Wenepaida Hellen
Nkumba University’s Bro Code Labs rose to the 1st runners-up position during the National Hackathon hosted by Makerere University on 26th May 2025, winning a 1 million Ugandan shillings cash prize.
The Bro Code Labs team, comprising Ezra, Ken, Dickson, and Daniel from the School of Computing and Informatics, impressed judges with their innovative Artificial Intelligence project, LingoMeet.
LingoMeet is designed to improve online learning by providing tools such as automatic note-taking, live translation and transcription of speech, in-class polls for student feedback, and smart scheduling for lectures. According to Jjemba Emmanuel, the president of Computing and Informatics Society (CITS) and a former Google Developer Student Clubs leader, “LingoMeet is more than just another educational platform. It’s a big step forward in how we approach online learning.”
The Hackathon, organized by the Google Developer Group (GDG), brought together students from over 10 universities across Uganda. The event focused on finding technology solutions for real-life problems based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Jjemba, who also served as the campus coordinator for the AIfest event at Nkumba, praised the team’s efforts, saying, “We’re excited to use our skills to make an impact and bring real change.” The win not only gives the team a chance to grow their project but also brings honor to Nkumba University, showcasing its support for innovation and problem-solving through technology.
For the team members, the Hackathon was an opportunity to learn, work together, and demonstrate the potential of young innovators. They plan to continue building their project and inspiring others to join the tech world. Their success is a testament to the power of determination, creativity, and teamwork in creating solutions that make a real difference.
The achievement may also attract new partnerships and sponsors interested in supporting Nkumba University’s tech development efforts. As Jjemba noted, “With determination, creativity, and teamwork, young Ugandans like the Bro Code Labs team are proving that they can create solutions that make a real difference.
