Young innovators shine at World Robot Olympiad

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Over 200 talented students showcased their creativity and technical skills at the World Robot Olympiad, impressing judges and inspiring innovation through robotics competition.

Last Friday, more than 200 young innovators from 20 schools across Uganda lit up the 2025 World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Uganda National Championship with their ingenuity and technical prowess.

Held at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, this vibrant competition featured creative robotics solutions centred on the theme “The Future of Robots.”

The Olympiad serves as Uganda’s national qualifying round for the WRO Global Finals in Singapore this November — marking Uganda’s second year participating in the global robotics arena since joining in 2023.

MTN Uganda, in partnership with Burn Radio Ltd, played a key role in expanding the competition’s reach, focusing on inclusion by engaging students from under-resourced schools.

Through their joint “Bridging the Digital Divide Program,” ten schools from districts such as Bugiri, Gulu, Kalangala, Luweero, Wakiso, and Kampala received robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence training. Remarkably, eight of these schools made their debut at this year’s championship.

Students from different schools showcasing their innovation skills at the recently concluded 2025 World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Uganda National Championship at Nakawa ICT Hub. (Photos By Aloysious Kasoma)

“Many of these schools had never had access to this kind of opportunity. We’ve equipped students and teachers not only with tools but with confidence and exposure. This is inclusion in action,” said Nelson Munyanda, Manager of the MTN Uganda Foundation.

Participating schools included Kasanga Seed Secondary School, Nakasero Primary School, Kitante Primary School, St Andrew Kaggwa’s Secondary School, Horizon PEAS High School, PEAS Town View High School, Bishop Nsubuga Memorial School, and Onwards and Upwards PEAS High School.

The championship aligns with MTN Uganda’s Ambition 2025 strategy, which seeks to accelerate Uganda’s digital transformation through investments in education, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure. It complements ongoing initiatives such as the MTN Skills Academy, MTN ACE, and ICT labs in schools.

The event also reflects the government’s Vision 2040 goal of transforming Uganda into a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, alongside partners including Google, UNECA, and Camden Education Trust, supported this year’s Olympiad.

“This isn’t just about robotics; it’s about preparing a digital-ready workforce. When given access, students quickly adapt, and the implications for Uganda’s innovation pipeline are enormous,” added Munyanda.

Ambrose Ruyooka, Assistant Commissioner for Research and Development at the Ministry of ICT, praised MTN’s support and the overall initiative.

“The Ministry of ICT applauds the organisers and partners for this impactful event. Seeing children from primary and secondary schools develop solutions to real-world challenges is inspiring and a testament to Uganda’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals,” Ruyooka said.

Uganda’s digital skills gap remains a challenge, with less than 10% of rural students having access to computers or ICT training, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. MTN Uganda’s investment, while modest, could set a precedent for future public-private partnerships aimed at empowering youth with critical digital skills.