The CEO and founder of Yunga, a neighborhood digital security network that improves neighbor-to-neighbour safety, is the Ugandan Anatoli Kirigwajjo. He just received “The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation,” which is intended to foster the innovation of Africans.
Through a physical gadget, smartphone app, or SMS service, Yunga connects neighbors to one another and to police within a 20-kilometer radius, offering security at a reasonable price.
The Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK established the award, which is given following an eight-month training and mentoring period.
“I developed Yunga after losing $1,300 worth of assets in a break-in, with little chance of the thieves being caught. We hope that with our household networks, communities will become harder targets for criminals. This will ensure safety, which in turn will create the space for economic activities to thrive,” says Mr Kirigwajjo.
Over 180 instances of neighborhood crime have already been stopped because to Yunga, and they intend to expand to other African markets including Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria.