The Uganda Innovation Week

On 5th October 2021, Kampala, Uganda: Leading innovators and thought leaders from across the continent convened from 22nd to 26th November for the 3rd annual Kampala Innovation Week (KIW) 2021. The event was hosted as a hybrid event (primarily virtual) under the theme, "Harnessing the power of Innovation & Entrepreneurship for Uganda's digital transformation and job creation".

Over the five days, we convened together innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, government stakeholders, and development partners to discuss wins, misses, and opportunities for growth in the innovation space. Specifically, participants will explore the role of innovators and entrepreneurs in achieving Uganda's development ambitions, deliberate on how innovation and entrepreneurship can be harnessed for job creation and employment, and discuss the links between digital technologies and community transformation.

"Uganda has witnessed a growth in the innovation culture, though as a country we are yet to achieve a strong innovation ecosystem. By supporting initiatives like the Kampala Innovation Week, UNCDF aims to facilitate systemic growth of a vibrant innovation ecosystem, that will in turn spur the development of an inclusive digital economy," said Chris Lukolyo, UNCDF Digital Lead in Uganda.

The five days were preceded by two weeks of pre-event activities that included online masterclasses and sessions from various stakeholders within the Ugandan Startup Ecosystem. Some of the topics of discussion included Influencing and its career viability in Uganda, a much-needed conversation on mental health and entrepreneurship, and a discussion on the state of the education system given the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event activities reached up to 20,000 virtual participants throughout the five days, with an even higher number over the two-week pre-event period.