By The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), in partnership with the National ICT Innovation Hub, has concluded a four-day Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025 aimed at transforming student academic projects into commercially viable enterprises.
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The boot camp from May 15 to 18 at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, was themed “Transforming Student Projects into Minimum Viable Products & Services en route routemmercialisation.” It attracted final-year students, innovators, industry experts, and government stakeholders with a shared goal of fostering entrepreneurship and applied innovation among youth.
According to Mr. Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, Head of Research and Innovations at UICT, the event was designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and market needs. “Each year, our students produce outstanding projects that rarely progress beyond classroom assessment. This initiative provided them with mentorship, technical support, and a real opportunity to develop these ideas into viable solutions,” he said during the launch.
The boot camp is hands-on training in business model development, design thinking, prototyping, intellectual property, and startup funding. Participants also gained insights into collaborating with industry and accessing investment opportunities.
A key highlight was a pitch session where student teams presented their refined projects to a panel of judges comprising investors, government officials, and innovation ecosystem leaders. At least ten high-potential innovations were selected for continued mentorship and possible incubation.
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The program was supported by a consortium of partners including Ugathe nda Communications Commission (UCC), National Information Technology Authority–Uganda (NITA-U), RENU, Lwera Electronics & Semi-Conductors Ltd, Innovation Village, and the Centre for Innovations and Technology Transfer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. These institutions provided expertise, infrastructure, and networking platforms critical to nurturing innovation.
The bootcaboot camps with broader national goals, contributing to Uganda Vision 2040, the third National Development Plan (NDP III), and the ongoing Digital Transformation Roadmap (2023/24–2027/28) overseen by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
UICT officials said the success of the 2025 edition underscores the need to institutionalize such platforms across higher education institutions, helping Uganda tap into the innovative potential of its young population.
