The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance (MoICT&NG) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has officially launched Batch Four of the UJ Connect Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship (ETM) Programme, marking a significant milestone in Uganda's efforts to institutionalize technology entrepreneurship and strengthen the country's innovation ecosystem. The programme seeks to equip participants with the entrepreneurial mindset and practical business skills required to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable enterprises.
This year's cohort comprises 83 competitively selected student innovators; 26 first-year students and 57 second-year students, who will undertake an intensive entrepreneurship acceleration programme covering customer discovery, business modelling, intellectual property management, investment readiness, prototype refinement and pitching.
The launch comes at a critical time as Uganda continues to leverage its youthful population as a driver of socio-economic transformation. According to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, nearly one-third of Uganda's population is between 15 and 30 years of age, while the 2025 Labour Market Survey indicates youth unemployment among those aged 15–24 stands at 17.9 percent, underscoring the need for innovation-led entrepreneurship programmes that create opportunities beyond traditional employment.
“Today, we are moving beyond delivering a successful programme to embedding entrepreneurship and commercialization within our academic ecosystem. Our goal is to equip students not only with technical competencies but also with the entrepreneurial mindset, industry networks and practical experience needed to build enterprises, create jobs and develop technologies that solve Uganda's most pressing challenges” said Dr. Fredrick Kitoogo, the Principal, UICT during the launch event held at the National ICT Hub.
He further emphasized that entrepreneurship should become a culture within higher education, one that empowers youth to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, also hailed the programme as a practical demonstration of Government's commitment to building Uganda's digital economy through innovation and entrepreneurship.
“The ETM Programme is producing tangible results by helping young innovators transform ideas into market-ready solutions. The progress achieved over the previous three cohorts demonstrates what focused investment in entrepreneurship can accomplish. As Government, we remain committed to strengthening this innovation pipeline and ensuring that more young Ugandans build businesses, create jobs and develop technologies capable of competing both locally and globally,” Dr. Zawedde said while officiating at the launch.
Representing the Government of Japan, Mr. Osaki Mitsuhiro, Chief Representative of JICA Uganda, reaffirmed Japan's commitment to supporting youth-led innovation through strategic partnerships.
At JICA, we believe that sustainable development in the 21st century must be driven by innovation, supported by strong partnerships and led by talented young people. The knowledge, networks and experience you'll gain on this programme will become the foundation for future ventures that create jobs and solve real-world challenges,” he said.
The launch represents the final implementation cohort of the Uganda-Japan ICT Industry Promotion Project under the UJ Connect Programme while simultaneously ushering in a new phase where entrepreneurship training will become a permanent feature of UICT's innovation and commercialization ecosystem.
By the completion of Batch Four, the programme is expected to strengthen at least 10 commercially viable innovations, support the registration of ten startups or intellectual property assets, and prepare at least six innovations for progression into the next phase of the UICT Innovation for Commercialization Pipeline, where they will receive advanced incubation, industry partnerships and commercialization support.
As Uganda accelerates its digital transformation journey, the institutionalization of the UJ Connect Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship Programme positions UICT as a leading centre for developing technology entrepreneurs capable of transforming innovative ideas into scalable businesses.
