as a digital transformation leader in Africa.
