More sustainability innovation from Ugandan socio-champions
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-12)

The British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lisa Chesney has called for more sustainability-focused innovation to enable Uganda to achieve its climate goals.

British High Commissioner to Uganda, Her Excellency Lisa Chesney, hosted a networking reception at her residence in Nakasero to celebrate Ugandan innovators and socio-champions who have been recognised by the United Kingdom for championing social impact, advancing sustainability, and innovating solutions to shared global challenges.

At the event, H.E. Lisa Chesney presented 19-year-old Ugandan Climate Activist Pascal Ahaisibwe with the King’s Trust International’s Global Sustainability Award – the first Ugandan to win the coveted prize.

In June this year, Pascal Ahaisibwe was honoured at the King’s Trust International and TK Maxx and Homesense Awards in London, and met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace, where one of his creations was showcased.

Pascal was awarded for his plastic waste recycling initiative that transforms collected plastic waste into reusable items like flower bowls and dustbins, which has since cut waste going to landfills in his community around Mabira Forest by a remarkable 80%.

Pascal Ahaisibwe, winner of the King’s Trust International’s Global Sustainability Award said:

My business started as a small idea to collect and recycle plastic and I’m proud of the way it has grown. Taking care of the planet starts with small actions. Let’s go green starting right where we are.

Pascal is one of the graduates of the Enterprise Challenge programme supported by the King’s Trust International and the Asante Africa Foundation, in which young people receive entrepreneurial mentorship and training to enable them to use entrepreneurship as a source of livelihood. This year, the programme is set to support 1,650 young people across Uganda.

Deborah Namugenyi, Country Director for Asante Africa Foundation Uganda said:

Pascal’s journey demonstrates the impact of our programmes in equipping rural youth with essential skills. In partnership with King’s Trust International, we are expanding opportunities, turning potential into progress and creating lasting impact.

At the reception were several other individuals who have been honoured with awards such as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), the Points of Light Award, Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships and Commonwealth Youth Awards and individuals who have participated in programmes such as One Young World Ambassadors, Climate Finance Accelerator (Climate Fellows) and the Ambassador for a Day programme.

Also present was Vivian Arinaitwe, the sole Ugandan finalist in the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation awarded by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineers. Her NeoNest innovation, a neonatal warming device and monitoring device relays key health indicators of a newborn in real time to medical professionals to prevent neonatal deaths. It is now used in over 100 health facilities across Uganda.

The gathering reflected the UK’s commitment to foster collaboration among Ugandan changemakers across all sectors, providing a platform for these leaders to connect, exchange ideas, and explore joint solutions on critical themes such as sustainability, innovation and climate which are areas of shared importance to both the UK and Uganda.

British High Commissioner to Uganda, Lisa Chesney said:

Pascal’s story is a powerful reminder that local action can drive global change. His creativity, determination, and commitment to sustainability embody the very spirit of the King’s Trust Awards. He is just one of many Ugandans driving socio-change in all walks of Ugandan life, through thoughtful innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. As the UK, we are proud to celebrate their ingenuity and achievements, and to see more of them recognised on the world stage.

We recognise that protecting Uganda’s natural heritage is not a luxury —it’s a strategic investment in tourism, food security, and climate resilience.

Sustainability remains a key part of the UK’s partnership with Uganda, with its work spanning areas such as conservation, nature, and green innovation. The reception highlighted the High Commission’s ongoing work in conservation, including support for the Wildlife Rangers Challenge, where the High Commissioner is personally participating alongside Uganda’s rangers to promote the importance of wildlife conservation. This initiative showcases the UK’s commitment to protecting biodiversity, boosting tourism, and driving economic growth.

On Monday, the High Commissioner also took part in the Rhino Naming Ceremony organised by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Uganda Tourism Board, where she named one of Uganda’s rhinos, a symbolic gesture underscoring the UK’s support for wildlife protection and eco-tourism. The British High Commission in Uganda has provided a platform to help market this initiative globally, reinforcing Uganda’s leadership in conservation.

Further information:

the King’s Trust International (KTI) is the global arm of The King’s Trust, formerly the Prince’s Trust
- it was founded in 2015 by His Majesty King Charles III to tackle the global crisis of unemployment and complement global efforts to deliver SDGs particularly those relating to quality education and decent work
it empowers young people to learn, earn and thrive, by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and the mindset needed for entrepreneurship

in the last 10 years, the Trust has implemented programmes and interventions in 20 countries within the Commonwealth and beyond, supporting over 100,000 people in the process
- in Uganda, KTI’s work began in early 2022 with a small-scale pilot of its Enterprise Challenge programme (which also covers Kenya and Tanzania), delivered in partnership with Asante Africa Foundation