On June 19th, Enabel in collaboration with Start-up Uganda, the National ICT Innovation Hub and its partners, hosted the What If Innovation Festival 2025-a vibrant showcase of smart, cost-effective solutions aimed at addressing Uganda’s most pressing challenges. In a time when budgets are tight and expectations are high, the festival was a rallying call to do more with less, act boldly, and collaborate across sectors for real, lasting change.

The festival brought together professionals and organizations from the fields of education, health, employment, and the circular economy. Presentations were framed around powerful “What If” questions-each one highlighting a real-world problem and the practical, tested solution that followed. These were not abstract theories, but proven, low-cost, and scalable approaches that are already making a difference.

The festival’s impact revolved around three key themes, with the first addressing the reality of budget cuts and the need for cost-effective solutions. A session titled “What If a simple bracelet could help prevent Gender-Based Violence? by SafeBangle Technologies showcased a discreet wearable safety device that allows women and vulnerable individuals to quickly alert loved ones during emergencies or assaults. Another session presented by Enabel and babies and Mothers Alive, featured the Mama Rescue app, which connects women in labor with nearby motorcycle taxi (boda boda) riders, ensuring fast, life-saving transport to health facilities.

Secondly, the festival emphasised that innovation is not a luxury, but a necessity-a practical tool for solving everyday challenges. Ugandan-led innovations took centre stage, showing how creativity and technology are already transforming classrooms, clinics, offices, and communities.

Finally, the event fostered shared learning and meaningful connections. Participants reflected on the solutions that inspired them most considered how they could improve them and explored how to apply them in their own contexts.

Saul Kabali of SafeBangle Technologies, winner of a return ticket to Europe sponsored by Brussels Airlines for the most innovative solution, remarked:

“Innovation isn’t about having more resources; it’s about seeing possibilities where others see limits. Winning this award at the What If Innovation Festival proves that with creativity and determination, we can truly do more with less and create solutions that change lives.”

H.E. Hugues Chantry, Belgium’s Ambassador to Uganda, stressed Enabel’s commitment to supporting homegrown solutions and fostering a culture of experimentation, learning and bold action.

“Like many countries, Belgium faces budget cuts in international development, and we must now do more—perhaps even more than before-with fewer resources. But I am convinced that innovation is the key to overcoming this challenge. This aligns perfectly with the renewed vision of our new Minister for Development Cooperation, who has placed innovation and digitalization at the heart of our future approach.”

Enabel’s contribution to innovation is already evident. Through the EU-funded WeTeach and Belgium-funded WeLearn projects, it has provided ICT equipment to 20 schools and expanded access to e-learning. To date, over 10,000 Ugandans have been certified through Enabel’s e-learning courses, supported by a WhatsApp-based chatbot for micro-learning. Three mini-innovation hubs have been established in refugee settlements, with more planned in Jinja and Adjumani.  Advanced skills labs are also being set up to enhance health training.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Enabel to kick off the "What If Festival" as a dynamic and thought-provoking activity under Uganda Innovation Week, whose finale will be in October later this year,” said Jean K. Makki, Vice Chairperson of Start-up Uganda. “This festival is more than an event-it’s a celebration of bold ideas, creative risk-taking, and the power of innovation to shape a better future. Our partnership with Enabel reflects our shared commitment to fostering an inclusive and resilient innovation ecosystem for Uganda and beyond,” she added.

Enabel’s continued dedication to innovation across sectors was evident throughout the festival, which served as a testament to the role of partnerships in delivering sustainable, scalable change.  

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