AFRICAN INNOVATION: The sweet lessons of a family’s rotten tomatoes

In 2019, young Ugandan engineer Shifra Ainomugisha established Solafam Uganda Limited, a climate-smart business aimed at addressing the issue of food waste. Each day, Ainomugisha would remove rotten tomatoes from her family's store before selling the fresh ones. This routine became a source of frustration as the majority of the tomatoes were eventually wasted.

The young girl, who was the only female in a tomato-growing family in Ibanda District, western Uganda, soon realized that the losses were connected to her family's poverty. She aspired to find a solution to improve her family's circumstances, sparking the foundation of Solafam Uganda.

Four years later, Ainomugisha was recognized by the Commonwealth as the 2026 Young Person of the Year, for her innovative approach to combating food waste. Her company provides solar-powered cold storage, shared solar irrigation, and an AI advisory service for farmers. Ainomugisha graduated with a degree in renewable energy engineering from Makerere University in Kampala, where she met other farmers who became her colleagues and business partners.

Despite lacking initial capital, they secured support from the Sahara Impact Fund, enabling them to construct a solar-powered cold room from a repurposed shipping container, locally sourced batteries, and solar panels.

The cold storage, while initially reserved for Ainomugisha's father's tomatoes, soon gained the attention of other farmers in her village. The innovation proved effective, extending the shelf life of tomatoes from a few days to up to 21 days, thus allowing farmers to wait for peak seasons for better prices. Solafam grew beyond cold storage, addressing broader challenges such as reliance on rain, lack of buyers, and the need for timely agricultural advice.

To tackle these issues, the company developed shared solar irrigation systems and LYN, an AI-supported service accessible via WhatsApp.

Since its inception, Solafam has expanded its reach to nearly 2,000 farmers, with LYN currently serving a significant portion of them. Ainomugisha maintains a hands-on approach, regularly visiting fields to ensure the systems are functioning properly. The company's ambitions extend beyond Uganda, with plans to expand to Tanzania, Kenya, and other African countries.

The Commonwealth Young Person of the Year award has provided Ainomugisha with increased visibility and access, including opportunities to engage with the Ugandan government—a goal she consistently strived to achieve.