As a social entrepreneur, she is committed to bridging the gender gap in technology.  

Barbara Mutabazi (photo) is a Ugandan social entrepreneur working to bridge the technological gender divide across Africa as the founder of Women in Technology Uganda (WITU). Established in 2014, WITU empowers young and underprivileged women in Uganda through hands-on training, resources, and employment prospects to foster tech innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs contributing to local and regional economies.

WITU imparts diverse professional, commercial, and digital skillsets, encouraging participants to initiate revenue-generating activities and develop comprehensive business plans by analyzing community needs. The organization further promotes collaboration among its members, aiming to nurture a culture of creativity and achievement while supporting startup growth in Uganda.

Mutabazi is also a co-founder and director of Hive Colab, a hub promoting experimental concepts with significant societal and economic impacts in Uganda. This initiative aims to establish a conducive environment for innovation and excellence, thereby enhancing the success rate of emerging businesses.

A graduate of Makerere University in 2011 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Computing, Mutabazi continued her education at the University of Salford, England, earning a Master's Degree in Information Systems Management in 2018. Her extensive experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of AfriLabs Foundation from 2014 to 2017 and acting as the National Director of the SPRING Accelerator in Uganda from 2014 to 2017. Additionally, Mutabazi served as an associate at the British Council's Business Creation Service from 2018 to 2021, providing business development support to more than 50 creative entrepreneurs throughout Africa.

For her efforts, she received the Anita Borg Institute's Change Agent Award in 2014 and became a Fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Mandela Washington program in 2017.

Melchior Koba