Unlocking Kigezi’s Future: Launching Highland Innovation Hub

In the heart of the Greater Kigezi Region, where terraced hills meet lush forests and vibrant communities thrive between farm and forest, a new wave of opportunity is rising. Through a transformative five-year roadmap—anchored by a dual-accelerator approach—MBZ Group Africa is integrating agriculture and tourism to power inclusive, climate-smart economic growth.

This bold initiative marks the launch of a strategic joint venture with BVR Design Studio: Highland Innovation Hub — a regional center of excellence designed to harness innovation at the intersection of two of Kigezi’s greatest assets: its rich agrarian heritage and its world-class tourism potential.

Why This Hub, Why Now?

The Greater Kigezi Region welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually and is home to some of Uganda’s most vibrant agricultural production — from Irish potatoes and honey to tea, bananas, coffee, and ornamental herbs. Yet, the synergy between tourism and agriculture has remained largely untapped.

With global travelers increasingly demanding authentic, sustainable experiences — and local communities eager to participate in tourism’s economic benefits — the time has never been better to catalyze integrated innovation where eco-lodges, farms, processors, and startups work together in a unified market system.

The Highland Innovation Hub will be a permanent platform to drive year-round collaboration and co-creation across tourism, agriculture, sustainability, and regional development. From challenge labs and startup bootcamps to mentorship, digital infrastructure, and market matchmaking, the Hub aims to position Kigezi as a model of rural innovation for East Africa.

Two Accelerators, One Ecosystem

• Agri-Business Challenge Accelerator (Launched 2024): Equipping farmers and agri-enterprises with tools, training, and commercial pathways. From climate-smart seed systems to traceable supply chains, this program is built on the Farmer Group Enterprise (FGE) model and powered by platforms like ShareCard and Emata.

• #TravelTainment Events Accelerator (Launching 2025): A challenge-based platform for innovators designing solutions at the nexus of tourism, agriculture, and sustainability. Startups will collaborate with eco-lodges, communities, and processors to build wellness retreats, artisanal food products, cultural experiences, and regenerative supply chains.

Together, they form the dual engines of the Highland Innovation Hub, solving different but interconnected parts of the agro-tourism value chain.

Our Approach: Innovation Meets Impact

The accelerators follow a challenge-driven approach over an 18-month cycle, engaging startups and innovators to co-create scalable solutions across five core themes:

• Sustainability & Environmental Stewardship

• Technology & Digitization

• Market Linkages & Economic Growth

• Workforce Development & Community Engagement

• Innovation & Value Creation

Through tailored mentorship, pilot testing, and real-world deployment via tourism partners, these solutions will be fast-tracked from idea to implementation. This is not just another development program — it’s a corporate venture investment platform, with MBZ and other tourism stakeholders directly procuring services from participating startups.

What We Hope to Achieve

• Increase incomes for 500+ farmers and small-scale processors

• Boost tourism operator revenue through stronger integration of local products and experiences

• Strengthen climate-resilient food systems aligned with tourism market demand

• Establish a replicable model for tourism-agriculture synergy across East Africa

Climate-Smart, Inclusive, and Scalable

• Climate-smart Hubs: Pilot sites integrating solar energy, eco-tourism trails, and smart irrigation systems

• Equity Focus: Over 50% of program beneficiaries will be women and youth

• Replicability: The Highland Innovation Hub will be documented and scaled as a model across the region

The Bigger Picture:

Tourism as a transformative market for agriculture — and agriculture as the authentic soul of East African tourism.

Get Involved

Are you a startup or innovator with a solution to transform tourism and agriculture? Do you represent a funder, development agency, or private sector partner interested in sustainable investment?

Applications for the Catalytic Accelerators are OPEN.

To partner, co-invest, or learn more about the Highland Innovation Hub, reach out to us at innovate@highlandhub.vc.

Together, let’s build a future where every visit to Kigezi supports livelihoods, celebrates culture, and sustains nature.

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