UN Capital Development Fund

Day 3 of Uganda Innovation Week 2026 explored the ideas, technologies and partnerships shaping the next chapter of Uganda’s innovation journey. Conversations spanned artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cleantech, climate resilience, fintech and access to finance, examining how emerging technologies and new approaches can unlock opportunities for businesses and communities. Beyond exploring what is possible, discussions also addressed the practical work required to turn ideas into viable solutions, mobilise investment, strengthen enterprises and deliver meaningful impact. One thing remains clear: a thriving innovation ecosystem needs more than technology and entrepreneurial ambition. It also requires supportive policies, effective institutions and regulatory frameworks that allow businesses to innovate, grow and scale. Today, Day 4, we turn the conversation to POLICY. Policymakers, government representatives, entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem leaders are coming together to examine Uganda’s innovation policy landscape, discuss the implementation of the Startup Act, and explore what more needs to be done to create an enabling environment for startups. @MastercardFdn @refactory_acad @UNCDF @StartupUganda_ @wituganda #10XDigitalEconomy #UIW2026 #EnablingEntrepreneurs #UgandaInnovates #StartupUganda

Technology is most powerful when it moves from being something you hear about to something you can actually use. That was the thinking behind the two-day 10X Program Tech Experience at Uganda Innovation Week 2026. The experience brought young women participating in the program closer to digital service providers, employers and ecosystem actors, giving them an opportunity to explore practical digital solutions, interact with service providers, discover new tools and make connections that could support their businesses and career journeys. Through the 10X Program, Outbox aims to reach 61,000 young women, including women with disabilities and refugees, and equip them to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. So far, over 50,000 young women have completed foundational digital literacy training in areas such as cybersecurity, digital payments and digital confidence. In addition, working with @wituganda, @mkazipreneur, and @refactory_acad the program has supported over 2,000 women to access employment opportunities in the technology sector. Beyond skills development, the program is also connecting businesses to practical support through the Opportunity Clinic, including business registration, mobile money merchant codes, digital tools, access to credit and digital marketing expertise. From acquiring digital skills to accessing employment, growing enterprises and discovering new opportunities, the focus is on ensuring that young women can put technology to work in their everyday lives. Digital inclusion is not simply about getting women online. It is about giving them the skills, confidence and opportunities to build livelihoods and thrive in the digital economy. @MastercardFdn @UNCDF #10XDigitalEconomy #UIW2026 #EnablingEntrepreneurs #UgandaInnovates #StartupUganda

Day two of Uganda Innovation Week 2026 brought conversations on the changing face of finance and the role of innovation in expanding financial opportunities across Uganda. From reaching underserved communities with digital financial services to strengthening fintech infrastructure, mobile money, financial inclusion and access to investment, the discussions examined how technology is changing the way people and businesses access, manage and move money. A recurring message throughout the conversations was the need to build financial solutions that people can trust, access and use. This calls for stronger systems, inclusive approaches and collaboration across the financial and innovation ecosystems. As Uganda continues to advance its digital economy, the opportunity lies not only in developing new financial technologies, but also in ensuring they work for the people and businesses they are intended to serve. And there is still more to explore as Uganda Innovation Week continues! @MastercardFdn @UNCDF @refactory_acad @wituganda @StartupUganda_ #10XDigitalEconomy #UIW2026 #EnablingEntrepreneurs #UgandaInnovates #StartupUganda

Moving from a promising innovation to a solution that reaches the market requires more than a good idea. During #UIW2026, our Team Principal, @richardzulu joined the @EnabelinUganda Roundtable on Creating Shared Value Through Innovation, which explored how development partners and the private sector can mobilize resources, strengthen collaboration and achieve shared results. During the discussion, he highlighted some of the biggest challenges facing Ugandan startups, particularly access to finance and the difficulty of moving from a pilot project to securing that first paying customer. For technology startups, demonstrating that a solution works is only one part of the journey; finding the right market and converting interest into actual demand can be equally challenging. He also shared how initiatives such as the 10X Program are helping bridge some of these gaps by encouraging small and large digital platforms to better understand the needs of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Through approaches such as technical assistance and product refinement, platforms like @ChapchapAfrica can better understand their customer base and develop solutions that respond to real market needs. An important takeaway from the conversation was the need for all ecosystem players to invest in understanding the markets they serve. Development partners, investors and private sector actors have an opportunity to go beyond funding and create partnerships that help innovators refine, validate and scale solutions. Creating shared value is an ongoing journey. It requires us to invest in our own understanding of the market, work together more intentionally and build solutions around the people and businesses they are meant to serve. @MastercardFdn @UNCDF @refactory_acad @wituganda @StartupUganda_ #10XDigitalEconomy #UIW2026 #EnablingEntrepreneurs #UgandaInnovates #StartupUganda