HSIL Hackathon 2026: Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab · Rwanda Hub
AIS hosted the Rwanda hub of the 2026 Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab Hackathon, an intensive weekend applying AI to build higher-value, more resilient health systems across Africa.
What happened
AIS was thrilled to partner with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (Health Systems Innovation Lab, Rwanda Hub) and Carnegie Mellon University Africa for an intensive, high-impact weekend of innovation.
The HSIL Hackathon 2026, run globally by HHSIL through various hubs, was all about leveraging Artificial Intelligence to solve critical challenges in healthcare. AIS hosted the Kigali edition, bringing together the brightest minds to design tech-enabled solutions that can transform health systems across the continent.
Event details
- Dates: 3rd & 4th April, 2026
- Venue: Carnegie Mellon University Africa
- Location: Bldg Plot No A8, Kigali Special Economic Zone, Regional ICT Center of Excellence
- Theme: Building High-Value Health Systems: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence
Why this hackathon mattered
- Innovate: Apply AI to real-world health system problems
- Impact: Build the future of resilient, accessible, and high-value healthcare in Africa
- Connect: Work alongside faculty, clinicians, and industry mentors under one roof
Meet the judges
The hackathon was judged by a distinguished panel:
- Asinty Mukete
- Ange M.C. Ishimwe
- Prof. Carine Mukamakuza
- Deogratius Kiggude
- Dr. Stanley Mukasa
- Prof. Jesse Thornburg
The winners
1st Place: Team #VitaLabs 🏆 Team 7 (VitaLabs) emerged 1st place winners at the Kigali hub of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Hackathon 2026. Their project, ImaraCare Systems, stood out for its brilliant use of AI to build higher-value, more resilient health systems in Africa.
Champions:
- Hafiz Adjei
- Paul Mugume
- Martin Koome
- Innocent Anyaele (all Carnegie Mellon University Africa)
2nd Place: Team 4: Code for Cure (CFC) Their project showcased incredible technical depth and a deep commitment to solving real-world healthcare gaps. These Women in Tech proved that precision and purpose are the keys to a resilient Africa.
Brilliance behind CFC:
- Grace Kaimburi
- Ukachi Eze-Mbey
- Nimat Sadiq
3rd Place: Team 9: MultiScan AI Rounding out the top three, MultiScan AI demonstrated the power of multimodal AI in transforming healthcare accessibility, a massive win for innovation and collaborative spirit.
Impact
Hosting the Rwanda hub of a global Harvard hackathon was a milestone moment for AIS: it put CMU-Africa on the map as a serious venue for healthtech innovation, and gave our members a chance to build alongside, and be judged by, leaders from Harvard, CMU-Africa, and the broader African health ecosystem.