SautiTech Editor

Zembo scores funding to electrify Uganda’s Boda Boda industry

Zembo, an automotive company based in Uganda, nabbed funding round from EEP Africa to boost its operations in the East African nation....

UCC impostors Godfrey Mutabazi UCC pitches Netflix

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UCC warns on impostors

Uganda Communications Commission has warned Ugandans against unscrupulous elements that are posing as officials attached to the Commission. According to the Commission,...

NEF Ambassadors Programme Joanitah Nvanungi

Next Einstein Forum is looking for Ambassadors in Africa, apply

Applications are open for NEF Ambassadors Programme. NEF is short for Next Einstein Forum. NEF is an initiative of the African Institute...

Mak don SIM card hack: UCC, MTN Uganda given ultimatum on defence file

On July 22 we reported that a lecturer at Makerere University named Halimu Chongomweru had shown interest in suing telecommunications company MTN...

3 Ugandan social enterprises score support from Mastercard

Three Ugandan social enterprises are among the 15 African startups that were announced among the winners of the 2019 Resolution Social Venture...

Makerere unveils Shs30bn government research and innovations fund

Makerere University has announced its work plan of rolling out and management of the Government Research and Innovations Fund for the financial...

Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award climate

African innovators invited to apply for Swiss Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award

Applications for the Swiss Re Foundation Entrepreneurs for Resilience Award are open. The Award recognizes entrepreneurial initiatives that take innovative approaches to...

NITA-U Board of Directors eGovernment Excellence Awards Uganda's centralized data system

Cabinet approves new NITA-Uganda Board of Directors

In a Cabinet meeting held Monday at Office of the President in Kampala, a new Board of Directors (BoDs) for the National...

reverse MTN Mobile money sent to wrong number Uganda’s ICT sector

Nomanini raises $4 million, expands to Uganda

Nomanini, a fintech platform that connects banks and distributors to Africa’s informal merchants, has closed a $4m funding round led by Standard...

Ugandan startup Emata raised Shs2.9bn with help of Canadian accountant

In 2018, Ransi Mannapperuma left her lucrative job as a senior financial analyst at Teranet Inc., a big Canadian tech firm to...

Wazihub Soil Moisture Prediction Challenge

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African innovators called to apply for WAZIHUB & Microsoft-sponsored AgriTech challenge

WAZIHUB and Microsoft have put together funds that will inspire innovators to come with cutting-edge tech solutions to help farmers in Africa....

This is what you’ll need to vote in 2021 general elections

The 2021 elections will be held in the first quarter of the year, to be specific, in February. While you need to...

Amusing reactions as Museveni’s Lenovo laptop excites social media

President Yoweri Museveni or his social media handlers on Monday evening posted a picture of him using a Lenovo laptop while traveling...

Ugandan entrepreneurs can apply for Stanchart’s Youth to Work

Youth to Work, an entrepreneurship program sponsored by Standard Chartered and Challenges Worldwide, has opened applications to youthful Ugandan entrepreneurs. With a...

Airtel Money to MTN Mobile Money transfer phone share data on Airtel Uganda

Airtel to MTN mobile money transfers restored

Airtel Money to MTN Mobile Money transfer service that had been temporarily suspended has been reactivated. It’s now two months since the...

Rwanda moves to issue own digital currency

The National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) has dispatched officials to study how they can convert their entire currency into digital form, Bloomberg...

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How to share data on Airtel Uganda (step-by-step guide)

There are two ways you can share data on Airtel Uganda. First, there is ‘Tugabane’ where you add telephone numbers to a...

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NIRA: Where to go, what to pay for Birth Certificates

We have previously written about how to change information on a Birth Certificate now we are going to show you how to...

2019 StartUpAfrica’s Entrepreneurship Awards

Ugandan startup E-Pine nominated for StartUpAfrica’s Entrepreneurship Awards

E-Pine Pharmacy, a Uganda-based online retailer for drugs and medical equipment, has been nominated for 2019 StartUpAfrica’s Entrepreneurship Awards. A statement on...

Big Data for Development Innovation Challenge

Applications for Big Data for Development Innovation Challenge open

You can now apply for Big Data for Development Innovation Challenge. The Challenge is being organized by the African Institute for Mathematical...

CEO of Uganda-based SolarNow resigns

Willem Nolens, CEO and founder of SolarNow, resigned on Tuesday, the company said in a statement. Based in Kampala, SolarNow is an...

Africa Blockchain Developer Programme GreenHouse Lab FoodTech Accelerator

Africa Blockchain Developer Programme opens applications

African developers can now apply to join Africa Blockchain Developer Programme. It runs for three months. The programme is managed by the...

Uganda’s Mpindi Abaas joins American Express Leadership Academy

Mpindi Abaas, the CEO and Founder of the Media Challenge Initiative, is among fifteen social entrepreneurs that have been picked to join...

GOtv and DStv rates reduced, See the new charges

The GOtv and DStv rates have been significantly cut. The cheapest DStv package (DStv Premium) which currently costs Shs280,000 will be costing...

Rhoda Kimera quits top UK firm for NITA-Uganda job

Regina Rhoda Kimera left her accounting job at Ernst & Young to become the director of Finance and Administration at the National...

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How to share data on MTN Uganda (step-by-step guide)

There are times when your friend needs data and you want to help them. Aside from buying for them data via Mobile...

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Students win Shs5m to enrich their business ideas

Press release: Through an entrepreneurship program funded by Diamond Trust Bank (U) LTD (DTB), learners at Aga Khan School (primary and secondary)...

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The 3 army chiefs Museveni named to run Immigration directorate

In May, the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) announced that it had received new Leadership. In case you don’t know,...

Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge startup team

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$100,000 up for grabs at Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge

African tech startups have been invited to apply and compete in the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge where the best startup will bag...

Future Hub Africa startup fund activate Africell Swift social bundles

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TECNO manufacturer rolls out Shs370m startup fund for African fintechs

Future Hub, a subsidiary of Transsion, has unveiled a US$100,000 (about Shs370 million) startup fund that will be shared among early-stage fin-tech...

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How to check if your National ID Number (NIN) is on the voters’ register

The 2021 general elections are drawing near and it’s crucial that you confirm if you’re eligible to vote if you want to...

#datafree biNu fastest internet speed in Africa Afriqloud Uganda phone

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MTN, biNu partner to enable all websites & apps to be #datafree for South Africans

Press release: MTN and #datafree pioneer biNu today announced a partnership that will enable mobile subscribers in South Africa to access websites...

Evelyn Namara named finalist in Shell-funded innovation award

Ugandan techpreneur Evelyn Namara is among finalists in an award program organized by the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF). AWIEF...

Meet T901, the first TECNO phone running KaiOS

TECNO announced the launch of the latest 3G smart feature phone T901, the first TECNO device running on KaiOS. KaiOS is the...

Julian Byamugisha with a Bolt Uganda driver

Bolt Uganda loses country manager Julian Byamugisha to Jumia

Julian Byamugisha, who has been the head of Bolt Uganda operations, left the ride-hailing firm to join Jumia. Her LinkedIn profile shows...

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Kobo360 raises $30M in Series A funding led by Goldman Sachs

Kobo360, the digital technology platform disrupting African third-party logistics, today announced the completion of a $20M Series A equity round led by...

African smart mobility startups Dial Jack

Bosch, Founders Factory earmark US$30,000 to support African smart mobility startups

German multinational technology company Bosch has partnered with Founders Factory Africa to support African startups developing or running smart mobility solutions. The...

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Ugandan startup Bureau Vente in race to win Shs667m in Singapore

Ugandan fintech Bureau Vente (U) limited, or BVL, will on November be in Singapore to pitch at the Demo Day of the...

11 things I wish I knew when I started my business

Glitter was literally shooting out of my eye sockets as I quit my PR job to “be my own boss.” Then reality...

NIISP Uganda Frank Tumwebaze impact of social media tax Minister Frank Tumwebaze

Tumwebaze to unhappy startups: I don’t decide who wins govt innovation fund

If you follow the Ugandan startup ecosystem closely, you must know about the National ICT Initiatives Support Programme (NIISP). It was introduced...

Apply for support from Founders Factory Africa e-health, fintech accelerator

Founders Factory Africa is now accepting applications from startups working on health and fintech solutions for its accelerator programme. Startups that will...

What you should never ask your customers

By Dave Bailey Common wisdom says to speak with potential users to check that people want something before building it. So I...

How to delete online accounts you no longer need

Having too many digital accounts raises your risk of data being misused or stolen. Here’s how to clean house. By Thomas Germain...

The top 5 skills you need to be a highly effective startup founder

By Abdo Riani Business experience certainly makes a difference. In fact, research shows that, on average, older and more experienced founders outperform younger entrepreneurs....

NIRA clarifies on validity of birth certificates following scary NTV report

On Aug. 9, NTV Uganda ran a story with a headline: “All current birth certificates are invalid – NIRA”. [NIRA is short...

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How to reverse MTN Mobile money sent to a wrong number

Did you know it’s possible to reverse MTN Mobile money sent to a wrong number? We’ll discuss that in detail shortly. Let’s...

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In graphics, who nailed it on Eid al-Adha?

As Muslims across the globe celebrated Eid al-Adha, a number of companies, individuals and organizations unveiled different forms of artwork to send...

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5 easy ways to protect your digital privacy in 2019

These smart strategies can lessen your chances of falling victim to the next data breach By Allen St. John Though there’s plenty...

What makes a successful startup team

By Eva de Mol When venture capital investors are doing due diligence, they focus carefully on the financial side of the business....

Fatu Ogwuche, politics, government outreach manager for Africa

Briefing: Uganda govt, Facebook strengthen ties amidst plans to remove OTT; Mwikirize nabs MICCAI 2019 award and more

Facebook Africa executives have met with officials from the government. A thread posted on Twitter by Government Citizen Interaction Centre (GCIC) shows...

How to protect yourself from camera and microphone hacking

Last week was unsettling for Mac users worried that someone could hijack the cameras and microphones built into their phones and laptops....

fifth cycle of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme. African entrepreneurs Aisino Corporation electronic invoicing tax

How to avoid/stop unsolicited messages (SMS)

In a blog post, UCC has explained how to stop unsolicited messages that are always sent by telcos or any other bodies...

1 million young entrepreneurs to benefit from African Union, AfriLabs partnership

Afrilabs, a network of tech hubs and business incubators, and African Union (AU) have partnered on an initiative dubbed 1 Million By...

Is using public WiFi still a bad idea?

It depends, security experts say. Encryption has made web surfing safer but not risk-free. Security experts have long advised people to avoid...

How to preserve laptop battery life

By Consumer Reports Question: I’ve heard conflicting advice about preserving laptop battery life. What should I actually be doing? Answer: There is...

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Makerere’s Kiragga eyes million-dollar prize for visionary research on HIV

Dr. Agnes Kiragga, a senior lecturer at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), has been selected among scientists that will...

Africell, MTN Uganda roll out assisted payment system for airtime & data top-ups

MTN Uganda and Africell Uganda have unveiled an assisted payment system that will see the latter’s customers buy airtime and data through...

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Choosing between my mother or my startup

By Jon Lee “Mom, fuck off.” I don’t actually say it, but I might as well have. My nasty glare and unyielding...

Impulse startup accelerator SoGal Global pitch competition African startup founders

$250,000 up for grabs at Impulse accelerator-sponsored startup challenge

African startups have been called to participate in a 12-week acceleration program that is funded by Impulse startup accelerator in partnership with...

UCC wants online publishers, influencers to pay Shs73800 to operate in Uganda

Uganda communications commission (UCC) kicked off an initiative to register publications and people who use online space for communication services and commercial...

Sokowatch Uganda Sokowatch in East Africa

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Sokowatch sets up shop in Kampala after raising Shs9bn seed funding

Nairobi based Business-to-Business electronic commerce platform Sokowatch has set up shop in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. This comes after the company,...

5 opportunities: Apply for support from Facebook, Microsoft, Deloitte and more

Welcome to the SautiTech opportunity desk. Check out the opportunities and see if you can apply for any. 1. Shona Accelerator, which...

UCC rolls out 7th edition of Uganda Film Festival

The program for the Uganda Film Festival 2019 has been unveiled by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC). UCC says the Festival will...

Uganda’s ICT sector in figures: Mobile money, internet, pay TV, smartphones and more

UCC recently released a report showing statistics of Uganda’s ICT sector, focusing mainly on the communications industry. The figures show the standing...

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Ugandan developers left SafeBoda for Apple, Facebook jobs

SafeBoda is among a few startups that have contributed immensely to the tech ecosystem in the country. One of those contributions is...

When to shut down a startup

By Aaron Harris It makes sense that founders and investors spend so much time talking about things that go well. If we...

Infinix Note 6 review: Killer selfies and charming X Pen

I have been using the Infinix Note 6 for seven days now. I already did the unboxing piece, and if you read...

TECNO Phantom 9 review TECNO Phantom 9 Uganda

TECNO Phantom 9: Reviewing Tecno’s crown jewel

I used the TECNO Phantom 9 for two weeks. This gave me ample time to test most of the key features. If...

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Anzisha Prize fellows in Uganda share experience

Since its inception in 2010, the Anzisha Prize has recognized over twenty young entrepreneurs in Uganda. And on Monday, six of these...

Interswitch partners with International Airtime Top Up to offer cross border airtime service

Interswitch, a leading African financial inclusion services company that delivers digital business and consumer services through its “Quickteller Paypoint” solutions has partnered...

In pictures: Infinix Note 6 unboxing and first impressions

We received the Infinix Note 6, unboxed it and below we guide you through what impressed us and turned us off in...

African startups called to participate in Pitch@Palace, a UK-funded program

Applications for Pitch@Palace are now open. It’s a global program that attracts participation from entrepreneurs and early-stage companies. The deadline for application...

Need help launching your Startup? Hire people with these skills

By Abdo Riani Studies show that the average age of entrepreneurs at the time they launched their ventures is 42 while the average...

OTT Uganda Frank Tumwebaze Huawei ICT Academy Makerere Frank Tumwebaze

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Tumwebaze: We’re internally fighting OTT tax

By Frank Tumwebaze In this article, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance explains why OTT tax is not the reason prices...

When should you fire your child from the family business?

For years Charles dreamed of working side by side with his son, James, in the family business, a thriving manufacturing company that...

Fixon Akonye Airtel Uganda Head offices in Kampala

Briefing: Why UCC pulled statement on Airtel 4G; Dr. Akonye named UTL auditor and more

Welcome to the last Briefing for this week UCC pulls statement to protect Airtel On Monday the telecommunications regulator posted a statement...

Uganda’s Shamim Nabuuma gets Google support to fight cancer using AI

CHIL AI Lab, a health tech company founded by Ugandan innovator Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, has been selected to benefit from the second...

5 common obstacles to overcome when launching a new product

Launching a new, physical product is definitely challenging. You probably know there are a lot of obstacles to bringing a new product...

African innovators invited to compete at World Summit Award 2019

African innovators under the age of 26 have been called to apply for participation in the World Summit Award 2019. The innovators...

Ugandan startup Kijani scores funding from RENEW to ‘scale production’

Kampala-based social enterprise Kijani has collected funds from RENEW, an investment firm that launched in Uganda last year. The amount was not...

French energy firm seeks to ease work for medium businesses in Uganda

Small and medium enterprises that have previously had problems of irregular power supply will not have to worry anymore about abrupt power...

My guide to selling your company

By Alex Bates After 10 years of running my company, Mtell, we sold it to a publicly-traded company for $37 million. It...

Are you meant to be an entrepreneur?

What you can do about yourself to become one By Marilyn Wo If you are aspiring to become an entrepreneur, you’d like...

Stanbic’s Mweheire no longer worried about fintechs ‘taking our lunch’

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Stanbic Bank Uganda, Patrick Mweheire says banks are no longer worried about fintechs eating into their...

Halimu Chongomweru MTN license renewal ISO MTN MTN South Africa 4G roaming services mtn coronavirus relief package

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Makerere don demands Shs260m from MTN Uganda after SIM card hack

Nalukoola, Kakeeto Advocates & Solicitors, a law firm that represents Halimu Chongomweru, a lecturer at Makerere University, wants telecommunications company MTN Uganda...

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Bodawerk’s electric-powered tractor stuns crowds at Jinja agricultural show

An electric-powered tractor developed by Ugandan engineering startup Bodawerk International Ltd is one of the highlights of the 27th edition of the...

Briefing: M-SCAN’s Kyomuhendo is Mandela Washington fellow; UCC probes Airtel 4G; Chipper Cash Country manager and more

Welcome to Your Briefing! Phyllis Kyomuhendo, a co-founder of Mobile Scan Solutions, or M-SCAN, is among Africans that traveled to the U.S....

How to send uncompressed images on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is notorious for compressing its images, so that otherwise-beautiful pictures look like they were shot from a generations-old camera phone. I...

What tech entrepreneurs in Africa really need

By Dr. Omobola Johnson Tech entrepreneurs in Africa are working hard to digitise, aggregate and organise inefficient markets and industries and build...

How to buy airtime using SafeBoda app (step-by-step guide)

You can now buy airtime using SafeBoda app. The feature, which can be used after updating your app, will be used by...

TECNO Phantom 9 unboxed: Our first impressions in pictures

We have unboxed TECNO’s flagship device, TECNO Phantom 9, and we love it. First off, it is retailing at Shs919,000. The packaging...

The fastest way to bankrupt your startup

The fastest way to bankrupt your startup: How overly ambitious dreams can kill your company, or, lessons from Moby Dick By Julia...

How to make your VPN more secure

A VPN is the best way to keep yourself anonymous and your sensitive data safe online, but you’ll want to make sure...

Why optimism is an entrepreneur’s worst enemy

By Gabe Zichermann You probably have a set of recurring patterns in your life, relationships and career. I certainly do: 1. I...

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The case against Dark Mode

The main advantage of apps with a dark mode is that they don’t shine so brightly in our eyes late at night....

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African startups invited to participate in SoGal Global Pitch Competition

Applications to participate in the SoGal Global Pitch Competition are still open. You have up to August 31 to apply. The competition...

Briefing: Tony Okao scores top UMCP post; Police app upgraded; FaceApp not safe and more

Hello, Briefing reader! Here is what’s happening in the tech world Safaricom to face off with Jumia, DHL Telecommunications giant Safaricom will...

Blockchain-powered smartphone unveiled in Rwanda

Pundi X, a Singapore based technology company on Tuesday officially launched in Kigali, Rwanda its smartphone powered by blockchain technology. The startup...

Uganda sends highest number of startups at major continental innovation contest

Uganda will have eight startups taking centre stage at the 2019 African Green Revolution Forum. The event will take place in Accra,...

The pivot to groups poses a major challenge for Facebook

A viral ‘boomer’ group floods news feeds while moderators struggle to keep up By Eric Ravenscraft If it’s lit AF, drop a...

startup founders what really kills startups

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