Innocent Kawooya, CEO of HiPipo, has solidified his position as a prominent figure in the digital and financial inclusion sectors on the African continent, one year after being bestowed the Diamond Jubilee National Independence Medal by President Museveni.
The projects that Kawooya has launched demonstrate his belief in the potential of inclusive financial systems to level the economic playing field, rather than viewing them as a luxury good. With its Include Everyone Program, HiPipo has established itself as a platform that brings together regulators, telcos, innovators, bankers, entrepreneurs, and multilateral partners in the digital economy.
The effect is quantifiable: Forty Days Forty FinTechs has highlighted 250+ pioneers from more than seven African nations. The Airtel Open API Project and MTN MoMo Uganda’s API-as-a-Service were both accelerated by highlighting innovators. Grassroots programs have educated thousands of people about digital and financial literacy. To promote financial inclusion and interoperability, HiPipo has established itself as a reliable ecosystem facilitator.
Supplementing digital financial inclusion, Kawooya’s next innovation pillar, the Solar M7 renewable energy initiative, addresses the most basic barrier: access to electricity. Digital engagement is not feasible without reliable electricity.
Clean energy is now available 24/7 to more than 1,200 homes thanks to the 100 Days of Solar program, which eliminated the need for diesel generators and kerosene while saving 1,850 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. In 5 years, they want to reach 5 million households.
Through a collaboration with the COMESA Business Council, HiPipo is expanding its work regionally to empower women merchants, an essential segment of Africa’s informal economy, and to facilitate interoperable digital payments across borders.
Kawooya has solidified its position as a model for successful digital transformation strategies in Africa by winning two consecutive FinTech CEO of the Year – MEA awards (2024 & 2025) and earning worldwide acclaim for HiPipo’s leadership in financial inclusion.
The true storyline? No longer are outside forces driving Africa’s FinTech boom. He and other pioneers like him have turned it into a homegrown phenomenon.
