Ugandan innovator and entrepreneur, Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, has made her mark on the African technology industry by being announced as the winner of the Forbes Woman Africa Youth Icon Award.
The 26-year-old founder and Executive Director of Chil Artificial Intelligence Lab was recognised for her company’s pioneering work in mobile cancer screening, at a function held in South Africa on Wednesday.
The Forbes Woman Africa Awards are designed to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and resilience of women throughout Africa and the world.
As a young female entrepreneur, Nabuuma’s victory highlights the tenacity and determination required to succeed in a male-dominated industry. In her acceptance speech, she said, “I have faced so much opposition, but this award goes out to all women to show that they can do it.”
Nabuuma is also the co-founder of Solerchil Technologies, trading as CHIL Food Center, a company that produces solar-powered cold chain technology to help farmers and vendors to safely preserve unsold food. Her work in this area has been crucial in supporting local farmers and vendors to protect their produce and reduce waste.
Nabuuma’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. The Forbes Woman Africa Youth Icon Award is a recognition of her work and the impact it is having on the African community. She expressed her gratitude to Forbes Africa, saying, “Thank you so much to my team and the board for always believing in me.”
Nabuuma’s achievement is a testament to the potential for Ugandan women to succeed in the technology industry. Her victory is a reminder to all young women that they can make a significant impact and effect change in their communities.
Other Forbes Woman Africa Awards Winners
Other winners at the function included Salima Mukansanga, who was named the Forbes Woman Africa Sports Award winner. Mukansanga is a Rwandan female referee who has broken barriers in a male-dominated industry, having featured at the 2022 World Cup that transpired in Qatar.
The Forbes Woman Africa Technology and Innovation Award went to Funmi Adewara, a UK-based physician and Cambridge trained bioscience entrepreneur of Nigerian heritage, who is the founder of Mobihealth International.
Meanwhile, Michaela Mycroft received the Forbes Woman Africa Young Achievers Award 2023.
