AirQo, Makerere University-born initiative, named Earthshot Prize finalist

A groundbreaking clean-air initiative, AirQo, which originated at Makerere University, has been selected as one of fifteen finalists for the 2026 Earthshot Prize. This nomination places the Ugandan-founded project among leading global innovators striving to address critical environmental challenges, specifically focusing on improving air quality across Africa.

Founded in 2015, AirQo is dedicated to bridging the significant data gap in air quality across the African continent. The initiative utilizes low-cost, locally manufactured monitors, combined with artificial intelligence and open-data platforms, to meticulously track pollution levels in various African urban centers. This approach allows for real-time monitoring and analysis, providing crucial insights into a problem that significantly impacts public health.

The Earthshot Prize, established by Prince William, aims to identify and scale solutions for the planet’s most pressing environmental issues. AirQo’s recognition in the “Clean Our Air” category underscores the urgency of addressing air pollution in Africa, which was identified as the second-leading risk factor for death on the continent in 2019, contributing to over a million fatalities annually.

Rapid urbanization has exacerbated air pollution from sources such as transport and industry, yet many African cities lack the necessary data to effectively manage and mitigate these issues. AirQo’s technology, including sensors mounted on motorcycle taxis (boda bodas), provides granular, street-level pollution data. This information is crucial for city authorities, researchers, and communities to understand pollution patterns, minimize exposure, and inform urban planning and public health strategies.

Professor Bainomugisha, the founder of AirQo, emphasized the initiative’s mission to make air pollution visible through locally generated evidence. He stated that the Earthshot Prize recognition will be instrumental in scaling their infrastructure, empowering African technologists and city leaders, and establishing reliable air quality data as a public good. AirQo currently operates in nine African countries, deploying over 500 monitors and providing real-time air quality information to over 30 million people.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda) https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ugandan-founded-airqo-named-among-15-earthshot-prize-finalists-5600810