Applications are open for the  Uganda Climate Innovation Challenge (UCIC) 2026 inviting young innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, creatives, startups and solution developers across Uganda to submit ideas and enterprises addressing climate and environmental challenges.

The national challenge is designed to identify and support promising youth-led solutions that can contribute to Uganda’s transition towards a resilient, circular and low-carbon economy. Participants will have opportunities to strengthen their ideas through evaluation, training, incubation, mentorship and connections with potential investors and partners.

About the Challenge

UCIC 2026 aims to strengthen Uganda’s climate innovation ecosystem by combining creativity, technology, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

The programme will support innovations that respond to challenges such as climate change, waste management, energy access, land degradation, food insecurity, biodiversity loss and sustainable livelihoods.

The initiative will also use creative arts and storytelling to make climate information more accessible and encourage communities to take action.

Challenge Themes

Applicants can submit solutions under the following areas:

1. Climate Art and Storytelling

This category supports creative approaches to climate communication, including documentary films, animation, podcasts, climate journalism, photography, community theatre, music, digital storytelling, indigenous storytelling, exhibitions and climate education tools.

2. Circular Economy

Solutions should focus on reducing waste, improving resource efficiency and developing green businesses. Areas of interest include plastic recycling, waste-to-value enterprises, black soldier fly innovations, waste densification, textile circularity, green packaging and other circular economy solutions.

3. Clean Energy Innovation

UCIC will support innovations that improve access to affordable and sustainable energy. This includes solar technologies, clean cooking, battery and energy-storage solutions, e-mobility and productive applications of renewable energy in agriculture, manufacturing and small businesses.

4. E-Mobility

Innovations may include electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, battery technologies, smart mobility platforms and other solutions that support low-carbon transportation and sustainable urban development.

5. Circular Regenerative Agriculture

This theme focuses on solutions that improve soil health, biodiversity, food security and climate resilience. Eligible ideas may include regenerative agriculture, composting, biofertilizers, agroecology, water-efficient technologies, organic waste valorisation and circular agricultural value chains.

Incubation and Innovation Summit

Promising innovators will progress to an intensive two-week incubation programme focused on turning ideas into scalable and investment-ready enterprises.

The programme will culminate in a National Innovation Summit, bringing together innovators, investors, policymakers, academics, development partners and private-sector actors.

The summit is expected to feature an innovation exhibition, pitch competition, investor marketplace, policy discussions, innovation awards and a climate storytelling festival.

Awards and Funding

According to the programme information, UCIC expects to train 100 innovators virtually and incubate 20 enterprises.

The challenge will also award six outstanding entrepreneurs, with a total UGX 37 million micro-grant pool to be shared among the winners.

The programme aims to facilitate additional investment and strategic partnerships that can help promising climate enterprises grow beyond the challenge.

Application Process

The challenge follows several stages:

Phase 1: National Call for Applications

Phase 2: Screening and Evaluation

Phase 3: Selection of promising climate innovations

Phase 4: Two-week intensive incubation

Phase 5: National Innovation Summit

Applications will be assessed based on factors including innovation, climate impact, commercial viability, scalability, inclusiveness, technical feasibility and contribution to circular economy principles.

Focus: Climate innovation, clean energy, circular economy, e-mobility, regenerative agriculture, forestry, biodiversity, art and climate storytelling
Support: Training, incubation, mentorship, advisory services, networking and potential micro-grant funding

The information provided does not state a specific application deadline.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity.