Ugandan founder named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year for AI farm tech

Ugandan technology entrepreneur Shifra Ainomugisha has been named the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year for developing AI and solar-powered agricultural technologies designed to reduce post-harvest losses, improve food security and strengthen the resilience of Africa’s smallholder farmers. The award, presented during the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards in London, recognized Ainomugisha’s work through Solafam Uganda Ltd., a social enterprise that combines solar-powered cold storage, renew