- He is also an author and motivational speaker.
- He has volunteered in technology spaces and is an app developer.
- He urges young people to take up whatever opportunities at their disposal.
Born in Amolatar District, Northern Uganda, as the last born of three boys and raised by his single mother, Sedrick Otolo is the Co-founder and Operations Director of a Lira-based software company, KaKebe Technologies.
He is also a speaker, having started his motivational speaking journey in 2017.
He has since then spoken to more than 20,000 youths in different institutions, universities, churches, and conferences in Uganda.
He has gained a lot of exposure—thanks to his excellent communication and interpersonal skills—these have kept him relatable with any person, and he can easily communicate his ideas to any group and number of people.
Education
Otolo went to Otino Waa Primary School and Otino Waa Comprehensive Secondary School in Kole District for O Level.
Unlike many, he didn’t continue to A Level after that but chose to join the Lugogo-based ISBAT University for a certificate in Software Engineering in 2018-2020.
He attended the same University in 2021 to pursue a higher diploma in Networking and Cyber Security.
He is currently enrolled for a bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, which he will complete in 2024.
Beyond classroom
Looking up to Steve Harvey, an American Television host, producer, author, and actor, Otolo was inspired and motivated to write his first book in 2018, at 19 years, titled Being Victorious, of which he sold over 1000 copies to his fellow youths.
In 2019, Otolo started a Community-Based Organization (CBO), The Seven Seeds Uganda, with the vision of building dreams and restoring hope.
A year later, Journey International was also birthed, an NGO working to help the nodding syndrome victims in Omoro District.
It serves the community with a statement of “Everyone can do something to help someone,” looking at the marginalized communities of the people suffering from nodding syndrome.
Deep into innovation
During his years at school, he also volunteered with HiveColab in the robotics lab in 2019-2020 to build his skills in robotics and later to be part of the inception of the mighty Kakebe Technologies Limited championing ICT in Northern Uganda.
Through their innovation tool, they seek to promote ICT usage and implementation by teaching robotics and programming to secondary school students.
Otolo is part of the team that runs the products built within, such as the Mwonyaa, a robust music streaming app for the African Continent, a project led by his two friends.
The team also runs an AI-powered app called Soila, a farmer’s app which predicts the nutrients and the best soil to plant the crops.
On how he executes his duties differently, he attributes the success at KaKebe to his great team.
“I get so busy with so many activities, and the only pride I have is my team. I love planning for all programs ahead of time because I have a great team that works together to achieve our goals,” Otolo confesses.
A leader
Otolo advises and influences the decision-making in many CBOs and NGOs.
He sits on the Board of Journey International.
Recently they launched the construction of a big community center to serve the districts affected by the disease and are planting so-called “Salvation Sheds” in different parts of the country, which act as churches to the communities but purpose to be community centers.
Last year, the #UGNeedsMoreOfU campaign by Airtel Uganda was inspired by Sedrick’s story to support innovators in Uganda.
At the same time, the Kampala Edge Times Magazine named him the most inspiring youth of the year.
In his daily work, he faces challenges just like in any other business solution.
Challenges
“The challenges I face in my job as a software engineer and serving in mostly Northern region for one purpose, I realized most ICT services are built and served from Kampala.
I needed to change that narrative and make it known that good things also come from other regions, especially Northern Uganda, that for long was affected by war.
The adaptability quotient of our services in the region was so long in the first years, but I gracefully say that the adaptability quotient and acceptance by people with trust in what we do has increased by 60%,” says Otolo.
With his biggest challenge being the power to focus, his very approach is keeping aligned.
“A big challenge to my job is the power to focus; without focus, you can’t build any IT solution. My approach is defining my goals and what I want to achieve in life.
Due to my busy schedule, I have three personal assistants that help me handle other tasks that demand my input and schedules,” he says.
Finding inspiration
Granted 20 minutes with anyone in the world, he would like to spend them with Steve Harvey.
“His story inspires me every day, and listening to him helps me move forward because he talks about business, leadership, and Christian life, which very few speakers do.
One day I am going to meet Steve Harvey amidst all odds in life, so God help me. He makes me rise every morning with his talks and podcast,” he narrates.
In 2019, he wrote his second book, Building Great Character, featured in online stores like Amazon and Kindle, with a wide read for many youths.
Otolo’s dream
In the next ten years, he wishes to be a world traveler speaking to young business people, leaders, government officials, and corporate meetings, transforming leaders into agents of change in their communities and influencing them with great inspiration and encouragement about life challenges.
He also wants his company, Kakebe Technologies, to be a household name in Northern Uganda.
He advises the youths to sacrifice their time and to seize every moment—take full advantage of life’s opportunities whenever and wherever they present themselves.
Sometimes they might not come, but you need to be creative to live life to your full potential by discovery, letting no opportunities pass them by.
Accolades
Amongst the awards or accolades to his name:
He won the Uganda National Innovators Presidential Award 2021 for developing a pregnancy-monitoring device for mothers. His project was the best-voted idea nationally out of 200 innovators.
In 2021, he was voted the National Outstanding Software Programmer in the Janzi Awards.
He was also awarded for being the most outstanding student at ISBAT University Award Graduation due to his top-notch innovations and championing different programs on innovations and working with youths.
Just in case
If he was to live as someone else, he would wish to incarnate as Dr. Myles Munroe.
“He was a pastor, the best leadership coach, and an entrepreneur and his focus was teaching leadership and enabling leaders to unlock their potential.
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All I am today is because, in 2018-2020, 90% of my upbringing and motivation was due to listening and watching his speeches.
I would come back to life as him because I want to travel the world, teaching, training, and inspiring generations like he did,” says Otolo.
