Ugandan Startups Shine in Pan-African Tech Competition
Six Ugandan Startups Among the Top 20 Finalists in MEST Africa Challenge 2025
Kampala / Johannesburg
Six technology companies from Uganda have secured a place among the top 20 finalists in the prestigious pan-African innovation competition, the MEST Africa Challenge 2025, organised by MEST Africa in partnership with Absa Group.
The Ugandan firms are now competing for one of the ten spots that will move to the grand finale in November, where the winner takes home US$50,000 in seed equity and access to mentorship and partnerships. The selected Ugandan start-ups include: Paytota, Xzerra, Kanzu Finance Ltd, Axiom Zorn, Credify Africa Inc., and eMaisha Pay.
This spotlight on Uganda’s tech scene is significant for the country’s urban economy: it highlights Kampala and other cities as hubs of innovation, supports job creation in digital industries, and may stimulate increased investment in tech infrastructure and youth-led enterprises.
Why it matters for urban dwellers:
The growth of tech start-ups can generate high-skilled jobs in the cities, potentially easing brain-drain and supporting creative economies.
As more digital services emerge (fintech, payments, lending), urban residents will see more convenience, more options, and possibly more competition driving better pricing.
The presence of strong start-up ecosystems raises the profile of cities like Kampala as regional innovation centres — good for real-estate, co-working spaces, and lifestyle amenities.
