Uganda Internet Governance Week 2026
I was part of the winning team at the Uganda Youth Internet Governance Forum hackathon — a defining moment of Uganda Internet Governance Week 2026, held at the National ICT Innovation Hub on July 30, 2026.
Together with my incredible teammates — Opakrwoth Jonathan, Tukei John Steven, Anthony David Amulala, and Busingye Mbeine — we built Diri, a platform designed to put digital governance knowledge directly into the hands of Ugandan youth.
Result
Our solution Diri took first place at the Uganda Youth Internet Governance Forum hackathon.
The Winning Team
- Mubiru Elton Felix
- Opakrwoth Jonathan
- Tukei John Steven
- Anthony David Amulala
- Busingye Mbeine
The Project: Diri (Digital Rights)
What Inspired It
Digital governance is one of the most important conversations of our time — yet most young Ugandans never get to be part of it. The language is often technical, the content is buried in policy documents, and the platforms used to share it simply don't reach the people who need it most.
Diri was born from a simple question: how do we make digital governance engaging, accessible, and genuinely useful for every young person in Uganda — regardless of their connectivity, their device, or their ability?
How We Built It
Accessibility-First Platform
Diri delivers engaging content on digital governance with built-in accessibility tools — a screen reader, adjustable font sizes, and a high-contrast setting for youth with special needs.
WhatsApp Multilingual Chatbot
Youth don't need to remember links to get information. A multilingual WhatsApp chatbot brings digital governance conversations to wherever young people already are — no app install required.
USSD Simulator
An embedded USSD simulator makes information accessible to youth without smartphones or internet access, ensuring no one is left out of the digital governance conversation.
Youth Participation
Every feature points back to one goal: increasing the number of youth across the country who can participate in digital governance discussions and easily access this information.
Digital Rights WhatsApp Bot USSD Accessibility Multilingual Internet Governance Youth Engagement
From Hackathon to the National Stage
Following our win, the President of the Internet Society Uganda Chapter, Mr Joshua Mpairwe, invited us to showcase Diri at the Uganda Internet Governance Forum at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel the following day.
In 24 hours, Diri went from a hackathon prototype to a solution presented in front of policymakers, industry leaders, and advocates shaping Uganda's digital future. That invitation was validation that what we built in the hackathon wasn't just a winning demo — it was a genuinely useful tool with a real role to play in Uganda's digital governance landscape.
We didn't just win a hackathon. We built a solution that earned its way to the national conversation on internet governance.
The Conversations That Mattered
Across the Youth IGF hackathon and the main Uganda Internet Governance Forum, discussions and activities focused on the topics that are shaping Uganda's digital future:
Internet Governance
How Uganda's internet is run, who makes the decisions, and how young people can have a seat at that table.
Cybersecurity
Building digital safety awareness and empowering youth to protect themselves and their communities online.
Digital Inclusion
Ensuring every Ugandan — regardless of device, connectivity, or ability — can participate in the digital economy.
Online Gender-Based Violence
Confronting OGBV head-on and working toward a safer online space for women and girls across the country.
Beyond the Code
It was an incredible experience filled with learning, innovation, and meaningful networking with passionate individuals from across the country. From fellow young innovators to policymakers and advocates, every conversation added a new perspective on what Uganda's digital future can look like — and what each of us can do to shape it.
Event Gallery
Acknowledgments
I would like to sincerely thank the Internet Society Uganda Chapter for organising such insightful and impactful events that continue to empower young innovators and drive Uganda's technology ecosystem forward.
I would also like to thank the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance and Hon. Minister Justine Kasule Lumumba (a keynote speaker at the event) for supporting initiatives that create opportunities for young people to actively participate in building Uganda's digital future.
And my heartfelt appreciation to all the sponsors and partners whose invaluable support made these events possible: the Internet Society Foundation, Paradigm Initiative, Milima Security, the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), the Ministry of ICT & National Guidance, Restless Development, and the Defenders Protection Initiative.