A Ugandan startup that converts plastic waste into sewing thread and fabric has won the 2026 Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC) Uganda Pitching Competition and will represent the country at the GEC+ Africa Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, later this year.
The startup emerged winner from a field of 10 finalists selected from more than 100 applications received for the competition, which was organised by the Global Entrepreneurship Network Uganda in partnership with Enterprise Uganda.
The company received Shs2 million and will participate in the continental conference scheduled for September 16 and 17. Kyuka Ventures Innovation Hub, which operates in the energy sector, emerged first runner-up and received Shs1.5 million, while health-tech startup Dada Innovations (Simply Hers) finished second runner-up and received Shs1 million.
Speaking at the event, GEN Uganda Managing Director Mary Odongo said the competition was intended to provide entrepreneurs with an opportunity to present their ideas and engage with mentors, investors and other stakeholders.
She said the initiative also seeks to strengthen Uganda’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through networking, mentorship, and business support opportunities.
Representing GEN South Africa, Managing Director Carmen Rudd said the GEC+ Africa Conference provides a platform for entrepreneurs from across the continent to share experiences and explore opportunities for growth.
“The importance of this Congress lies in the knowledge economy and how entrepreneurs can learn from somebody else’s experiences in order to grow and scale their businesses,” she said.
According to Rudd, discussions at this year’s conference will focus on sustainable and inclusive growth, climate innovation, digital transformation, access to finance, and policy development.
Participants will also engage in investor matchmaking sessions, exhibitions, networking forums, and policy discussions.
Among the finalists was Paytota Universal Payment Gateway, which is developing solutions aimed at addressing interoperability challenges in Africa’s digital payments ecosystem.
Its chief executive officer, Erasmus Okurut, said fragmented payment systems continue to affect e-commerce growth and cross-border transactions across the continent.
“Africa is ready for digital payments. We are focused on building solutions that make money move seamlessly across borders while helping businesses access larger markets,” he said.
Enterprise Uganda Chief Operating Officer Ronald Mukasa Senkubuge said the competition forms part of broader efforts to support entrepreneurs through business development services, mentorship, and market access.
“We want to celebrate young entrepreneurs who are innovative, creating impact in their communities and generating jobs. This competition gives them an audience and a platform to showcase their business ideas,” he said.
The winning startup’s founder, Hellen Munyasa, said the opportunity would expose the business to entrepreneurs, investors, and potential partners from across Africa.
The conference is expected to bring together participants from several countries, including Botswana, Namibia, Algeria, and Egypt.