It was a new brighter day for the innovators of Yaaka Digital learning Network after winning a cash prize of $1,250 and a seed fund of $3,500 during ACIA 2015 Awards.
Yaaka competed in the digital content category where the innovation turned first runner-up after PM live that emerged winner in the same category.
Yaaka is a website and app that allows Ugandan students to attend online classes or access academic materials in all subjects taught in preprimary, primary school, secondary school and higher institutions of learning. Students and teachers just need to register to access or offer learning materials
The annual ACIA Awards organized by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) are aimed at awarding Ugandan tech innovators at all levels.
While speaking at the awarding function, the minister of Information and Communications Technology, Hon. John Nasasira said his ministry will put in place an innovations fund to support the innovators beyond the award.
He also emphasized that Uganda cannot develop without harnessing innovative technologies.
The Executive Director UCC, Geoffrey Mutabaazi called on more corporate organisations to support the ACIA awards as a way of building the technology innovations capacity in Uganda.
He said UCC is starting this process from primary and secondary schools and they have found many interesting ideas from pupils and students on how they can use technology to solve day to day challenges.
You can watch the video below showing how Yaaka Digital Learning Network works.
Below are the winners of ACIA 2015 AWARDS per category.
Uganda ICT Visionsonaries
- 2nd runner-up : Dynamo,
- Prize: cash $500
- 1st runner-up : Kiki- Prize: Seed funding $1,250 and cash $750
- Winner: Vital mobi – Prize: Seed funding $2,500 and cash $1,500 and Trophy
Young rising stars
- 2nd runner-up : Arua public Secondary School
- 1st runner-up : Dr Obote College Lira
- Prize for both above: Library Books
- Winner: St. Peters Secondary School Pallisa – Prize: Cash $1,000, HTC desire, laptop for each member and Trophy
Uganda ICT Explorer
- 2nd runner-up : Parental care PS Bushenyi
- 1st runner-up : Happy Hill Jr Academy from Masindi
- Prize for both above: Library Books
- Winner: Santa Lucia Secondary School- Prize:$ 1,000, educational tablets, Trophy mifi router from Smile and UGX 400k from Vodafone
ICT for Development Award
- 1st runner-up: BreastIT
- Prize : Implementation Grant $3,750, cash $1,250 and Trophy
- Winner : Airtel Weza – Prize : Implementation grant $7,500 cash $ 2,500
Digital content Award
- 1st runner-up: Yaka Digital
- Prize : Implementation Grant $ 3,500, and cash $ 1250
- Winner : PM live – Prize :Implementation grant $ 7,500 and $ 2,500 and Trophy
Business Excellence Award
- Winner : eCite –
Prize : Trophy
Judge’s choice award
- Winner: Kiiki – Prize : MiFi router from smile telecom and a trophy
People’s choice Award
- Winner: Dynamo Charger