Mak-CoCIS Students Win Africa 2024 Marketplace Simulation Award

Conference Organisers, Sponsors, and the Makerere University team

Undergraduate students from Makerere University’s College of Computing and Information Sciences (CoCIS) have emerged as the best performers in the 2024 Marketplace Simulations, held during the AFRIC2024 Conference in Alexandria, Egypt, from November 4-15, 2024.

The winning team, consisting of fourth-year Software Engineering students Fortunate Tusiime Agnes and Nampera Elisha, alongside third-year Computer Science student Atuhaire Ronnie, was led by Dr. Swaibu Kyanda Kaawaase, the Head of the Department of Networks. Their success has secured them a fully-funded trip to the United States next year to participate in the UN Convention on Climate Change.

Group Photo of Conference Organizers and some of the conference participants.

The 10-day competition tasked participants with integrating entrepreneurship, innovation, and climate change into a simulated business environment. The Makerere team excelled with their project, Kakati Fit Bikes, a concept emphasizing the urgency of climate action. Kakati, derived from Luganda, translates to “now,” signifying immediate action against climate challenges.

The Best Performance Certificate awarded o Kakati Fit Bikes

The simulation tool, widely used in prestigious institutions like Oxford and MIT, challenged participants to model a business environment. Makerere’s innovative approach outperformed competitors from countries including Kenya, Niger, Egypt, and Ghana.

The workshop was organized by Marketplace and the University of Senghor under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Mahamadou Biga-Diambedou. The team’s participation was made possible through sponsorships: Prof. Tonny Oyana, Principal of CoCIS, funded their air tickets, while their accommodation and meals in Egypt were covered by Prof. Ernest R. Cadotte.

Prof. Cadotte, an Emeritus Professor of Innovative Learning at the University of Tennessee, has spent over three decades developing business simulation tools used by over a million students and professionals globally. His Marketplace family of simulations has become a cornerstone in business education, fostering innovation and real-world problem-solving skills.

From Left to Right: Nampera Elisha, Atuhaire Ronnie, Prof. Ernest R. Cadotte, Fortunate Tusiime Agnes, and Dr. Swaibu Kyanda Kaawaase who led the team to the conference pose for a photo upon emerging winners.

The Makerere team’s victory not only highlights the university’s academic excellence but also underscores Uganda’s potential to lead in innovation and climate action on the global stage.