Roke Telkom Joins the Industry 4.0+ Hackathon Launch as a Partner on the Road to Uganda’s Sovereign Cloud Unveil

Roke Telkom, a home-grown telecommunications and cloud solutions provider, has today announced its partnership in the industry 4.0+ Hackathon, officially launched by the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat in the Office of the President (STI-OP). The Hackathon, the first of its kind in the country, will run throughout September and will culminate at the unveiling of Uganda’s Sovereign Cloud Platform (ABQ) on 2^nd October 2025.

The Hackathon is part of Uganda’s ambitious Industry 4.0+ agenda, a national strategy designed to drive the country’s transition into smart manufacturing, deep technology, cloud services, and blockchain-driven solutions.

While speaking at the launch, David Gonahasa, Team Lead of the Industry 4.0+ Bureau, said, “Industry 4.0+ is about creating the next frontier of Uganda’s industrial revolution. We want to ensure that our young people, researchers, and innovators have the tools and platforms to turn ideas into tangible solutions that drive economic growth.”

As a partner, Roke Telkom is playing an instrumental role in ensuring that innovators imagine solutions and also have the tools to bring them to life. The company is providing technical support, mentorship, and connectivity that will anchor the Hackathon and create a solid bridge between ideas and real-world deployment.

“As a Ugandan company, we are proud to be part of the journey towards a digital, innovation-led economy. Our role in the Hackathon, and in powering the upcoming ABQ and Sovereign Cloud unveil, is to ensure that innovators have the infrastructure, secure platforms, and connectivity needed to bring their ideas to life,” said Timothy Mugyenyi, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Impact, Roke Telkom.

The ABQ, which is scheduled to be unveiled on 2^nd October 2025, will provide a blockchain-powered platform that enhances trust, transparency, and accountability across sectors. From government services to enterprise operations and individual digital transactions, ABQ is designed to localize and secure Africa’s digital economy.

Eric Mugerwa, CTO of ABQ, emphasized its significance, “ABQ is Africa’s opportunity to redefine trust in the digital economy. By localizing blockchain infrastructure here in Uganda, we are ensuring that our data, transactions, and innovations remain secure, verifiable, and under African control.”

For Roke Telkom, this partnership aligns with its mission of expanding access to cutting-edge digital infrastructure and creating opportunities for Ugandans to harness technology for growth. By supporting the Hackathon, Roke Telkom reaffirms its position at the heart of Uganda’s digital transformation journey of championing innovation, strengthening connectivity, and preparing the country for a future where data sovereignty and local innovation drive progress.

This initiative has attracted the support of several partners alongside Roke Telkom, reflecting a growing coalition of stakeholders committed to building digital sovereignty for Uganda and the wider region. Together, the Hackathon, Sovereign Cloud, and ABQ are part of a synchronized strategy to build a resilient, knowledge-driven economy, with Uganda positioning itself as a continental leader in deep technology and digital infrastructure.

Over the course of the Hackathon, participants will move through mentorship clinics, a 72-hour rapid development sprint, and final pitches before a panel of expert judges. The winners will receive over UGX 46 million in prizes and support, including cash awards, one year of free internet, ABQ cloud hosting credits, and incubation at the Deep Tech Centre of Excellence. By the time ABQ is launched in October, Uganda will already have a pipeline of innovations ready to scale on the new national cloud infrastructure.

Roke Telkom is a Ugandan-based telecommunications Company that has been fully licensed by the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) since 2006, as a Public Service Provider (capacity resale, voice and data), and a Public Infrastructure Provider.