At a glamorous award gala hosted by the Kampala Serena Hotel, Uganda’s biggest telecom firm; MTN Uganda finally laid it to rest as they officially announced the winners of their 2nd annual MTN Innovation Awards – a platform through which MTN recognizes some of the most outstanding locally developed mobile and desktop applications, as well as individuals and organisations that have been at the forefront of enabling the innovation ecosystem in the country.
MTN called for applications where they received over 250 submission where only forty five (45) entries where shortlisted, who later exhibited at the Lugogo Shoprite shopping grounds with a panel of five judges who were able to narrow it down to only nine entries that were late declared winners.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Olivier Prentout, the Chief Marketing Officer at MTN Uganda – noted that technology presents a real opportunity for transformation of our economy and our nation and a must for us to harness it.
“It will take more than just MTN to achieve this; building a sustainable eco-system requires that we come together as stakeholders in Industry, Government, and private sector,” he said.
Representing the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Fred Otunnu the Director Corporate Affairs at Uganda Communications Commission the chief guest at the awards ceremony, said that innovation in Uganda had come a long way with the support of the private sector.
“When the sector was liberalized, a number of milestones have been realized. We are proud that the private sector has been able to drive the innovations as the government remains an enabler. 15 years ago, we could not talk about innovation. It was about the accessibility of services,” Otunnu said.
Here are the winners:
Best SME mobile application:
This award sought to recognize Applications that aim to deliver improved productivity in the SME sector. The app addressed both consumers of services & providers of services & demonstrate enabling business intelligence to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency.
Winner: Qwicat
Best Financial Services mobile applications:
This Award recognized applications that are enabling any financial Inclusion. The app addressed both consumers of financial services & providers of financial services & demonstrate enabling business intelligence to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency
Winner: Mambo Pay
Best Education mobile application:
This Award recognized applications that are transforming the experience and reach of education to ordinary Ugandans. The app addressed both consumers of education services & providers of education services and demonstrate enabling business intelligence to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency.
Winner: myChild
Best Health mobile application
This Award recognized applications that aim to extend reach, accessibility and efficiency in delivering health services. The app addressed both consumers of health services & providers of health services & demonstrate enabling business intelligence features to enhance reach, accessibility and efficiency.
Winner: PRISMS
Best Agriculture mobile application:
The award sought to recognize applications that driving digitization for efficiency and productivity in the agricultural sector.
Winner: mVoucher
Best Media and Entertainment mobile application:
As the world of entertainment becomes more digitized globally, this award recognized local efforts to adapt to global trends.
Winner: App About
Outstanding woman in innovation:
This is award sought to recognize Women that are demonstrating a leading role in defining innovations in Uganda, including Mobile Application Innovations that they have developed or other initiatives using technology that they are leading to contribute towards building the eco-system.
Winner: Evelyn Namara
Innovative mobile application:
The Mobile phone has been central to the transformation of Uganda and the region as a whole. Today the mobile phone is not just a tool of Communication but rather a channel to Transfer Money, Buy and Sell goods, access Entertainment, etc.: This award sought to recognize mobile applications that drive transformation, innovation and development. The application may or may not be from any of the categories indicated above.
Winner: Qwicat
Innovation Achiever of the year:
This is a special Award to recognize an Individual or private Entity that has had significant impact in defining, enabling and influencing the Innovation Eco-system in Uganda through local initiatives and activities aimed at driving innovation using technology.
Winner: David Gonahasa
