Lawrence Mawanda of Araknerd and Lamwad Engineering Labs on Building and Ensuring Impact

 Questions for Lawrence Mawanda of Araknerd



1. What are your names?


Mawanda Lawrence


2. Where did you go to school?


St. Theresa Girls Secondary school masaka.

Girls school?

Explain


We were taken to study with the girls because we performed well in P7, so our job 

was to boost the academics, we studied like teachers no uniform, and we stayed out 

of school like anywhere so that how I got chance to work at a very early age


3. What did you study?

I studied computer science and robotics engineering ( mechatronics engineering

Even though I have a certificate from Harvard university, am self taught programmer


4. Tell us about what you do? What is Araknerd?


Araknerd is a tech company that focuses on designing custom software and 

hardware https://araknerd.com

5. What are some of the major influences in your past that are determining what 

you are doing now?


I abandoned a huge job at a big finance company. It was because of work politics, I 

decided to create my own company. This increased my earnings financial freedom, 

free decision making that are not biased by lazy employees and also improve my 

skills in entrepreneurship


6. I have heard you write and argue passionately about your work and the existence 

of a Silicon Valley right here in Uganda. What makes you so confident about what 

you do?


What makes me confident is the ability to do projects that are appreciated by the 

society. Reason is I decide to put in all it takes even though the outcomes my not 

yield profit as long as it represents me with an un-earasable mark


7. Tell us about the different product offerings available at Araknerd and why these 

pursuits are essential in your business model?


Araknerd offers Buzztime for digital pocket money, voice & video calls (parent 

student) chats and SMS, direct calls, biometric access, attendance systems, robotics 

include. Etc


8. How vibrant is the Investment space in Uganda for startups? What is the outlook 

in your view about the Technology and Innovation Ecosystem in General?


The investment space for startups in Uganda is still developing and, in my view, not 

yet as vibrant or reliable as many founders would hope. While there are individuals 

and groups who identify as investors, engagement often lacks consistency, 

decisiveness, and follow-through, which can make the process time-consuming and, 

at times, unproductive for founders.

From my experience, this creates a challenging environment for early-stage startups 

seeking meaningful capital and strategic support.

As a result, my outlook on the broader technology and innovation ecosystem is 

cautiously optimistic but grounded in reality. There is clear talent, creativity, and 

growing demand for tech-driven solutions. However, the funding infrastructure has 

not fully matured to match this potential.

For Ugandan founders, my practical advice is to prioritize building sustainable 

businesses—focus on generating revenue, validating products, and scaling 

organically. Investment, if it comes, should be treated as an accelerator rather than a 

dependency.

In short: keep building, keep growing, and don’t anchor your progress on the 

expectation of external funding.


9. At what stage is Araknerd currently at? Are you looking for investors or 

partners? Please elaborate?


Araknerd is currently at a stable and growth-oriented stage. Over the years, the 

company has built a strong foundation and now generates sufficient revenue to 

sustain its operations, support a team of over 20 employees, and continue 

expanding.

Beyond its core business, Araknerd has also begun investing in other ventures, 

including PoolPay and similar initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to innovation 

and diversification.

At this stage, Araknerd is not actively seeking small-scale investment. Any potential 

investor would need to be a significant strategic partner capable of adding 

substantial value. Interested parties are welcome to engage further through in-

person discussions at our offices in Munyonyo. 





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