Ugandan entrepreneur Shifra Ainomugisha has been named the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year after developing innovative AI farming solutions that are helping smallholder farmers reduce post-harvest losses, improve productivity and increase household incomes.

Ainomugisha received the prestigious award at the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards in London, where she was selected from nearly 1,000 applicants representing the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries. She was also recognised as the Africa regional winner for Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

The inspiration behind her award-winning enterprise, Solafam Uganda Ltd, came from personal experience. Growing up on her family’s tomato farm in western Uganda, she witnessed nearly half of each harvest spoil before it could reach the market due to inadequate storage facilities and limited access to modern farming support.

Determined to address the challenge, Ainomugisha established Solafam Uganda, a social enterprise that combines solar-powered technology with artificial intelligence to help farmers minimise losses and improve profitability.

The company’s first solution is a solar-powered cold storage system that extends the shelf life of fresh produce, allowing farmers to store crops safely and avoid selling immediately after harvest when market prices are often lower.

Solafam also provides solar-powered irrigation systems that reduce dependence on expensive diesel pumps while enabling farmers to irrigate crops more efficiently throughout the year, improving production even during dry periods.

Complementing these technologies is Lean AI, a WhatsApp-based digital advisory platform that delivers real-time guidance on crop production, irrigation scheduling, pest management, harvesting practices and market opportunities. The platform gives farmers timely information to make better production and marketing decisions using a familiar communication channel.

According to Solafam, farmers participating in the programme have reduced post-harvest losses by approximately 30% while increasing household incomes by nearly 28%, demonstrating how digital innovation can strengthen agricultural productivity and food security.

Although the business currently operates primarily in Uganda, its model is attracting attention as a scalable solution for smallholder farmers across Africa. The company is also expanding access by adapting its advisory platform to operate through USSD technology, enabling farmers without smartphones or internet access to receive essential agricultural information using basic mobile phones.

Ainomugisha’s recognition highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence and renewable energy in transforming African agriculture. By addressing food waste, improving farm productivity and expanding access to agricultural knowledge, her work demonstrates how technology can empower smallholder farmers while contributing to more resilient and sustainable food systems across the continent.