Absa Bank Uganda, in partnership with pan-African tech initiative GirlCode and the National ICT Innovation Hub wrapped up the second edition of the GirlCode Uganda Hackathon over the weekend. Team HerTECH emerged as the overall winner securing a spot to represent Uganda in an Africa-wide competition for a USD 6,000 grand prize.
The intense 30-hour hackathon spread over Saturday and Sunday bringing together 61 female developers, designers, and tech entrepreneurs at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa to build AI and fintech solutions tailored to women’s economic needs. Participants tackled key critical barriers in financial literacy, digital payments, credit access, and agricultural inclusion.
Team HerTECH (comprising Boonabaana Bronia, Nabaloga Sanyu Eleanor, Muteesasira Tendo Shamma, and Akatukunda Precious Praise) won top honors with their innovation known as DuukaTalk. The solution is a voice-first digital ledger that allows vendors to record transactions in English or Luganda using voice commands, eliminating accounting literacy barriers for small business owners.
First runner-up Team CropXcel presented an AI-driven agricultural platform that leverages soil data, weather forecasts, and location metrics to recommend crop planting schedules, yield projections, market pricing, and optimal sales outlets. Second runner-up Team Sphinx also showcased Second Life, an AI app connecting households with local artisans to upcycle unused items, generating income while reducing waste.
The winners and runners-up earned themselves an assortment of prizes including laptops, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, and other accessories as first placed Team HerTECH now advances to the continental finals, where they will represent Uganda against top teams from five other African nations for a USD 6,000 prize.
Robinah Mukasa Kamuntu, acting Marketing and Consumer Experience Director at Absa Bank Uganda, highlighted the importance of such programs in enhancing financial innovation saying,
“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,” said Kamuntu. “Connecting directly with such young people and how they think about money, technology, and the future challenges traditional approaches and informs how we innovate at Absa to ensure our solutions remain relevant, relatable, and future-ready.”
Speaking on the impact of the initiative, the Co-Founder and CEO of GirlCode, emphasized the importance of empowering women as active builders in tech.
“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,” said Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO of GirlCode. “We are excited to return for a second year with Absa, while welcoming the National ICT Hub and MTN Uganda as partners in helping us create a stronger platform for young women to learn, build and pursue opportunities in technology.”
The hackathon comes at a crucial moment for financial inclusion in Uganda. While formal account access reached 73% in 2025 according to World Bank Findex data, rural women and informal entrepreneurs still face structural barriers to credit and formal financial management tools.
Host partner National ICT Innovation Hub reiterated its commitment to supporting sustainable female leadership across the local technology ecosystem.
“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,” said Carol Kagezi, Partnerships and Alliances Coordinator at the National ICT Innovation Hub. “We are proud to host an event that brings together women prepared to shape Africa’s digital future.”
The event underscores Absa Bank Uganda’s commitment to driving financial inclusion, women empowerment, and digital innovation, complementing its ongoing social investments in education, skill development, and community growth.
