Soroti University Wins Big at National Industry 4.0 Hackathon

In a massive win for “Upcountry” institutions, Soroti University has emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 National Industry 4.0 Hackathon. The competition, which brought together tech teams from 15 universities, was held at the Kampala Serena Hotel to coincide with the launch of the Uganda Sovereign Cloud.

The team from Soroti, comprised of four third-year Computer Engineering students, developed a “Decentralized Water Management System” (DWMS). The system uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to monitor water levels and quality in rural boreholes, sending real-time data to district water officers via a low-cost mobile app.

The judges praised the project for its “immediate community impact” and its alignment with the government’s goal of using technology to improve service delivery in the Karamoja and Teso sub-regions. As the winners, Soroti University received a Shs 50 million innovation grant and a partnership deal with a leading local telecom company to pilot the project in five districts.

“People often think that innovation only happens in Kampala, but we have proven that the sun rises in the East,” said the team leader, Sarah Akello. The Vice-Chancellor of Soroti University noted that this victory is a testament to the university’s focus on “Practical Science,” a core pillar of its founding mission. The win has sparked celebrations across Teso, with local leaders calling for more investment in the university’s engineering labs.