Soroti University makes its mark on the national innovation stage as Joseph Walusimbi and Joshua Benjamin Ssentongo, students in the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, are awarded 2nd Runner-Up at the Innovation Consortium Medal of Excellence 2025 — now in its 4th edition and one of Uganda’s most prestigious platforms for student-led innovation.
Together, Joseph and Joshua developed Smart KARA, a forward-thinking NFC-based electricity access system that stood out among national competitors for its potential to transform prepaid electricity usage across Uganda and the broader region.
Rethinking Prepaid Electricity Access
At its core, Smart KARA reimagines how Ugandans pay for and access electricity — replacing the frustrating experience of long token codes and meter-tied units with a seamless, card-based system that puts the user in control.
The project tackles longstanding pain points in Uganda’s prepaid electricity ecosystem. Many users are frustrated by the manual entry of lengthy 20-digit token codes, keypad failures resulting from repeated digit input, and the permanent loss of purchased electricity units whenever they relocate.
The team’s solution introduces a secure, NFC-enabled model that allows users to activate electricity through a simple tap of a card or NFC-capable smartphone — eliminating token codes entirely. Crucially, the system decouples electricity credits from a fixed meter, meaning purchased units travel with the user to any new location. Additional features include automatic top-up following successful payment and PIN-based authentication to safeguard user accounts. Both consumers and electricity distribution utilities stand to benefit from greater efficiency, transparency, and convenience in how energy is accessed and managed.
The project also explores the broader commercial potential of local meter manufacturing and digital infrastructure development — positioning Smart KARA not merely as a user convenience, but as a driver of job creation and economic transformation for Uganda.
“The idea behind Smart KARA is to rethink how prepaid electricity works. Many users still struggle with long token codes, keypad failures, and losing their units when they relocate — and we wanted to solve that. Through an NFC-based model, electricity credits follow the user wherever they go. This recognition motivates us even more to continue building engineering solutions that address real infrastructure challenges in Uganda.”
— Joseph Walusimbi, Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Soroti University
Joshua Benjamin Ssentongo, co-developer of Smart KARA, echoed his partner’s gratitude, expressing deep appreciation to their mentors and the Innovation Consortium for providing a platform that recognises and celebrates student-driven solutions to real-world challenges.
Guided by Expert Mentorship
The project was developed under the academic mentorship of Mr. Roland Balinda Mujungu, Mr. Francis Xavier Komaketch, and Dr. Ann Move Oguti, lecturers in the Department of Electrical and Energy Engineering and the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering at Soroti University.
“Smart KARA is a testament to what becomes possible when students are guided, trusted, and empowered to solve real problems. Joseph and Joshua demonstrated not just technical ability, but the persistence, teamwork, and intentionality that define true innovators. As educators, our role is to create environments that nurture creativity and the courage to experiment — and this team rose to that challenge magnificently. Their achievement is a clear reminder that innovation thrives where passion and purpose meet.”
— Mr. Roland Balinda Mujungu, Department of Electrical and Energy Engineering, Soroti University
A Message from School Leadership
The achievement of Joseph and Joshua resonates deeply with the School of Engineering’s ongoing drive to embed innovation at the heart of its academic culture. Dr. Excellence Favor, Deputy Dean of the School of Engineering, has been a consistent champion of this vision — pushing for an education model where students do not merely learn engineering, but live it.
Central to this vision is the institution’s commitment to Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) — an approach that moves beyond rote learning to equip students with the practical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving capabilities demanded by Uganda’s development agenda.
“At Soroti University, we believe innovation begins with purpose, grows through collaboration, and transforms through action.”
— Dr. Excellence Favor, Deputy Dean, School of Engineering, Soroti University
Smart KARA is precisely the kind of outcome Dr. Favor’s leadership has been working towards — a student-led solution born in the classroom, refined through mentorship, and validated on a national stage. It demonstrates that when Competency-Based Curriculum principles are applied with intention, students are empowered to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world engineering impact.
The School of Engineering congratulates Joseph and Joshua, and reaffirms its commitment to nurturing the next generation of innovators who will drive Uganda’s technological and economic transformation.
A Growing Culture of Innovation at Soroti University
Recognition at the national Innovation Consortium platform is a testament to Soroti University’s deepening commitment to research, practical problem-solving, and the development of solutions that address genuine societal challenges. Joseph and Joshua’s achievement is not an isolated milestone — it reflects a growing culture of inquiry and applied innovation taking root across the institution.
The University commends both students for their creativity, perseverance, and dedication, and encourages the entire student body to pursue bold ideas that contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s development agenda.
Soroti University remains firmly committed to supporting student innovation and championing solutions that deliver lasting impact — locally, regionally, and beyond.
About the Innovation Consortium
Founded in 2010, the Innovation Consortium is a registered network of companies and individuals united by a common goal: solving everyday life challenges through innovation. Operating as Uganda’s home of next-generation solutions, the Consortium develops and supports appropriate, affordable, and sustainable technologies across engineering, ICT, renewable energy, and social enterprise. Its annual Medal of Excellence is a flagship competition that celebrates and elevates the most promising student and professional innovations in the country. Learn more at innovug.com.