Barbara (Birungi) Mutabazi (born 7 August 1986) is a female technologist. She is a co-founder and founding manager of

HiveColab HiveColab is an innovation hub and startup incubator in Kampala, Uganda. The space was founded in 2010 and is noted as being one of Africa's first innovation hubs of note along with the IHub. HiveColab was founded by African technologist and App ...

in Kampala, Uganda. She is the founder o
Women in Technology Uganda
an initiative aimed at helping women and girls pursue technology careers. Prior to Hive Colab, Mutabazi was a member of staff at the African technology firm

Appfrica Appfrica (sometimes referred to as Appfrica Labs) is a market research and technology firm founded by current CEO Jon Gosier in 2008 in Kampala, Uganda. The firm has been responsible for a number of technology initiatives responsible for promoti ...

Education

Barbara graduated with honors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, where she earned her MBA. She also holds a master's degree in Information Systems Management from the University of Salford in Manchester, UK, and a bachelor's degree in Business Computing from Makerere University. Additionally, she received a postgraduate degree in Project Planning and Management. While at Makerere, she volunteered at an orphanage, teaching basic ICT skills and providing career guidance to high school students, many of whom have become tech professionals. Barbara is deeply passionate about ICT for Development (ICT4D), innovation, artificial intelligence, and supporting women and girls in Uganda. She has mentored and taught over 300 young girls, aiming to increase female participation in STEM fields, and is committed to the advancement of Innovation Ecosystems and Financial Inclusion.

Achievements

She won the Anita Borg Change Agent award in 2014 an award that recognizes outstanding international women (non-US residents with an emphasis on developing countries) who have created opportunities for girls and women in technology. She has spoken at several international events including at UNESCO, the United Nations, Motorola, the United Nations Development Programme, and ITU on the importance of closing the gender technology gap in sub-Saharan Africa over a period of 5 years. On 26 February 2013, she was one of several speakers invited by UNESCO to describe how e-science was being used in their country to strengthen the interface between science, policy, and society.

Women In Technology

In 2015, Women In Technology Uganda was awarded the project inspire grand prize, which is awarded to outstanding organizations supporting that enable and empower women economically.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Birungi, Barbara 1986 births Living people 21st-century Ugandan businesswomen 21st-century Ugandan businesspeople 21st-century Ugandan women scientists 21st-century Ugandan scientists Chief executives in the technology industry