Uganda, Japan launch final cohort to nurture market-ready startups
Zawedde said the initiative is building a pipeline of technology entrepreneurs who will contribute to Uganda's economic transformation.
The programme, implemented under the Uganda ICT Industry Promotion Project (UJ Connects), seeks to equip students with entrepreneurship, business development and innovation skills to transform ideas into commercially viable startups. (Courtesy photo)
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The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) has launched the fourth and final cohort of the Green Founders entrepreneurship programme, with government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) urging young innovators to develop practical solutions that can be transformed into successful businesses.
The programme, implemented under the Uganda ICT Industry Promotion Project (UJ Connects), seeks to equip students with entrepreneurship, business development and innovation skills to transform ideas into commercially viable startups.
Speaking at the launch on July 22, 2026, ICT and national guidance ministry permanent secretary Dr Amina Zawedde said the initiative is building a pipeline of technology entrepreneurs who will contribute to Uganda's economic transformation.
"This is not simply training for the sake of training. We are adding value to innovators by shaping their ideas, strengthening their business skills and turning promising innovations into solutions that can succeed in the market," she said.
According to Zawedde, the Uganda-Japan partnership is strengthening the country's ICT ecosystem by producing competitive professionals, supporting technology entrepreneurship and linking Ugandan innovators to global opportunities.
She said the programme has so far attracted more than 660 applicants, with 118 startups, teams and individual innovators receiving training, mentorship and strategic support.
Zawedde noted that previous cohorts have already recorded notable achievements, including proof-of-concept grants and international exposure.
"In the first batch, we attracted 303 applicants and supported 15 startup companies. Four applicants received grants to develop proof of concepts, while two startups showcased their innovations in Dubai," she said.
She added that innovators from subsequent cohorts have also participated in exhibitions and competitions in Rwanda, Japan and Vietnam.
Addressing the 83 innovators selected for the final cohort, Zawedde urged them to embrace failure as part of the innovation process and use feedback to improve their ideas.
She also encouraged participants to work closely with trainers and mentors to develop solutions that respond to real-life challenges and compete in the marketplace.
Zawedde said the programme supports government's ambition of growing Uganda into a $500 billion economy by 2031 through innovation, technology and enterprise development.
JICA Uganda chief representative Osaki Mitsuhiro described innovation as a key driver of sustainable development and challenged participants to focus on solving real community problems.
"I was very impressed by what the project has achieved so far, particularly the number of students benefiting from the mentorship programme and the institute's commitment to helping them learn and adapt to global trends," he said.
Mitsuhiro welcomed UICT's decision to integrate entrepreneurship mentorship into its curriculum, saying this would ensure the programme's sustainability beyond the project's lifespan.
He encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunity while still in school.
"Many professionals in Japan consider entrepreneurship later in their careers. By starting while you are still students, you have the advantage of time to experiment, learn from both success and failure, and grow as future innovators," he said.
Mitsuhiro reaffirmed JICA's commitment to supporting Uganda's private sector through technical cooperation and knowledge sharing.
"Through our technical cooperation project with our Japanese experts, we are sharing our knowledge and experience from Japan so that our counterparts in Uganda can disseminate it in this country," he said.
UICT principal Dr Fredrick Kitoogo said the programme demonstrates the long-standing partnership between Uganda and Japan in promoting innovation and youth entrepreneurship.
He said the initiative has received more than 660 applications and exposed participants to internationally recognised innovation ecosystems through training and mentorship.
"We are transitioning from a flagship development programme to embedding entrepreneurship and innovation as a sustainable practice within the institution," Kitoogo said.
He said the latest cohort, largely comprising first and second-year students, will undergo intensive mentorship aimed at equipping them with the skills, mindset and networks needed to build successful enterprises.
Kitoogo said UICT expects several innovations from the cohort to evolve into registered startups through business development support, partnerships and market access.
"We want to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem. Strong partnerships with industry are critical because they create platforms that support innovators and entrepreneurs," he said.
The institute is targeting at least six innovations to progress into sustainable enterprises by the end of the programme.
Students optimistic
James Wabwire, a computer science student selected for the programme, said participants expect to gain practical skills from experienced ICT professionals and industry leaders.
"We expect to learn from those who have already made it in the ICT field to help us build ourselves, choose our career paths and commercialise our innovations," Wabwire said.
He added that exposure to Japan's technology ecosystem and mentorship from industry experts would help participants refine their innovations and prepare them for careers in the digital economy.