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Students whose projects won funding present their dummy cheques of five million shillings during the training session at the institution. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
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By Milton Niinga
The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) has launched the Innovation Bootcamp and Pitch 2025, a transformative initiative aimed at unlocking the commercial potential of student innovations. The four-day program, held from May 15 to 19, 2025, at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, brought together students to refine, prototype, and pitch their solutions with guidance from experienced experts and policymakers.
Speaking at the launch, Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, Head of the Research and Innovations Unit at UICT in Nakawa Division, Kampala, said the bootcamp represents a significant shift in how student innovations are nurtured beyond the classroom.
"Each year, our students develop exceptional projects, many of which end with grading. This bootcamp changed that by offering a practical platform where students could refine, prototype, and pitch their solutions with guidance from experienced experts and policymakers," he remarked.
Held under the theme "Transforming Student Projects into Minimum Viable Products and Services en route to Commercialisation," the bootcamp brought together stakeholders from academia, government, industry, and innovation ecosystems to support student-led innovations with strong potential to address Uganda's socio-economic needs.
Students whose projects won funding present their dummy cheques during the training session at the institution. (Photo by Milton Niinga)
The event was supported by key partners including the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the National Information Technology Authority–Uganda (NITA-U), Lwera Electronics and Semiconductors Ltd, RENU, Innovation Village, and the Centre for Innovations and Technology Transfer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. These partners played a critical role in providing mentorship, infrastructure, and networks needed to scale up student solutions.
Dr. Fredrick Kitoogo, the Principal of UICT, said that participants benefited from hands-on training in areas such as design thinking, prototyping, business model development, intellectual property protection, industry collaboration, and startup financing.
"The program culminated in a pitch competition where students presented their projects to a panel of expert judges, including potential investors and industry leaders," he noted.
This initiative forms part of UICT's broader strategy to promote applied research and innovation in alignment with national development priorities.
"It contributes to the objectives of Uganda Vision 2040, the Third National Development Plan (NDP III), and the Digital Transformation Roadmap (2023/24–2027/28) spearheaded by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance," Kitoogo added.
UICT identified at least 10 promising student-led projects for further mentorship and possible incubation, marking a concrete step toward building a stronger innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem among Uganda’s youth.
