How can AI agents use Africa’s Talking APIs to reach and serve millions of Africans — including those without internet access?

This hackathon brings together developers, builders, and innovators to explore how Agentic AI can be combined with Africa’s Talking APIs like SMS, Voice, USSD, and Airtime to create powerful, real-world solutions.

Imagine calling a phone number and speaking to an AI assistant. Or chatting with an LLM via SMS without needing internet. Or building an AI agent that can send messages, trigger USSD flows, or automate customer interactions. From voice-based AI agents and SMS chatbots to developer tools and local-language assistants, this hackathon is all about reimagining how Africa’s Talking products can be used in the AI era.

The goal is simple: 👉🏾 Build AI agents that can communicate, act, and solve problems using Africa’s Talking APIs.

Whether you're building for accessibility, developer experience, or entirely new use cases — the possibilities are endless.

Date: Saturday, 28th March, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Venue: Africa's Talking Offices, The Acacia Place, 4th Floor, John Babiha (Acacia) Ave, Kampala

Prizes

The winning solution will receive cash prizes as follows:

Winner - $100 (Join Marketplace Program)

1st Runners Up - $50

2nd Runners Up - $25

Agenda:

9:00 AM – Arrival, Registration & Team Formation
10:00 AM – Opening Remarks + Problem Brief (Agentic AI x Africa’s Talking)
10:30 AM – API & AI Tool Demos (SMS, Voice, USSD + LLMs)
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Hacking Session
4:00 PM – Project Demos & Presentations
5:30 PM – Judging & Awards
6:00 PM – Networking

Who Should Attend:

This event is open to software developers, AI enthusiasts, product builders, startup founders, and students interested in building innovative solutions at the intersection of AI and communication APIs.

Whether you're experienced with AI or just getting started, this hackathon is a great opportunity to learn, collaborate, and build something impactful.

Attendance is free, but registration is required to secure your spot.

What You Can Build:

📞 AI voice agents that handle phone calls

💬 Chat with LLMs via SMS (no internet needed)

📟 Smart USSD experiences powered by AI

🧠 AI agents that automate SMS, airtime, or workflows

🌍 Local-language AI assistants (Luganda, Acholi, etc.)

🛠️ Developer tools that integrate AI with Africa’s Talking APIs

Gigs:

Are you building something interesting? We’d love to connect you with opportunities in our ecosystem. 👉🏾 Fill out this form to share your portfolio and interests

Join Our Community Channels:

WhatsApp: Africa's Talking Developer Community – Uganda 

Twitter:

@AfricasTalking

@ATCommunityKla

YouTube: Watch event recaps, demos, and developer stories on the Africa’s Talking YouTube Channel

Africa’s Talking Community meetups and hackathons are where developers come to build, experiment, and push boundaries.

This time, we’re asking a bold question: 👉🏾 What happens when AI can talk, call, and act in the real world?  Africa's Talking powers communications solutions across Africa with simplified access to telco infrastructure. Developers use our powerful SMS, USSD, Voice, Chat, Airtime and Mobile Data to bring their ideas to life, as they build and sustain scalable businesses