Corruption has long been a cancer on Uganda's socio-economic development, stifling progress in various sectors. To combat this issue, the government has turned to technological solutions.
On December 13, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni officially inaugurated the Electronic Investor Protection Portal (EIPP) at his residence in Entebbe. This new portal is designed to safeguard the interests of investors and combat fraudulent activities by establishing a direct channel of communication with the President's office.
Commending the initiative, President Museveni indicated the EIPP would play a key role in combatting corruption and misinformation. “I [...] congratulate Col. Edith Nakalema and her team for successfully leveraging technology and launching the Electronic Investor Protection portal, which serves as a crucial tool in safeguarding the interests of investors. I wish them good luck,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Managed by the State House Investor Protection Unit (SHIPU), the platform provides a range of services. These include offering advice to investors through direct access to verified government sources, a comprehensive reporting mechanism for investor inquiries and complaints, rigorous enforcement and follow-up procedures for reported issues, a conduit linking investors to pertinent ministries, departments, and agencies, and language features catering to the diverse linguistic needs of investors.
The introduction of this portal aligns with President Museveni's commitment to fostering a conducive environment for investors, shielding them from unwarranted corruption and bureaucratic hurdles. It comes at a time when corruption is on the rise in the country. According to Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2022, Uganda ranks 142nd out of 180 countries in terms of corruption control.
Samira Njoya
Ghana will launch a mobile-accessible version of its national ID card next year, announced Moses K. Baiden, CEO of Margins ID Group, the company spearheading the project. The app-based digital card will be equipped with a secure barcode and QR code for seamless verification across various services, including financial transactions.
For more than 19 years, he has dedicated his efforts through Silulo Ulutho Technologies to narrow the digital divide and enhance the quality of life for his fellow citizens. His impactful work has earned him numerous national and international awards.
Luvuyo Rani (photo) is a South African entrepreneur and the CEO of Silulo Ulutho Technologies, a company that sets up community businesses and career centers in South Africa's slums and rural communities, creating employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed young people.
He completed his studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce and Education in 2002, followed by a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2004. He furthered his education by earning an Associate's Degree in Management from the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business in 2007. In 2018, he enhanced his leadership skills by completing the Certificate in Leadership for System Change from Harvard Business School Executive Education.
The entrepreneur founded Silulo Ulutho Technologies in 2004 with his brother Lonwabo Rani. The company provides slum and rural populations with accessible infrastructure, a support network, skills development services, and digital connectivity through its community-centric career and business centers.
Since 2021, Luvuyo Rani has been a board member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, a high-quality support network of over 18,000 business founders and owners. Before founding Silulo Ulutho Technologies, he taught accounting and business economics at KwaMfundo Secondary School from 2001 to 2004.
His entrepreneurial endeavors and significant social impact have earned him numerous accolades. Notable awards include the 2007 Cape Times/KPMG Entrepreneur of the Year, the 2008 SAB Kick-Start Award as second runner-up in the Western Cape, the 2011 Endeavour Global Entrepreneur recognition, and the 2014 acknowledgment as one of the "Ten Outstanding People of the Year" by Junior Chamber International. In 2015, he was honored with a diploma from Tsiba Education, and in 2016, he received the prestigious title of Social Entrepreneur of the Year from the Schwab Foundation.
Melchior Koba
The Smart Africa alliance, a policy initiative for the promotion of digital in Africa, announced on Wednesday, December 13 the signing of a three-year memorandum of understanding with the EoT Foundation.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the Digital Sovereignty Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland, aims to support African decision-makers on their digital transformation journey through capacity-building, forums, training, events, and networking between Africa and Europe.
The fintech solution aims to provide an alternative to traditional credit options for individuals with limited or no access to credit, simplifying the purchase process for them
Payflex is a fintech solution launched by a South African eponymous startup providing users with access to financial services, particularly deferred payment options. Established in 2017 by Paul Behrmann and headquartered in Johannesburg, the startup has successfully secured $500,000 in funding since its inception to support its ongoing expansion.
The Payflex solution, available for iOS, Android, and Huawei devices, allows users to create an account –using their details– to unlock the various financial services offered by the fintech. Notably, the flagship product of Payflex is the deferred payment feature, allowing customers to make payments in four installments, with an initial 25% upfront and subsequent 25% installments every two weeks. Upon the payment of the first installment, users gain access to and can enjoy their purchased items. According to the fintech, this innovative payment structure acts as a marketing advantage, boosting sales in partner boutiques by 30%.
Payflex establishes spending limits for its users, with the possibility of increasing the limit for those who consistently demonstrate timely payments. The fintech does not impose additional interest charges on its services. Interest comes into play only when a payment due date is missed, coupled with an automatic adjustment to lower the spending limit, ensuring responsible financial practices.
Despite challenges associated with the limited development of credit services on the continent, primarily due to financial exclusion, Payflex's services are gaining popularity among the South African population. In November 2021, the fintech startup was acquired by an Australian firm, indicating a strategic move to expand operations on the African continent. This acquisition has kept the startup's progress, as evidenced by the Android version of the mobile app surpassing 100,000 downloads, according to Play Store data.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
For over 15 years, I&F Entrepreneuriat has been helping entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas through the business creation process. Through its programs and activities, it has supported over 1,000 entrepreneurs.
I&F Entrepreneuriat, established in 2007 with collaborative guidance from the Institut de la Francophonie pour l'Entrepreneuriat (Mauritius), the University of Bordeaux (France), and Incubateur régional d'Aquitaine (France), is a dedicated organization supporting entrepreneurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Currently led by Val Masamba, an entrepreneur with decades of experience, the organization's core activities encompass training, incubation, mentoring, and financing of innovative projects designed to have a substantial social impact. Boasting over 15 years of experience, I&F Entrepreneuriat has successfully incubated 1,456 companies, including 803 initiated by individuals under the age of 35, with 39% being young women. These companies operate across diverse sectors such as agribusiness, high technology, building materials production, and information and communication technologies.
"I&F Entrepreneuriat is dedicated to the transfer of technology and aims to foster the promotion and development of a systematic approach to detecting, evaluating, economically validating, and supporting both innovative business startups and existing companies—whether or not they are linked to scientific research. This mission is carried out within the framework of a collaborative incubation and incubator structure," the organization explains on its website.
Its incubation program spans 12 to 18 months, adapting to the unique progress of each project. It opens its doors to aspiring entrepreneurs, providing them with physical and legal accommodation, comprehensive support, coaching and mentoring, entrepreneurial and managerial training, and ongoing refinement courses. I&F Entrepreneuriat aids entrepreneurs in constructing their business models and plans, integrates them into business networks and offers post-creation follow-up.
In the post-creation phase, I&F Entrepreneuriat extends its support through a comprehensive incubator. This phase assists new entrepreneurs in setting up and launching their businesses, conducting initial recruitment, establishing relationships with customers and suppliers, managing accounting, negotiating with market players, overseeing bank accounts, participating in trade fairs and conferences for product promotion, and implementing effective marketing strategies.
Finally, I&F Entrepreneuriat's incubation journey culminates in an industrial district designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). This environment serves as a springboard for incubated entrepreneurs, providing them with the resources and infrastructure needed to thrive. From shared workspace and production facilities to mentorship programs and networking opportunities, the district fosters collaboration and growth, ultimately leading to high-impact, sustainable businesses that empower DR Congo.
Melchior Koba
Following a successful partnership with a South African education technology startup last November, Tanzanian authorities are doubling down on their commitment to educational innovation by collaborating with a Ugandan firm.
On Tuesday, December 12, Ugandan technology firm HiPipo announced a partnership with the Tanzanian Information and Communication Technology Commission (TCIC) to accelerate financial and digital inclusion in the country. This collaboration will be powered by HiPipo's renowned "Include Everyone" program, aimed at fostering fintech innovation, empowering women in the sector, and attracting investments in the ICT industry.
"We are ecstatic to officially announce that a pivotal agreement has been signed and sealed between HiPipo and ICTC. This promising collaboration is aimed at expediting financial inclusion in Tanzania, under the renowned HiPipo Include Everyone Program, with the generous backing of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," reads a post on the LinkedIn page of HiPipo’s CEO, Innocent Kawooya (photo, left).
“The Include Everyone program activities operated globally by HiPipo will play a crucial role in promoting financial inclusion, driving economic growth, fostering ICT investment, advising stakeholders, and building a resilient, knowledgeable group of Digital Innovation and ICT Professionals in Tanzania,” the post continues.
While lagging behind some regional counterparts like Kenya and Rwanda in digital advancement, Tanzania has recently embarked on a journey to bridge the gap. It has multiplied partnerships with various countries, organizations, and startups to accelerate its digital transformation. Earlier this month, authorities announced the upcoming launch, in 2024, of a national framework for the digital economy. In the education sector, the country has also teamed up with South African startup Snapplify to improve the availability and quality of educational resources for students in Tanzania over the next three years.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
Following a phone call on Tuesday, December 12, between Benin's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, and his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, Morocco has announced that Benin is now eligible for its e-visa program. The decision will become effective on January 1, 2024
His career in the pharmaceutical industry has given him valuable expertise in health economics. In 2019, he founded an app to facilitate access to healthcare for disadvantaged people in Africa.
Brice Kitio Dschassi (photo) is a pharmacist and health economist with over 15 years of experience. He is the founder and CEO of WiiQare, a Congolese startup whose mission is to improve access to healthcare for people in Africa by connecting healthcare providers, patients, and payers.
Established in 2020, WiiQare is an innovative loyalty and rewards-based health savings and payment solution that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare with fun and easy ways to build health savings and provides hospitals with a seamless way to receive payments from patients.
WiiQare aims to meet the needs of populations who lack access to social coverage or health insurance, or who face financial difficulties in accessing healthcare. The platform also reduces the risk of corruption or misappropriation of funds sent by expatriates.
Dschassi holds a doctorate in pharmacy from Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University (2001) and a master's degree in pharmaco-epidemiology and pharmacovigilance from Bordeaux University (2005). He is also a graduate of Université Paris-Sud, where he obtained a Master's degree in Public Health (MPH) specializing in methodology and statistics in 2005.
Between 2005 and 2009, he was a lecturer in pharmaco-epidemiology at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, and project manager for the Haute autorité de santé, an independent French public scientific authority that promotes quality in the health, social, and medico-social sectors. In 2009, he joined the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, where he worked for six years. In 2016, he became Lundbeck's Director of Global Health Economics and Outcomes Research. Lundbeck is a pharmaceutical company specializing in brain diseases.
Melchior Koba
The digitization of the healthcare sector is now essential to facilitate patient care and increase efficiency. With the significant resources required for this transformation, African countries are increasingly seeking strategic partnerships to support their digitalization efforts.
American bilateral aid agency The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) announced, last Monday, its commitment to assisting Lesotho in establishing a national digital health system. This initiative, commencing in early 2024, aims to significantly improve the nation's ability to track and manage the health of its citizens, particularly those affected by HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
"MCC will be making major investments in primary health care equipment and digital health infrastructure, beginning in early 2024. We are also planning for a health data and innovation incubator to create public demand for quality health data. [...] MCC is planning to work with the Ministry of Health to design and implement a fully operational digital health system, across all disease areas, building from the foundation established by PEPFAR– President’s Emergency Fund for AIDs Relief," explains the MCC in a blog post.
The digitization of Lesotho's national health system is a direct outcome of the effective digitization of data from the PEPFAR project. Launched in 2003 and reauthorized in 2018, this initiative received financial backing from both the United States and the Global Fund to End AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Originally designed to cater uniquely to pregnant women with HIV, PEPFAR has significantly enhanced clinical monitoring capabilities, facilitating real-time updates of crucial data.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
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VTC drivers face a growing threat of violence, including attempted kidnappings, sexual and gender-based violence, assaults, and even murders. This escalating situation has forced mobility startup leaders to take decisive action in an attempt to curb these increasingly recurrent acts.
Estonian mobility startup Bolt has introduced a new feature in South Africa designed to enhance driver safety and trust on its platform. Effective immediately, Bolt customers will be required to upload a clear image of themselves or a selfie clearly showing their face, along with a copy of their ID for verification.
"At Bolt, we know from our 150M+ customers and network of 3.5 million fleet, driver, and courier partners that feeling safe is a critical part of a high-quality ride-hailing experience. That’s why safety is our top priority, and rider verification is the newest feature we’re testing dedicated to upgrading driver safety," explains Takura Malaba, Bolt Regional Director in East and Southern Africa.
Bolt's new passenger verification feature reflects its ongoing investment in safety and its commitment to address driver concerns. This initiative follows numerous nationwide protests by drivers, urging government intervention in the face of increasing criminal incidents, including the tragic October murder of a driver in Westernburg.
The driver verification feature joins a suite of existing safety features on the Bolt app. This includes the emergency service, which allows drivers to share their details and location with the Automobile Association's contact center. Upon receiving a report, the app immediately deploys private security and emergency services.
Samira Njoya
Since its inception, the hub has been committed to enabling young people to unleash their full potential through a variety of programs. It provides a supportive community space that enables young people to meet, network, and learn, among other things.
Founded in 2016 by Mahmoud Noor, Swahilipot Hub began as a Kenyan non-profit focused on technology and innovation. In 2017, it expanded its mission to include art, becoming the Swahilipot Hub Foundation and amplifying its impact on young people's lives.
Swahilipot Hub Foundation equips young people with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age. Its Data and Research program trains participants in data collection and analysis, while other programs enhance digital skills and enable young people to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Through its Industry Attachment program, participants gain practical experience in areas such as web development, networking, and soft skills such as working with young people and effective communication.
Its enterprise program, known as "Pitching Thursday", provides a platform for young people to present their ideas and projects, gaining valuable feedback and visibility. This program serves as a springboard for growth and development. The hub also provides a unique space where young artists and technologists can build sustainable projects. In 2018, it hosted the first edition of Pwani Innovation Week (PIW), its activity focused on promoting technology. The organization also launched a heritage event in 2022. Named Modern Heritage of Africa (MoHoA) and organized in a hybrid format (face-to-face and virtual workshop), the event brought together speakers and participants from all over the world.
To date, it has trained over 100 young people in data collection and analysis, and over 150 young people have acquired digital skills. It has supported more than 10 businesses to date, helping them on their entrepreneurial journey.
Earlier in 2023, the organization was certified as the equivalent of a certified public charity in the United States of America. This means it can be directly funded by US grant-making bodies.
Melchior Koba
Following the closure of its Ugandan subsidiary in April 2023, Copia Global is now doubling down on its presence in Kenya. This strategic shift is marked by the announcement of a partnership with an American financial services giant.
Kenyan e-commerce platform Copia Global announced, on Tuesday, December 12, a 5-year partnership with American financial services giant Visa. This collaboration aims to facilitate commercial transactions on the platform and provide customers with access to a wider range of financial services.
This partnership empowers Copia's Kenyan customers to seamlessly buy and pay directly on the platform, save money through their e-wallet, access convenient borrowing options, and utilize deferred payment services. Additionally, members of the Kenyan diaspora can easily top up their loved ones' Copia e-wallets in just a few clicks via Visa.
"Copia’s network of customers, agents, and delivery sub-contractors will benefit from Visa’s capabilities on contactless payments, remittances, and loyalty solutions," said Eva Ngigi-Sarwari (photo, left), Visa Kenya Country Manager.
Founded in 2013 by Crispin Murira, Tracey Turner, and Jonathan Lewis, Copia Global has already secured over $100 million in funding to fuel its expansion. As of March 2023, the Kenyan e-commerce platform boasted a network of over 40,000 digital agents and nearly 2 million customers. Despite closing its Ugandan operations in April 2023, Copia Global continues to demonstrate consistent growth and solidify its position within the Kenyan market. This strategic partnership with Visa marks a significant step in this ongoing process, potentially paving the way for future investments in the world of financial technologies.
"The partnership and rapid digitization of customers creates a huge opportunity for Copia and Visa to bank the unbanked with previously inaccessible financial services, solving financial inclusion for the mass market in Africa," said Evelyn Wangari, Director of Financial Services at Copia Global.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
A leader in healthcare innovation across Africa, she leverages her company Kaaro Health to bridge the urban-rural healthcare gap, ensuring access to quality care for underserved communities.
Angella Kyomugisha (photo) is a social entrepreneur and financial management specialist dedicated to enhancing healthcare accessibility in rural Africa. A graduate of Kyambogo University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in economics and statistics in 2013, she serves as the co-founder, co-CEO, and CFO of Kaaro Health.
Her entrepreneurial journey was motivated by a harrowing experience during which she nearly lost her life and that of her prematurely born baby. This incident revealed the stark health disparities faced by rural women in Uganda, prompting Kyomugisha to establish Kaaro Health.
Reflecting on her experience earlier this year, she stated, "My baby and I spent three months fighting for our lives. In short, we survived, but it was really traumatic. I didn't understand what women who live in rural areas go through."
Founded in 2014, Kaaro Health pioneers the use of "container clinics," equipped with solar power, laboratory facilities, and an Internet connection, serving as telehealth centers for villages lacking clinics within a 25 km radius.
Beyond healthcare provision, Kaaro Health offers targeted financial management training to both current and potential customers, empowering them with the skills necessary to develop and sustain their businesses. The organization's goal is to support medical entrepreneurs and their SMEs in delivering increasingly sophisticated healthcare to rural and peri-urban communities.
In addition to her role at Kaaro Health, Kyomugisha serves as a board member of the Delight Children's Health Rights Initiative, a non-governmental organization dedicated to safeguarding the rights of mothers and children. Prior to her entrepreneurial endeavors, she held positions such as banking mission manager at Centenary Bank (2013-2014), project manager for Smart Telecom (2014), and fundraising manager for the Forum for African Women Educationalists (2015).
Angella Kyomugisha received the Women Empowerment Award from the Bayer Foundation in 2021. She was selected as one of the Cartier Women's Initiative Fellows in 2023. These awards underscore her commitment to driving positive change and making healthcare more accessible across the continent.
Melchior Koba