The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT), in collaboration with the National ICT Innovation Hub, has officially launched the Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025, a new initiative designed to advance promising student-led ICT and engineering projects toward full commercialization.

Scheduled to run from May 15 to 18 at the National ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa, the four-day event will offer final-year students a rare opportunity to refine, prototype, and pitch their projects under the guidance of industry leaders, mentors, and policymakers.

According to Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, Head of UICT’s Research and Innovations Unit, the bootcamp reflects a major shift in how academic projects are supported.

“Each year, our students develop exceptional projects that often end up in grading,” Mugume stated. “This Bootcamp changes that by providing a platform for students to refine, prototype, and pitch their solutions with guidance from leading experts.”

He emphasized that the bootcamp is designed to identify high-potential innovations and accelerate them toward market readiness.

“This marks a significant step in transforming outstanding student projects into viable, market-ready products and services that address pressing socio-economic challenges in Uganda,” he added.

The initiative also reinforces UICT’s broader strategy to promote applied research and innovation, aligning with national frameworks such as Uganda Vision 2040, the Third National Development Plan (NDP III), and the Digital Transformation Roadmap (2023/24–2027/28) developed by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025 is backed by a coalition of national innovation stakeholders, including the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), National Information Technology Authority Uganda (NITA-U), Lwera Electronics & Semi-Conductors Ltd, RENU, Innovation Village, and the Center for Innovations and Technology Transfer at Mbarara University.