Four young Ugandan women are eyeing a USD 6,000 (about Shs21.5 million) prize after their technology innovation emerged the overall winner of the second edition of the GirlCode Uganda Hackathon.
The team, HerTECH, comprising Boonabaana Bronia, Nabaloga Sanyu Eleanor, Muteesasira Tendo Shamma and Akatukunda Precious Praise, will now represent Uganda at the continental finals against winning teams from five other African countries.
The team won the competition with DuukaTalk, a voice-first digital ledger designed to help small business owners record transactions in English or Luganda using voice commands.
The innovation is intended to address accounting and financial management challenges faced by small business owners who may have limited accounting literacy.
The 30-hour hackathon, held over the weekend at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, brought together 61 female developers, designers and technology entrepreneurs to develop artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology solutions targeting women’s economic needs.
Participants focused on challenges including financial literacy, digital payments, access to credit and agricultural inclusion.
Team HerTECH emerged at the top after presenting DuukaTalk, which enables vendors to record business transactions through voice commands rather than relying on conventional written ledgers.
The win earned the team a collection of prizes, including laptops, Bluetooth speakers, headphones and other accessories, in addition to the opportunity to compete for the USD 6,000 continental prize.
The first runners-up, Team CropXcel, developed an AI-powered agricultural platform that uses soil data, weather forecasts and location information to recommend crop planting schedules, project yields, provide market prices and identify suitable outlets for farmers to sell their produce.
Team Sphinx, which finished second runners-up, showcased Second Life, an AI application that connects households with local artisans to upcycle unused items, creating income opportunities while reducing waste.
Robinah Mukasa Kamuntu, acting Marketing and Consumer Experience Director at Absa Bank Uganda, said programmes such as the hackathon are important in closing the gender gap in technology and encouraging young women to participate in developing financial solutions.
“As a bank driven by technology, closing the gender technology gap is about ensuring the people building the financial solutions of tomorrow reflect the customers and communities we serve,” Kamuntu said.
She said engaging young innovators also provides financial institutions with an opportunity to understand how young people view money, technology and emerging challenges.
“This challenges traditional approaches and informs how we innovate at Absa to ensure our solutions remain relevant, relatable and future-ready,” she said.
Zandile Mkwanazi, co-founder and chief executive officer of GirlCode, said Uganda’s growing digital economy requires deliberate efforts to ensure women are actively involved in developing technology solutions.
“Uganda has a growing community of young innovators, and it is important that women are not left behind as the country’s digital economy expands,” Mkwanazi said.
She said GirlCode was pleased to return for the second year in partnership with Absa Bank Uganda, while working with the National ICT Innovation Hub and MTN Uganda to provide a platform where young women can acquire skills, develop innovations and pursue opportunities in technology.
The hackathon comes at a time when Uganda is seeking to expand financial inclusion, particularly among women, rural communities and informal businesses.
According to 2025 World Bank Findex data cited by the organisers, formal account ownership in Uganda had reached 73 per cent. However, rural women and informal entrepreneurs continue to face barriers to accessing credit and formal financial management tools.
Carol Kagezi, Partnerships and Alliances Coordinator at the National ICT Innovation Hub, said the institution wants to see more women move beyond participating in technology events to establishing businesses and leading technology enterprises.
“We want more women to participate meaningfully in Uganda’s innovation ecosystem: not only by attending tech events, but by building enterprises, leading teams, and creating solutions that respond to national priorities,” Kagezi said.
She said the hub was proud to host the competition and provide young women with an opportunity to develop solutions that could contribute to Africa’s digital transformation.
The GirlCode Uganda Hackathon is part of efforts by Absa Bank Uganda and its partners to promote financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and digital innovation.
The organisers said the initiative also complements investments in education, skills development and community development aimed at preparing young people for opportunities in the digital economy.
