EO Uganda has successfully concluded Season 2 of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA), marking another significant milestone in nurturing the country’s next generation of business leaders. The competition, a flagship initiative of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), celebrates university students who are not only pursuing academic excellence but are also building viable, impactful businesses.
Held over the weekend, the national finals gathered some of Uganda’s most promising young founders in a dynamic showcase of innovation, resilience, and leadership. The event highlighted a growing culture of entrepreneurship among students who are choosing to solve real-world problems while still in lecture halls.
Emerging as the 2026 national winner was Billy Garvin Ssemyalo, founder of Biocycle Energy, whose venture impressed judges with its innovation, scalability, and clarity of vision. He was followed by Asasirabo Florence, founder of Florence Fragrances, who secured the position of 1st Runner-Up, and Henry Mutumba, founder of Viridi Growth Limited, who placed 2nd Runner-Up.
Beyond celebrating business ideas, GSEA places deliberate emphasis on the individual behind the enterprise. The judging framework is uniquely structured — weighted 70 percent on the entrepreneur as a person, assessing qualities such as leadership, resilience, mindset, and character, and 30 percent on the business itself. The philosophy is simple but profound: businesses grow only as much as the people leading them grow.
Globally, GSEA connects student entrepreneurs to a powerful network of more than 21,000 leading business owners under the Entrepreneurs’ Organization umbrella. The program also gains international visibility through the YouTube series Start It Up, positioning participants within a wider global entrepreneurial movement and offering exposure beyond their home countries.
Season 2 builds on the historic breakthrough achieved last year by Ochom Joel Felix, founder of Phytogold Uganda Limited. As Uganda’s first-ever GSEA finalist, he advanced to the quarterfinals in Pakistan before representing the country at the Global Finals in Cape Town, where he finished among the top 19 globally. His journey not only elevated Uganda’s presence on the global stage but also set a powerful precedent for student founders across the country.
Under the leadership of EO Uganda President Nirav Hathi and GSEA Chair Arshad Bholim, this year’s national chapter reaffirmed its commitment to cultivating entrepreneurs who embody EO’s core values: thinking big and being bold, fostering trust and respect, maintaining a thirst for learning, and growing together.
With the national phase now complete, Uganda’s focus shifts to the international stage as Billy Garvin Ssemyalo prepares to represent the country at the next level of the competition in Saudi Arabia. His participation carries not only personal ambition but also the aspirations of a growing ecosystem of young Ugandan innovators.
EO Uganda also extended appreciation to its partners and sponsors — Crowe Uganda, Hisense Uganda, Fairway Hotel, and Voyager Global Solutions — whose support continues to strengthen platforms that empower youth-led enterprise.
