Views: 21
UICT Launches Innovation Bootcamp to Commercialize Student Projects
The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), in partnership with the National ICT Innovation Hub, recently hosted the Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025, a dynamic four-day program aimed at transforming student innovations into commercially viable solutions. The event took place from May 15th to 18th, 2025, at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa.
Under the theme “Transforming Student Projects into Minimum Viable Products & Services enroute to Commercialisation,” the bootcamp provided a platform for final-year students to evolve their academic projects into real-world business ventures. The initiative brought together stakeholders from academia, government, private sector, and the innovation ecosystem to support student-led ideas that address key socio-economic challenges in Uganda.
The bootcamp was made possible with the support of various partners, including the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), National Information Technology Authority – Uganda (NITA-U), Lwera Electronics & Semi-Conductors Ltd, RENU, Innovation Village, and the Centre for Innovations and Technology Transfer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. These organizations offered mentorship, technical support, and access to vital infrastructure and networks.
At the event’s opening, Mr. Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, Head of UICT’s Research and Innovations Unit, emphasized the importance of nurturing student innovations beyond academic evaluation.
“Every year, students create remarkable projects that often stop at grading. This bootcamp provided them with a rare opportunity to refine, prototype, and pitch their solutions with expert support and industry insights,” he said.
Participants received intensive, hands-on training in areas including design thinking, prototyping, business modeling, intellectual property rights, industry engagement, and startup funding. The program concluded with a pitch competition where students showcased their innovations before a panel of judges, comprising investors and industry experts.
The Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025 is part of UICT’s strategic effort to drive applied research and innovation in alignment with national goals such as Uganda Vision 2040, the Third National Development Plan (NDP III), and the Digital Transformation Roadmap (2023/24–2027/28), led by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.
As a tangible outcome, UICT selected 10 standout student-led projects for ongoing mentorship and potential incubation—signifying a step forward in fostering a vibrant, youth-driven innovation and entrepreneurship culture in Uganda.