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MTN MoMo, MTN Uganda, Centenary Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank emerged as the biggest winners at the 2025 Digital Impact Awards Africa. Held on 14th November at the Kampala Serena Hotel as part of the broader Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit, the event once again celebrated outstanding digital innovation and financial inclusion efforts across the region.

MTN retained top honors, taking home Diamond for Digital Brand of the Year, Financial Services Digital Excellence, Technology Services Digital Excellence and CEO of the Year. Centenary Bank secured Digital Brand of the Year – Gold, Banking Innovation Excellence – Gold, and Community/MFI Banking Excellence – Diamond while Standard Chartered Bank clinched Digital Banking Excellence – Diamond and CEO of the Year – Gold.

This year also featured three special categories recognizing individuals who have over the years consistently advanced digital communication and marketing in both the public and private sectors. National Water and Sewerage Corporation’s John Fisher Sekabira won Public Sector Digital Communications Champion, Standard Chartered Bank’s Cynthia Mpanga received the Digital Corporate Affairs Visionary of the Decade award, and Centenary Bank’s Micheal Bulyerali was honored as the Outstanding Digital Marketing Trailblazer.

While delivering her Guest of Honour remarks, Owek. Hon. Joyce Nabosa Sebugwawo, the State Minister for ICT, noted that the original vision of HiPipo and CyberPLC; set more than a decade ago was bold yet clear: to champion digital innovation, FinTech growth, and financial inclusion across the continent. She affirmed that HiPipo and her partners have ‘walked the talk’ and continue to shape digital and financial inclusion conversations across Africa.

“These accomplishments in the digital domain are proof of the effectiveness of partnership and collaboration. The efforts of HiPipo and its collaborators have been enhanced by the invaluable support of the Gates Foundation, various government bodies, and regional entities, including COMESA Business Council (CBC). Collectively, they have incited a surge of digital excellence that has encompassed the most influential actors in FinTech innovation and the largest corporations in banking and telecommunications.”

Private Sector Foundation of Uganda (PSFU) Vice Chair and SoftPower Communications CEO, Sarah Kagingo, applauded the winners and reiterated PSFU’s commitment to supporting technology-driven transformation in Uganda. She challenged innovators to leverage emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to drive last-mile inclusion.

HiPipo CEO, Innocent Kawooya highlighted that his organization’s impact across Uganda and East Africa has attracted broader regional interest, informing the decision to expand the Include EveryOne program within the COMESA bloc; beginning with Zambia and Malawi, with more countries to follow.

He noted that beyond celebrating excellence, HiPipo has this year delivered practical digital and financial literacy trainings to last-mile communities. In Zambia and Malawi alone, the team has supported over 5,000 women cross-border traders, trained hundreds at Elegu Border Post, and engaged more than 200 digital and financial inclusion organizations.

The Digital and Financial Inclusion Summit lived up to its billing and hype with representation from over 50 organizations, up to 25 speakers and over 1000 physical and online attendees.

Here is the complete list of the 2025 Digital Impact Awards Africa (#DIAA2025) Winners.

Certificates

Commendation for Holistic Ride-Hailing Services

Ride Now

Commendation for Sustainable Energy & Fuel Distribution

TotalEnergies

Commendation for Excellent Personal and Home Technology.

Blacklyf

Commendation for Democratizing Cars’ Ownership

Ayyan Motors

Commendation for Democratizing Motorbikes’ Ownership.

Spiro Uganda

Accolades.

Special Awards and Recognition

Public Sector Digital Communications Champion – John Fisher Sekabira

Digital Corporate Affairs Visionary of the Decade – Cynthia Mpanga

Digital Marketing Trailblazer of the Year – Micheal Bulyerali

Financial Inclusion Excellence.

Pride Bank – Diamond

ClinicPesa – Gold

Digital Banking Excellence.

Standard Chartered Bank – Diamond

Centenary Bank – Gold 

Banking Innovation Excellence.

PDM digitisation by WENDI Digital Wallet / Pearl Bank – Diamond

QuickTeller Agents Partnership by Interswitch and Centenary Bank – Gold

Community/MFI Banking Excellence.

Centenary Bank – Diamond

Pearl Bank – Gold

FinTech Start-up of the Year.

Paytota – Diamond

Fido – Gold

FinTech of the Year.

Jumo – Diamond

School Pay – Gold

Financial Services Digital Excellence.

MTN MoMo – Diamond

Interswitch – Gold

Consumer Goods and Services Digital Excellence.

Jude Color Solutions – Diamond

Movit Products Limited – Gold

Utilities and Government Services Digital Excellence.

NWSC – Diamond

Technology Services Digital Excellence

MTN Uganda – Diamond

DHS Africa – Gold

CEO of the Year (DFS).

Richard Yego – MTN MoMo – Diamond

Sanjay Rughani – Standard Chartered Bank – Gold

Digital Brand of the Year.

1. MTN Uganda and MTN MoMo – Diamond
2. Centenary Bank – Gold

Uganda’s Vice President, Her Excellency Maj. Jessica Alupo, has today launched the country’s first Single-Origin Coffee Franchise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Located at the heart of Riyadh, Nonda Coffee Shop and Roastery marks a historic milestone in Uganda’s coffee journey, bringing the country’s finest single-origin beans to the global stage. The shop will serve premium Ugandan coffee to a cosmopolitan audience of residents, business travellers, and millions of international visitors who frequent Saudi Arabia for commerce, pilgrimage, tourism, and investment. It is the first among many to be rolled out across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  

In her remarks, Hon. Alupo noted that the launch of the Nonda Coffee Shop and Roastery in Saudi Arabia marks a significant milestone for Uganda, as it not only opens up new markets for Ugandan coffee but also creates employment opportunities for Ugandans and inspires smallholder farmers to scale up into commercial production.

“I would like to extend my appreciation to Nonda Commodities and Ingazi group for this initiative. In Uganda, we have four sectors where there are jobs and wealth. These are Commercial Agriculture; Industry/Manufacturing; Services and ICT. Our being in this boardroom is a clear message that the government and people of Saudi Arabia have enabled us to exploit two of these key sectors at ago. That is commercial Agriculture and Industry/Manufacturing because the coffee we are talking about here is processed but also comes from farmers,” she said, adding:

“In Uganda today, 33% of households are still outside the money economy. One of the interventions that government is making is capturing all those households to join the money economy. So, our being here again is very fundamental because we are going to reduce the number of those 33% households outside the money economy as many will join commercial agriculture. We shall also have access to other destinations including China.”

The launch is part of Nonda Coffee’s “Value-at-Source Project,” implemented in partnership with the Saudi-based investment firm Ingazi Group International. The initiative seeks to elevate Uganda’s coffee value chain by deepening processing and branding capacity at origin; ensuring more value remains within the producing communities.

The other key initiative being undertaken under this partnership is the Luwero Coffee Park, which upon completion will process up to 35,000 metric tons of coffee per year, making it one of the largest coffee value addition centers in the country.

“Uganda will soon host a ground-breaking ceremony of the Luwero Coffee Park; a flagship facility that will anchor Africa’s largest coffee processing and value addition plant. The Value-at-Source project championed by Nonda Commodities and Ingazi Group is a shining example of the Uganda-Saudi Arabia Cooperation. So, as we celebrate these milestones, may every cup of Nonda Coffee remind us of our friendship, opportunity and shared future between our two countries,” Hon. Alupo noted.

According to Mr. Tonny Miiro Kibuuka, CEO of Nonda Commodities Ltd, the parent company of Nonda Coffee, this project has the potential to employ thousands of Ugandans and unlock new international opportunities. He emphasized that as the first Ugandan company to secure both an Investment License and a Commercial Registration License from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nonda Coffee is collaborating with like-minded partners to build a future where Uganda’s coffee is globally celebrated while driving prosperity at home.

“Through the Value-at-Source Project, we are spearheading coffee value development, addition, claim, and consolidation. By building win-win partnerships, we are creating dignified and sustainable livelihoods for players across the Coffee Value chain. Our mission goes beyond producing premium, market-ready Ugandan coffee. We are laying the foundation for rural job creation, industrial linkages, and inclusive economic participation that empower communities and strengthen Uganda’s position in the global coffee industry,” he said.

The Value-at-Source Project comes amid record growth in Uganda’s coffee sector. National production rose from 7.8 million 60-kg bags in FY 2022/23 to 8.2 million bags in FY 2023/24, while export earnings jumped from USD 845 million to USD 1.144 billion during the same period, underscoring Uganda’s rising stature as one of the world’s most consistent coffee producers.

Even so, greater investment in value addition remains essential if Uganda is to fully harness the economic potential of its coffee. As such, the success of Nonda Coffee in Riyadh will reflect Uganda’s broader ambition to expand global market access, promote value addition at source, and strengthen South–South investment partnerships anchored on innovation, dignity, and shared prosperity.

For nearly two decades, HiPipo has been on the frontline of championing digital financial inclusion through its flagship Include Everyone Program.

At the 29th Mojaloop Community meeting (MojaCom 29) held in Nairobi, Kenya, the HiPipo team led a critical conversation on the importance of last-mile interventions in advancing Inclusive Instant Payment Systems (IIPS), systems designed to make digital payments accessible to everyone, everywhere.

Under the theme “From Borders to Boardrooms: Advancing Women, Trade and Inclusion,” the team shared inspiring real-life examples from Zambia and Malawi, where over 4,000 women cross-border traders have been trained in digital and financial literacy. These traders are now confidently using digital financial services to manage and grow their businesses.

HiPipo’s Chief Operations Officer, Nicholas Kalungi, emphasized that in collaboration with the COMESA Business Council (CBC) and other regional stakeholders, HiPipo has spent the past year laying the groundwork to make IIPS the backbone of regional integration.

“Through HiPipo’s Include Everyone Program, we are building readiness on the ground, equipping FinTechs, empowering women innovators, and supporting cross-border traders,” Nicholas said.

“For me, this is proof that policy, infrastructure, and community preparedness must work hand-in-hand. That is the only way to sustain adoption and unlock the full economic transformation that IIPS can deliver.”

HiPipo CEO Innocent Kawooya urged innovators to look beyond the technology and see the human impact of inclusion.

“When we talk about inclusive instant payment systems, we must see beyond the pipes and platforms,” Innocent said.

“For me, IIPS is the last-mile hook; the moment where technology becomes dignity for a mother trader, where a safe transaction translates into food security, and where inclusion turns into health, wealth, and opportunity. At HiPipo, our mission has always been to ensure these systems serve people, not just institutions. That is the future we must fight for together.”

HiPipo’s FinTech Events Manager Charlotte Neeza highlighted the organization’s sustained investment in nurturing innovators through initiatives such as 40 Days 40 FinTechs and Women in FinTech. Over the years, these programs have empowered more than 500 and 300 organizations and innovators to design localized and gender-intentional solutions that address real-world challenges.

“Inclusion means that women innovators and cross-border traders can see themselves in the digital economy, not as outsiders looking in, but as leaders shaping its future,” she said.

Meanwhile, Joseph Kimbowa, HiPipo’s Chief Content Officer, revealed that among participants in the 2025 Include Everyone Project in Zambia and Malawi, 68% of FinTechs reported developing gender-intentional products as a direct result of HiPipo’s support. HiPipo recognizes that persistent barriers, especially those faced by women, continue to slow the realization of fully inclusive payment systems. Our ongoing advocacy and training efforts aim to close these gaps and build the confidence and capability needed for everyone to participate in the digital economy.

“From our work in Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, and other COMESA countries, we see that the biggest challenges are not just technical; they’re about trust, identity, and access,” noted Doreen Nanfuka, HiPipo’s Senior Programs Officer.

“Many merchants still operate informally, which complicates KYB and onboarding processes. Payment providers each have different compliance steps, and cross-border inconsistencies make it even harder. This slows down the adoption of instant payments among the very groups who need them most.”

As the digital economy continues to grow across Africa, HiPipo remains steadfast in its mission to ensure Inclusive Instant Payment Systems become not just technological tools, but instruments of dignity, equality, and economic transformation for all.