Jonan Katende is a dedicated and passionate social sector leader, driven by a deep belief in the power of action and the potential for positive change. His unwavering commitment to making a lasting impact on the global community motivates his work. With a curious and inquisitive mindset, Jonan constantly seeks to understand the complexities of the world, exploring trends and uncovering the interconnections that can optimize development and create sustainable solutions.
As a tech enthusiast, entrepreneur, and innovator, Jonan has been involved in numerous impactful projects, particularly those leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and embedded systems. His dedication to addressing social issues through first-principle thinking has fueled his focus on developing solutions and technologies that can drive meaningful change.
Jonan currently serves as a business manager at Justice Chatbot Limited, an AI-powered platform operating in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Through this role, he has navigated the legal tech sector, complementing the Justice, Law, and Order Sector’s value architecture map with innovative conversational AI solutions. In addition, his company has launched three other AI-driven projects in eCommerce, real estate, and healthcare, focusing on job creation, digital transformation, business empowerment, and skills development. Jonan believes that automation is essential for achieving efficiency and convenience, enabling faster and more effective service delivery.
His contributions to the field have earned him numerous accolades, including recognition at the Global Legal Hackathon Africa Node 2022, the World Legal Summit 2019, the Creative Hackathon, and the Facebook Developer Challenge 2018 for Sub-Saharan Africa. Jonan’s team was also recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Centre on Artificial Intelligence as one of the top 100 global organizations using AI to advance sustainable development solutions. Additionally, he was awarded the Literature Prize by Paschnett in the Alexander Von Humboldt Climate Change competitions in Germany, and he has won several UN World Wildlife Day National Quiz competitions.
Beyond his professional achievements, Jonan Katende is deeply engaged in various regional and international organizations. He actively contributes to initiatives such as the Defend Civic Space Initiative, Common Futures Conversation, East Africa Internet Governance Forum, Tech2Impact, Africa Berlin Network, Justice Innovators Community-Africa, Internet Society Uganda, Makerere Innovation Society, and many others.
Jonan’s unwavering dedication and vision continue to inspire change, as he works to create a brighter, more equitable future for communities and individuals around the world.
