TotalEnergies awards top clean energy proposals 

The Hackathon competition conducted by Outbox Uganda on behalf of TotalEnergies saw more than 400 Ugandans between the ages of 18 and 45 submit their applications to participate in the competition, which ran from July to September 2023.

After initial evaluation of all submissions, a shortlist of 16 teams, each comprising of four members, were selected, and tasked to propose innovative ideas using data provided on Kampala City’s roads, electricity and traffic networks.

The teams also received mentorship and coaching to refine their ideas before presenting them to a panel of judges. The proposals were assessed based on several criteria such as innovativeness of the teams’ ideas, team composition, presentation and business fit. The top four made it to the final shortlist.

During the award ceremony at Golden Tulip hotel recently, Team TBKN, the winner, received a cash prize of Shs 18.5 million. The team used artificial intelligence and an online map-based system to create a tool that locates electrical vehicle charging locations in Kampala.

Team ISBAT University came second and received a cash prize of Shs 11.1 million. Its idea combined python programming and geospatial analysis to create a sustainable and accessible network of electric vehicle charging points in Kampala, and also promotes the adoption of electric vehicles and minimizes disruptions to the city’s infrastructure.

Tying in the third position was team Data Knight and team Shalom which both received Shs 3.7 million.

“Addressing today’s carbon neutrality challenge requires a collective focus on innovation. In Uganda, the company is part of the energy cluster on e-mobility think tank and is supporting innovation in line with e-mobility,” Philippe Grouex, the general manager of Total Energies EP Uganda, said.

“The company has for instance implemented this e-mobility revolution hackathon challenge to provide the youths with a platform to propose innovative ideas that can facilitate e-mobility in Kampala. This is also in line with our company pillar of youth inclusion,” he added.