Total Uganda awards top innovators

De-Loppinot hands over a dummy cheque to Samuel Mallinga. Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu
                                         

Total Uganda head Florentin De-Loppinot, has re-echoed the importance of entrepreneurs being mentored, exposed and given the right contacts to run sustainable businesses.

This as Total Uganda handed over sh65m to the winner of its ‘Startupper' of the year Total challenge, initiated last year.

Samuel Malinga founder and Consultant at Sanitation Africa Limited, overall winner of the challenge was handed a cheque at the Total Uganda headquarters in Kampala.

It follows his completion of a mentorship program undertaken at Makerere University Business School.

Sanitation Africa Limited was recognized and supported to expand its horizon for introducing environmentally friendly and affordable toilet solutions for rural and slum dwellings in the country.

De-Loppinot, the managing director, Total Uganda, said it is important for entrepreneurs to be exposed, well trained and have the right contacts to run a sustainable business.

Total Uganda received over 190 entries for the ‘Startupper' challenge which aimed to identify, reward and accompany the best projects in enterprise creation less than two years.

Selection of the best projects was based on how innovative, original and daring the project is.

Also considered was the development potential and capacity of the project to improve the living conditions of the populations.

With a jury of highly skilled personnel, 10 top project ideas were selected among which seven got recognition for the ideas while the three received cash prizes.

Malinga came top receiving a cash prize of sh65m.  Second was Arthur Woniala foundering Khainza Energy who got sh45m while Gloria Nakyejwe Kalyango of Eco technologies got sh25m.