Kickoff & Team Formation
Welcome speeches, DNS 101 orientation, expert keynotes, challenge track briefings, team formation, introduction to tools, GitHub setup, and code of conduct.
160+
Get National Award
Find out more about the hackathon
The Uganda DNS Hackathon is a dynamic initiative organized by the Uganda DNS Forum to address critical challenges in Uganda’s Domain Name System (DNS) ecosystem. By bringing together students, developers, network engineers, policymakers, and industry experts, the hackathon fosters innovative solutions that enhance the security, reliability, and inclusivity of Uganda’s Internet infrastructure.
Our Mission
What drives us
To promote awareness, strengthen local DNS infrastructure, and build practical tools and policies that improve Uganda’s digital ecosystem. We aim to empower a diverse community of stakeholders to collaboratively innovate and address pressing DNS challenges unique to Uganda.
59k
Participants
16k
Mentors
Our History
The Timeline
Ideation & Prototyping
Problem scoping, idea brainstorming, first lines of code or policy drafts, mentor check-ins, and optional workshops (e.g. DNSSEC setup).
Development & Mentorship
Core development phase, mid-hack progress updates, live Q&A with mentors, deep dives into technical or regulatory solutions.
Testing & Finalization
Final coding, bug fixes, testing, UI/UX polish, documentation writing, demo script creation, and submission of materials.
Presentations & Awards
Team demos (5–7 mins each), live judging, audience voting, prize announcements, certificates, and closing remarks.
How it works
1
Apply
Register online and receive an instant reference code (UDH-2026-XXXX).
2
Form a Squad
Create a team to share a UGDNS-XXXX invite code, or join solo.
3
Build
Prototype over 5 days with 1-on-1 mentorship from AfTLD, ICANN, and ISOC engineers.
4
Demo & Deploy
Submit your repository on Demo Day to qualify for .UG Registry technical incubation and pilot deployment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The hackathon is open to software developers, network & systems engineers, cybersecurity specialists, university students, researchers, and digital policy analysts across Uganda and East Africa. Both solo applicants (who will be matched into teams on Day 1) and pre-formed teams of 2 to 4 members are welcome.
When applying on our website, you can choose one of three modes: (1) Apply as an Individual & Get Matched, (2) Create a New Team — which immediately generates a unique Team Invite Code (e.g. UGDNS-8492) that you share with your teammates, or (3) Join an Existing Team by entering your team leader's invite code.
The Uganda DNS Hackathon runs in a Hybrid format. In-person hacking, workshops, and Demo Day take place in Kampala (Legacy Towers / UIXP & Partner Innovation Hub), while remote teams across Uganda can collaborate via our virtual technical sandbox and livestreamed mentor clinics.
No! Day 1 features an intensive DNS 101 Orientation, DNSSEC setup workshop, and track briefings led by mentors from AfTLD, ICANN, ISOC, and the .UG Registry. We also have tracks tailored for web developers (Universal Acceptance) and policy/economics researchers (DNS Policy & Regulation).
Selected winning groups receive post-hackathon technical incubation with the Uganda DNS Forum, i3C (.UG Registry), and partner organizations to pilot their tools in real Ugandan network environments and present at the annual Uganda DNS Forum.
On the Application Portal, simply switch the role selector tab at the top of the wizard to "Apply as Technical Mentor" or "Apply as Jury / Judge" to submit your domain expertise, organization, and availability.