By Pius Niwarinda
ResearchFinds News | Fort Portal City
In a move that pushed them to the helm of Uganda’s tech ecosystem, student innovators from Mountains of the Moon University (MMU) have defeated teams from 21 Sub-Saharan African countries to qualify for the Huawei ICT Competition Global Finals in China.
The AgriChain Team—comprising students Okoo Elvis, Wasswa Atibu, and Masendi Aaron—conquered the Regional Innovation Track in Kampala on March 5, 2026. They are now set to represent Uganda on the world stage in Shenzhen from June 2nd to 5th, 2026, where they will face off against the brightest minds from over 100 countries.
The Winning Edge: AgriChain & MindSpore
The team’s secret weapon is AgriChain, an artificial intelligence-powered solution built using the sophisticated MindSpore framework. Under the mentorship of instructor Alinaitwe Mukonyezi, the students developed a platform that injects transparency and efficiency into agricultural value chains—a “real-world” solution for Africa’s most critical sector.
“Competing at this level has reinforced our commitment to developing solutions that can transform agriculture in Africa,” said Aaron Masendi, a Computer Science student and team member.
“It has provided a powerful platform for advancing agritech while strengthening the role of youth in solving global challenges,” he added when pressed on.
A Testament to Academic Rigor
The journey to the top was gruelling. The team advanced from preliminary rounds in December 2025, dominated the National Finals in January 2026, and finally outpaced regional giants to secure their flight to China.
Arinda Ronnie Akantorana, Public Relations Manager at Huawei Technologies (Uganda), described the victory as a “testament to the high standard of education and mentorship provided by Mountains of the Moon University.”
Echoing this pride, MMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Pius Coxwell Achanga noted that the achievement validates the university’s mission to cultivate digital talent. “This initiative enables our students to enhance their digital skills and compete at the highest level. We are proud to see MMU and Uganda represented on the global stage,” he stated.
Reflecting on the university’s strategic communication and its rising profile, Duncan Keith Musumba, the University’s Principal Communication Officer, highlighted the broader implications of this win for the institution’s brand.
“This is more than a trophy; it is a signal to the world that the ‘Mountains’ are producing global players,” Musumba remarked.
“When our students beat 21 nations to represent the pearl of Africa, it confirms that MMU is no longer just a regional player but a hub for technology-driven solutions that resonate globally. We are taking the ‘Fort Portal spirit’ to Shenzhen,” he added.
The Road to Shenzhen
The Huawei ICT Competition is a flagship partner of the UNESCO Global Skills Academy, involving over 2,000 universities. As the AgriChain team prepares for the Global Finals, their success positions Uganda as a rising powerhouse in Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing.
The upcoming awarding ceremony and the final roadmap to China will be monitored closely as Uganda cheers on its “AI Ambassadors.”
Stay tuned to ResearchFinds News for live updates on Uganda’s journey to the Global AI Finals in Shenzhen.
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