Ugandan entrepreneur Shifra Ainomugisha has been named the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year, earning international recognition for using solar-powered technology and artificial intelligence to transform agriculture and improve the livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers.
The prestigious award was presented during the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony in London on June 25, where government representatives, diplomats, youth leaders and development partners gathered to celebrate young people driving sustainable development across the Commonwealth.
Ainomugisha is the founder and chief executive of Solafam Uganda Limited, an agri-tech social enterprise that provides solar-powered cold storage and irrigation systems powered by artificial intelligence. Her innovations have helped farmers reduce post-harvest losses, improve productivity and strengthen resilience against climate change.
Raised in a tomato-farming family, Ainomugisha said her childhood experiences inspired her mission. Watching crops spoil because of inadequate storage facilities and poor market access motivated her to develop practical solutions for farming communities. She also said growing up in a patriarchal society encouraged her to challenge stereotypes and pursue entrepreneurship.
Since launching Solafam in 2022, the enterprise has reached more than 1,500 smallholder farmers, with women making up 70 percent of its beneficiaries. According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, the initiative has reduced post-harvest losses by 30 percent while increasing household incomes by 28 percent.
Presenting the award, Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey praised all finalists for their leadership and innovation.
“My congratulations to you all finalists. You are already winners. To be selected from across 56 nations is a testament to your courage and your creativity. You embody the very best of our family. You have shown resilience in the face of challenge and innovation in the face of constraint,” she said.
She added that the awards were about building momentum for youth-led development across the Commonwealth.
“Today is not about recognition alone — it is about momentum. It is not about isolated excellence — it is about collective advancement. Together, we will continue to strengthen the Commonwealth Youth Programme as a flagship vehicle for youth development in the Commonwealth.”
Ainomugisha also secured the Africa Regional Award, bringing her total prize money to £5,000.
Visibly emotional after receiving the award, she dedicated the recognition to the farming communities she serves.
“I am honoured to be named the 2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year. This recognition is not only personal but also represents the farmers and communities in Uganda whom we serve. It also affirms that solutions built from lived experience can create real impact. I cannot wait to continue this journey with the support of the Commonwealth and its remarkable network of partners,” she said.
The Commonwealth Youth Awards recognise outstanding changemakers aged between 15 and 29 who are advancing sustainable development through innovative grassroots initiatives. Since their inception, the awards have invested more than £400,000 in youth-led enterprises, benefiting over 12 million people, creating more than 4,250 jobs, and contributing to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Women-led initiatives have received 40 percent of the programme’s funding.
Regional winners
- Asia: Bushra Mahnoor (Pakistan), recognised for promoting affordable menstrual hygiene products for women and adolescent girls.
- Caribbean: Moesha Allen (Jamaica), honoured for tackling school violence in vulnerable communities.
- Europe and Canada: Justin Huang (Canada), recognised for leading an AI-powered ocean conservation initiative using open-source satellite imagery to monitor marine pollution.
- Pacific: Aileen Zuhukepe (Papua New Guinea), awarded for improving early breast cancer detection among rural women.
Communications award launched
This year’s ceremony also introduced the inaugural Patsy Robertson Award for Outstanding Communications Skills, sponsored by the Commonwealth Association to honour the late Patsy Robertson, a former Director of Communications at the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Maria Maina of Kenya won the award for advancing gender equality through Social Justice Insights, a digital platform that uses research, advocacy and storytelling to educate young people about gender-based violence, femicide and women’s rights.
She received £1,000, a trophy and a certificate. The five other finalists—Fawaz Adebisi, Felicity Akwa, Maddy Nicholl, Sawyedul Amin and Tina Afiqah—will receive complimentary membership in the Commonwealth Journalists Association.
More than 970 entries were submitted for this year’s awards, with 20 finalists shortlisted before judges selected five regional winners and the overall Commonwealth Young Person of the Year. Each finalist will receive £1,000, a certificate and a trophy to support their ongoing work.
