Top Uganda’s 2025 pacesetters awarded at the 6th Trendsetter Forum

On 31^st July 2025, the 6^th Trendsetters Forum & awards gala was held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala, championed by Yvonne Mpanga, the Executive Director of Business Trends Galore, a Business Development Consultant, together with partners.

The event, according to organizers, seeks to recognize, promote business trends that are shaping society in its current form. 

The theme of this year’s forum was: “Innovations with Hyper Business Intelligence and Environmental Social Governance (ESG)”

During the forum and award moment, various trendsetters were awarded for their excellent contribution to Uganda and their impact to society in many ways. 

Winners, partners take group picture

Notable award winners included The Executive Director of Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), Hon. Nyomb Tembo, who received the Public Sector Award, Dr. Lily Ajarova former Boss of Uganda Tourism Board, received the Trends hero award for 2 years, Joanita Mukasa Menya, the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Uganda, Martin Oscar Kintu from CBS received the lifetime award, Kasole Bwererre from Mbale, Dr. Abraham Kadunabi, Victoria University’s Vice Chancellor, Lawrence Muganga, for transforming the university with education innovations such as new study session, among others.

Yvonne Mpanga during an interview

 Yvonne Mpanga highlighted that the criteria for selecting the award winners were determined by the public who were nominating their candidates, depending on inspirations based on quality, trainability and transcendence of the trendsetters’ contributions to society. 

The UCC Boss Hon Nyombi Tembo, after receiving the award for his excellent service delivery in innovating for transformation and impact said that under his tenure, more Ugandans have accessed mobile phones, internet, and a tremendous digital transformation, which he said is attributed to the regulatory framework, which has shifted from enforcement to facilitation to innovations in Uganda.

“UCC regulates a sector that touches every life in Uganda, we have moved from enforcement to facilitation to avoid stifling innovations. Business and communication go hand in hand. With about 45 SIM cards in use and an internet penetration at 65%, the telecom sector is touching every aspect of life” he said

Jonathan Light, a Life Development Coach, delivered a powerful speech on the relevancy of considering ESG while growing businesses where he urged business leaders to re-evaluate the ecosystem around their business if they are to scale up sustainably.

“Now is the time to re-evaluate the ecosystems around your business, your people, systems, values, and leadership culture, and ask yourself: Is it worthy of the future you're aiming for? Whether you lead a startup, a boardroom, or a government office, remember: transformation begins with what you choose to govern today” he said

He added that “Don’t just scale your footprint, deepen your dent. Revisit your current space and saturate it with excellence, traceable impact, and intentional growth. Let your enterprise become a reference point for sustainable innovation and ethical execution”

Mr. Innocent Kawooya the CEO of Hipipo pledged continued support to annual Trendsetter forum to boost innovations and opportunities while investing in capacity building for Ugandans to utilize digital solutions as enablers of business.

“21 years with Hipipo is a true achievement, we need to support innovations in an ecosystem to create opportunities to build initiatives” he said

He called upon other partners to join hands with Trendsetters forum annually to support the society to acquire knowledge, learn how to save and invest in innovations. In his message to mark the World Fintech Day 2025 he said that “We envision how technology, industry, innovation, and infrastructure can serve as sustainable rails for improving the quality of life for billions across the globe. FinTech holds the power to create decent work, drive economic growth, and lift every world citizen, especially women and youth, from extreme poverty into prosperity”

The partners of the Trendsetters that exhibited and made remarks included: Broston Canadian Academy, Nyumba Relief, Leap Publishers, Reportage Properties Uganda, Olsights among others.