Two Ugandan innovators have made it to final contest list of 25 Under 25 innovators Using the Internet to Make a Difference in Communities.

Bazil Mwotta Biddemu, a former Makerere University guild presidential candidate, and Mary Helda Akongo are two of the seven Africans that made it to the top 25. The other African finalists are from Gambia, Tanzania, Somalia, Cameroon and Nigeria.

Mwotta, 23, developed AgroDuuka, a mobile agribusiness app that connects farmers directly with buyers.

The app has linked o 800 smallholder farmers from 36 villages to buyers throughout Uganda.

Mwotta says he has secured a partnership with the Uganda National Farmers Federation, a move that could see AgroDuuka access more than five (5) million farmers.

AKONGO

Akongo, 23, uses technology to empower and mentor women. She initially volunteered at Zimba Women, an organisation that empowers women. Akongo is now programmes manager at the organisation, playing a lead role in providing mentorship, business coaching, and skills training to women and girls.

In 2016, Akongo organised a technology business summit that brought together over 350 women from East Africa.

The two Ugandans will join the rest of the finalists for the awards ceremony to be held in Los Angeles, California on September 18.