Soroti University has cemented its place on Uganda’s national innovation stage — this time at the Industry 4.0+ Hackathon, held in conjunction with the historic launch of Uganda’s first Sovereign Cloud. Team SunTech, comprising second-year students Joseph Walusimbi, Geresem Ogwapit, and Sophie Okolong Kiyai of the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, emerged among just four winning teams selected from a highly competitive national field.
Joseph Walusimbi, notably, is no stranger to national recognition — he was also part of the team that clinched 2nd Runner-Up at the Innovation Consortium Medal of Excellence 2025 for Smart KARA, an NFC-based prepaid electricity system. His back-to-back achievements at only second year underscore a remarkable trajectory of innovation-driven impact.
A Highly Competitive National Platform
The Industry 4.0+ Hackathon drew over 400 team applications from across the country. From that pool, only 15 teams were selected to compete — and at the conclusion of the hackathon, only four were recognised as winners, one for each field: Agriculture, Tourism, Mining, and Science, Technology and Innovation. Team SunTech claimed the Agriculture category, a testament to the practical relevance and technical strength of their solution.
The recognition was announced at the ABQ Cloud Launch Day, held at the EDIC Deep Tech Centre of Excellence on 26th February 2026 — the occasion that marked the official launch of Uganda’s first Sovereign Cloud. The strategic initiative, developed through a partnership between government and the private sector including Raxio Data Centres, Roke Telkom, Roke Cloud, and afriQloud, is designed to strengthen national digital infrastructure and advance Uganda’s data sovereignty.
The Innovation: Machine Learning Based Industrial Fruit Sorting System
Team SunTech presented a prototype for a Machine Learning Based Industrial Fruit Sorting System — a solution that applies machine learning and computer vision to automate fruit quality classification for industrial processing.
Uganda’s agro-processing sector faces persistent challenges around post-harvest losses and inconsistent quality control, both of which limit the value that farmers and processors can extract from their produce. The SunTech system addresses this directly — sorting fruit faster and more consistently than manual methods, reducing waste, and enhancing value addition across the agricultural supply chain.
Sophie Okolong Kiyai, the only woman on the team, held her own at every stage of the project — from prototype development through to the national presentation. Her presence and performance reflect the School of Engineering and Technology’s growing commitment to building an inclusive pipeline of engineering talent at Soroti University.
Beyond its immediate application, the project carries a broader significance — contributing to local intelligence, local engineering, and local ownership of value in Uganda’s industrial economy.
“Our industrial fruit sorting system prototype contributes by laying a foundation for high-level quality in fruit processing industries. It also represents local intelligence, local engineering, and local ownership of value. The Minister challenged us directly: ‘I hope you don’t have a small vision.’ Neither do we. This is Phase 1.”
— Joseph Walusimbi, Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Soroti University
National Leadership Weighs In
The hackathon took place against the backdrop of a defining moment for Uganda’s digital economy. Speaking at the Sovereign Cloud launch, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Monica Musenero, issued a pointed challenge to Uganda’s innovators and policymakers alike.
“Until we own the money-making components of the digital economy, we are living in the illusion of participation. For too long, Africa has supplied inputs while value capture happens elsewhere.”
— Hon. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation
The Minister’s words reframed the hackathon not merely as a competition but as a strategic imperative — a call for Uganda to move from passive consumer to active architect of its digital future. It is precisely that call that institutions like Soroti University are answering, one student project at a time.
Guided by Expert Mentorship
Team SunTech received mentorship and technical guidance from Ms. Edith Nakimbugwe of the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat (STI), alongside Soroti University staff members Dr. Abubakhari Sserwadda, Dr. Ann Move Oguti, and Laboratory Technician Mr. Patrick Onen of the Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering,
“None of this was a solo effort. At Soroti University, mentorship is a team commitment — colleagues across the School of Engineering and Technology investing time and belief in equal measure. That collective investment is what creates the conditions for students to thrive. Joseph, Geresem, and Sophie responded to it with ownership, commitment, and results that speak for themselves.”
— Dr. Ann Move Oguti, Department of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Soroti University
A University on the Rise
This achievement adds to a growing portfolio of national recognition for Soroti University, reinforcing its position among institutions actively shaping Uganda’s knowledge economy. The University’s engagement with Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence, and value-added manufacturing reflects a deliberate institutional commitment to research that is not only academically rigorous but nationally relevant.
Team SunTech has demonstrated that the next generation of Uganda’s industrial and digital architects is already here — building in second year what many wait a career to attempt. As Uganda constructs the infrastructure of its digital sovereignty, Soroti University intends to keep producing the engineers and innovators who will put it to use.
The University warmly congratulates Joseph Walusimbi, Geresem Ogwapit, and Sophie Okolong Kiyai on this outstanding accomplishment — and looks forward to seeing what they build next.