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Unveiling Our Agri-Challenge Accelerator: Transforming Uganda's Agricultural Potential into Measurable Impact

  • Writer: Cephas Nzaana
    Cephas Nzaana
  • Oct 8
  • 2 min read
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Over 70 percent of Uganda's working population, mostly in rural areas, depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, making it the backbone of our economy. (World Bank, 2023 Estimate) The sector contributes 24% of GDP and 42% of export earnings in FY 2023/24, yet only 17% of households participate in commercial agriculture. Uganda has 80% arable land, but just 35% is under cultivation — clear evidence of untapped potential waiting to be unlocked. (Trade.gov, 2023 FAO Uganda, 2023, agriculture.go.ug.)

The gaps are serious. Smallholder farmers produce 80% of our food crops but access less than 12% of total banking sector credit. Post-harvest losses exceed 20% in many cases, stripping away farmer incomes and threatening food security. Losses from pests, poor storage, and weak handling systems affect millions of households. (Agroberichtenbuitenland, 2024 Monitor, 2025, statista)


Our Agri-Challenge Accelerator at Highland Innovation Hub is tackling these issues with strategic partnerships and real-world pilots. We are already working with ventures that are proving solutions in live environments and showing measurable results.


Current pilots in motion

  1. ShareCARD is digitizing farmer data to strengthen supply chain transparency and improve market access.

  2. Tulio Mall is building stable procurement pathways that connect farmers and processors to reliable buyers in hospitality and tourism.

  3. Dbuntu’s AI4Ag Cattle is enabling dairy farmers to increase productivity and access financial services, directly addressing the credit gap.

  4. Karaa is building sturdy electric bicycles to make last mile transportation in Africa faster, cheaper and cleaner. 


These pilots reflect our mission to scale solutions that strengthen supply chains, cut post-harvest losses, expand inclusive finance, and connect farmers to commercial markets. Practical innovation, tied to genuine agricultural needs, is already driving impact.



Where we are making impact

  • Financial inclusion: Closing the credit gap for smallholders who form the backbone of food production.

  • Post-harvest optimization: Cutting losses that erode incomes and compromise food security.

  • Market connectivity: Opening pathways from subsistence farming to commercial markets and dependable buyer networks.

  • Technology adoption: Deploying digital tools designed for Uganda’s rural realities.


Who our Agri-Challenge Accelerator is built for

  1. Startups testing agricultural innovations with real farmers and measurable outcomes

  2. Corporations and cooperatives determined to solve value chain inefficiencies alongside innovators

  3. Investors and funders backing ventures with scalable models and proven traction in a sector central to Uganda’s growth


If you share this vision, we invite you to complete our engagement form and explore opportunities to collaborate: Join Us


Follow Highland Innovation Hub to explore our portfolio, track the progress of our pilots, and see how collaborative innovation is reshaping agriculture into a thriving, inclusive economy.


 



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