Uganda’s startup ecosystem is increasingly being shaped by businesses built around solving everyday problems, from waste management and clean energy to access to healthcare. The GEC+ Uganda 2026 Pitch Competition offered a clear picture of this shift, bringing forward entrepreneurs whose ideas are not only commercially viable but also positioned to address economic and social gaps. Hosted by GEN Uganda in partnership with Enterprise Uganda, 22 On Sloane, GEC+ Africa and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), the competition served as both a platform for innovation and a signal of growing momentum within the country’s entrepreneurship landscape.
Bringing together startup founders, ecosystem leaders, development partners, government representatives and innovation champions, the competition provided entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present ventures designed to tackle practical challenges affecting communities and businesses. At the same time, it reinforced the role of entrepreneurship in supporting job creation, sustainability and inclusive economic development.
The initiative also highlighted increasing collaboration between entrepreneurship support organizations, government institutions and ecosystem builders seeking to strengthen Uganda’s startup environment. Beyond rewarding innovation, the platform created visibility for founders while opening pathways for partnerships, funding opportunities and regional exposure.
Supporting Businesses That Solve Real Challenges
The competition’s top three ventures stood out for creating business models designed to improve lives while contributing to economic growth.
Helton Traders Limited, led by Munyasa Hellen, emerged as the overall winner with a business focused on converting plastic bottle waste into high-quality sewing threads. The company addresses two major challenges at once: growing plastic pollution and shortages of polyester sewing threads in Uganda and East Africa. By transforming waste into locally produced sewing materials, the business aims to provide textile traders with faster and more affordable access to threads while reducing dependence on imports. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in textile trading, the company says its approach is based on understanding the needs of traders and delivering cost-effective and reliable supply. Its broader mission is to build a more sustainable textile industry that supports local economies, promotes gender equality and creates jobs through circular economy practices.
KYUKA VENTURES Innovation Hub, founded by Sonko Jamal and named first runner-up, focuses on affordable clean cooking energy for low-income households. Founded in 2022 and based in Kampala, the startup converts plastic waste into lower-cost cooking fuel using soot-free extraction technology to produce Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The company operates at the intersection of clean energy, waste management and climate action. Its model responds to two challenges affecting many Ugandan communities: unmanaged plastic waste and continued dependence on charcoal and firewood for cooking. By collecting low-value plastic waste and converting it into cleaner cooking fuel distributed through an affordable pay-as-you-cook system, the business aims to reduce pollution while helping households access safer and more affordable energy. The model also creates income opportunities for women and young people.
Simply Hers, founded by Joan Patience Atuhaire and named second runner-up, is working to improve access to women’s health information, care and treatment through a private and accessible platform. The startup focuses on removing stigma around women’s health conversations and creating an environment where women can make informed decisions about their bodies and wellbeing. The company’s mission is to make care and treatment easier to access while helping normalize conversations around conditions that affect women’s daily lives. Through its work, Simply Hers aims to create a safer and more empowering experience for women seeking health support and information.
Building Momentum for Uganda’s Startup Ecosystem
While the competition recognized three standout ventures, it also celebrated the wider group of founders who presented ideas aimed at solving real-world problems. Organizers praised participants for demonstrating ambition, resilience and innovation across multiple sectors.
Support for the initiative came from judges, ecosystem partners, innovation hubs, entrepreneurship support organizations and institutions including Enterprise Uganda, 22 On Sloane, GEC+ Africa, the Global Entrepreneurship Network and Uganda’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. Their involvement reflects growing collaboration between the public and private sectors to create stronger opportunities for entrepreneurs.
The journey for the competition winner is also continuing beyond Uganda. In September, Helton Traders Limited will represent the country at the GEC+ Africa 2026 Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, where founders, investors, ecosystem builders and innovation leaders from across the continent will gather. The opportunity gives Uganda a platform to showcase local innovation on a larger stage while opening doors for investment, partnerships and business growth.
As Uganda continues investing in entrepreneurship, initiatives such as the GEC+ Uganda Pitch Competition are helping turn promising ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs, solving social problems and contributing to long-term economic development.
