Code Forces, a Ugandan group of young women that emerged as the winner at the Absa GirlCode 2025 hackathon in Kampala, went on to secure third place at the continental level, where eight African cities competed. In the overall rankings, Tanzania’s team took first place, followed by Tech Gullies from South Africa in second, and Uganda’s Code Forces in third, having impressed judges with Teleka, a student savings app designed to help users organize and invest their money.
Code Forces is made up of third-year Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering (BSSE) students from Makerere University. The members include Ann Treasure Karagwa, Ayan Mustafa Abdirahman, and Shakiran Nanyombi.
“It was truly inspiring to witness how these young women tackled the same challenge from diverse angles, each bringing fresh insights and bold, innovative thinking. This is the power of inclusive innovation,” said Tamu Dutuma, Head of Strategy and Transformation, Technology – Absa Regional Operations. “At Absa, we believe that empowering women in technology and embracing diverse perspectives is not just a value, it is a catalyst for meaningful change across Africa’s tech landscape.”
This marks the second year Absa has sponsored the Africa leg of the GirlCode Hackathon.
“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this journey,” said Dutuma. “Our partnership with GirlCode is about creating access, representation, and opportunities for young women to thrive in technology. This work is important to us, and we hope to extend our impact to more countries in the future, as we continue exploring ways to support initiatives that foster meaningful and inclusive innovation across Africa.”
This year’s edition expanded significantly, growing from three countries in 2024 to five in 2025, reflecting Absa’s ongoing commitment to empowering women in technology across Africa.
Organized by GirlCode and hosted by Absa Bank Uganda, the eight cities that competed in the 30-hour hackathon included Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, and Gaborone, under the theme “Future-Proofing Africa: Innovation at the Intersection of FinTech, Cybersecurity, and AI.”
Tokiva Sisters from Tanzania emerged as the overall winners, receiving a grand cash prize of R100,000 (approx. TZH14.2 million, UGX20.08 million) for their innovative financial management platform.
“Tokiva Sisters impressed with a forward-thinking solution aimed at empowering young people to take charge of their finances,” said Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO of GirlCode. “Their creativity, skills, and dedication show the remarkable talent young women are bringing to tech. It is exciting to see their project’s potential for real-world impact.”
GirlCodeHack’s continental reach continues to grow each year, promoting collaboration across borders and demonstrating how diversity accelerates innovation.
“This year’s hackathon showed exactly how collaboration drives innovation,” said Mkwanazi. “Young women who participated in the hackathon gained skills, confidence, and networks that will continue long after the event, perfectly illustrating our goal of expanding access and representation in tech.”
The Director of Marketing and Customer Experience at Absa Bank Uganda, Helen Basuuta Nangonzi, said the 2025 GirlCode Hackathon has been an inspiring showcase of talent, creativity, and problem-solving, further noting that the young women demonstrated that when women innovate, communities thrive, and economies grow.
As GirlCode accelerates its mission to empower 10 million women and girls with tech skills by 2030, Absa remains steadfast in its commitment to driving diversity and inclusion in technology, ensuring that more women across Africa not only participate but lead in shaping the future of the industry.
See also: Who will win at the 2025 Digital Impact Awards Africa?
