In a bold move to turn academic brilliance into practical solutions, the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) has launched the Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025, a groundbreaking event aimed at transforming student projects into viable businesses and impactful technologies.
The four-day bootcamp, which will run from Thursday, 15th to Sunday, 18th May 2025, at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, is designed to close the gap between theoretical student innovations and the demands of Uganda’s growing digital economy.
Held under the theme “Transforming Student Projects into Minimum Viable Products & Services enroute to Commercialisation,” the initiative is the first of its kind to directly target final-year student innovations with the aim of shaping them into solutions that address Uganda’s socio-economic challenges.
“Every year, we see bright minds producing projects that simply end up on the shelf,” said Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, Head of UICT’s Research and Innovations Unit. “This bootcamp flips the script, giving students the tools, mentorship, and exposure they need to build real, scalable solutions that can attract investors and industry partnerships.”
The event is powered by a robust network of partners, including UCC, NITA-U, Lwera Electronics & Semi-Conductors Ltd, RENU, Innovation Village, the National ICT Innovation Hub, and the Center for Innovations and Technology Transfer at Mbarara University, all united to provide critical mentorship, technical infrastructure, and networking opportunities.
Participants will take part in practical sessions covering design thinking, prototyping, business modeling, intellectual property rights, collaboration with industry, and startup funding mechanisms.
The bootcamp will culminate in a pitch competition, where top student teams will present their refined innovations to a panel of expert judges, with the chance to be selected for further incubation and investment.
UICT hopes to identify at least 10 high-potential projects that will receive continued mentorship and development support beyond the event.
“We want this to be more than a one-off event. Our goal is to track and nurture these innovations until they are market-ready,” added Mugume.
The initiative aligns closely with national development strategies such as Uganda Vision 2040, NDP III, and the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance’s Digital Transformation Roadmap, all of which emphasise innovation, digital skills, and youth empowerment.
With over 100 students expected to participate, UICT’s Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025 represents a strategic shift in higher education—one that views students not just as learners, but as creators of Uganda’s digital future.