Anatoli Kirigwajjo is Revolutionizing Affordable Community Security Solutions with a Digital Neighborhood Watch

Focusing on addressing the pervasive issue of local security in Uganda, Kirigwajjo’s work integrates traditional communal practices with modern technology to provide affordable and accessible security solutions for vulnerable communities.

Kirigwajjo co-founded YUNGA (Youth United in Neighborhood Groups Against Crime), a local digital security network that connects neighbors and the police through a unique physical device, mobile app, or SMS service.

This solution serves as a modern response to the ‘ten-household model’—a traditional African practice where communities alert each other to emergencies through various means, such as beating drums.

With YUNGA, Kirigwajjo and his team have created a network that enables households within a 20-kilometer radius to alert and receive alerts from each other during security breaches, emergencies, or even health crises.

This localized, low-cost security network has provided a lifeline for communities that would otherwise struggle to afford conventional security systems.

YUNGA has been widely implemented across Uganda, connecting nearly 1,000 households in over 30 communities and helping to prevent more than 130 incidents of break-ins and related crimes.

The impact of this innovation is not only immediate but transformative, fostering communal trust and safety by empowering neighborhoods to take collective action against crime.

Kirigwajjo’s approach to leveraging grassroots cooperation with cutting-edge technology has made YUNGA a model for affordable security in resource-limited settings.

In July 2023, Kirigwajjo’s contributions were internationally recognized when he was jointly awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation alongside South African biomedical engineer Edmund Wessels.

This award, shared for the first time between two innovators, highlights the groundbreaking and practical impact of Kirigwajjo’s work.

The Royal Academy of Engineering’s recognition underscores YUNGA’s potential to revolutionize security solutions across Africa, where Kirigwajjo envisions scaling the network to reach 32,000 households over the next two years.

Kirigwajjo’s work embodies the spirit of innovative social engineering, creating accessible solutions for everyday challenges in Uganda and beyond.

Through YUNGA, he has not only enhanced the security of countless families but also reinvigorated the notion of community-driven safety—a timeless tradition now redefined through technology.