Yunga, the security app every neighbourhood needs

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This month, Ugandans have woken up to shocking news of attacks that led to deaths of people in their homes and workplaces.

It all began with Diana Skys [real name Diana Namulinde] on February 3, a TikTok influencer, who was murdered in her Kyanja apartment; the Rubaga double murder at a hotel on February 7; and then Uganda Christian University Dean of Students Pamela Tumwebaze, who was killed in her home in Gwafu village, Mukono on February 10.

It is at this juncture that we need to pay closer eye to our security, especially in our homes—the places we regard as safe.

Fortunately, there is a simple and effective way to ensure that our neighbourhoods are secure through an app. The Yunga App, designed by Anatoli Kirigwajjo, works in a similar way to the old-system East African model- Nyumba Kumi. Although with the app, the users can exceed the 10-house limit to include a neighbourhood. Under Nyumba Kumi, Swahili for ‘ten households’, residents are grouped in tens so as to carry out surveillance and protection, ensuring a secure neighbourhood.

Similarly, Yunga works that way as Kirigwajjo explains in this interview:

1) How did the idea develop into Yunga?

I started Yunga after personally experiencing a break-in. I had traveled to my village and returned to find that my home had been broken into, and I lost items worth about 1,500 dollars. Beyond the financial loss, I realised how preventable such incidents could be if there were a faster way to alert neighbours and authorities.

That experience pushed me to design a community-driven security solution that connects households, businesses, and law enforcement instantly during emergencies. Yunga was built to combine community trust with technology to significantly improve response time and prevent crime.

2) How can the app work in areas without internet?

Yunga is engineered for environments where internet access is unreliable. We use LoRaWAN and GSM-based connectivity to enable offline communication. This allows alerts to be transmitted without relying solely on internet data.

By combining low-power wide-area network technology with SMS and GSM systems, we ensure coverage in both urban and rural communities. The system is inclusive and does not depend entirely on smartphones.

3) Which areas in Uganda have taken up the app?

Yunga is now active in over 60 communities across Uganda, serving more than 5,000 customers. We operate in Kampala, Wakiso, Mbarara, Masaka, Jinja, Kasese and additional districts. While we began in urban and peri-urban communities, adoption continues to expand nationwide.

4) Have you received feedback from the business community?

Yes. Many small and medium-sized businesses report increased confidence, particularly those operating late hours. The coordinated alert system allows them to notify multiple trusted responders at once.

So far, we have recorded over 900 cases where incidents were prevented or responded to quickly through the platform. Businesses value both the deterrent effect and the faster coordinated response.

5) Have authorities used the app and given feedback?

We work closely with local police stations and the Police Research Centre in Kikandwa. Authorities have provided constructive feedback on structured alerts and coordination mechanisms.

Yunga is designed to support formal security institutions by improving communication between communities and law enforcement agencies.

6) Can the app work on farms where animals are stolen?

Yes. Because we use (Advanced technologies) LoRaWAN and GSM connectivity, Yunga is suitable for rural and farming communities. Farmers can trigger alerts across wider areas, which is critical in preventing livestock theft.

7) What awards have you won?

Yunga received international recognition when I won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation 2023 from the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK. The solution has also received recognition through other innovation and climate-focused initiatives due to its community impact.

8) Have you added new functions since development?

Yes. We are continuously improving the platform.

We are launching a simple panic button device for homes and businesses that allows users to report emergencies instantly to multiple stakeholders, including government agencies and law enforcement organisations, at the same time.

We are also introducing a Residence Data Bank system to strengthen structured community security records. Additionally, we are integrating AI technology with existing community cameras to detect and report suspicious activity in real time, enabling more proactive crime prevention.

9) What challenges did you encounter during development?

Developing reliable hardware for low infrastructure environments was a major challenge. Financing deep tech hardware innovation in Africa and building trust within communities also required significant effort.

However, through strong community engagement, partnerships, and international mentorship, we have been able to scale to measurable impact across multiple districts.