Ugandan innovators honoured at Kampala bootcamp

______________

In a bid to move towards transforming academic achievements into practical solutions, five groups of innovators have been celebrated for their groundbreaking projects during the Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025.

The programme aims to convert the ideas of young innovators into viable businesses and impactful technologies.

Organised by the Uganda Institute of ICT (UICT) in Nakawa in collaboration with the National ICT Innovation Hub, the four-day challenge featured 29 shortlisted groups, each focused on developing solutions to real-life problems faced by Ugandans.

Gastervas Rutwara Mugume, Head of the Research and Innovations Unit at UICT, emphasised that the bootcamp represents a critical shift in nurturing student innovations beyond the classroom.

“Each year, our students develop exceptional projects, many of which only receive a grade. This bootcamp changed that by providing a practical platform where students could refine, prototype and pitch their solutions with guidance from experienced experts and policymakers,” he said.

Participants benefited from hands-on training in areas such as design thinking, prototyping, business model development, intellectual property protection, industry collaboration, and startup financing. During the event, held May 15-18, 2025, judges assessed ambitious ICT-driven solutions addressing real-world challenges based on originality, impact, and scalability.

Among the standout innovations was a Facial Detection Care-Based Security System, which uses advanced facial recognition technology to identify authorised users and start a car without the need for keys or buttons. This system compares real-time camera scans with securely stored facial data, enhancing both convenience and vehicle security.

Other notable projects included the Librasmart system, which provides secure access control to library resources using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) cards.

At least 10 promising student-led projects will receive further mentorship and potential incubation, marking a significant step towards building a stronger innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem among Uganda's youth. (Courtesy)

Promoting applied research

Themed "Transforming Student Projects into Minimum Viable Products & Services on the Road to Commercialisation," the event brought together stakeholders from academia, government, industry, and innovation ecosystems to support student-led initiatives designed to address socio-economic challenges in Uganda.

It is part of UICT's broader strategy to promote applied research and innovation aligned with national development priorities. It contributes to the objectives of Uganda Vision 2040, the Third National Development Plan (NDP III), and the Digital Transformation Roadmap (2023/24–2027/28), spearheaded by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance.

Following the event, UICT announced that at least 10 promising student-led projects would receive further mentorship and potential incubation, marking a significant step towards building a stronger innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem among Uganda's youth.

This year's sessions differed from past traditions, as innovators previously participated in hackathons centred around existing challenges, proposing solutions accordingly.

Judges and event sponsors included after the event. This was during the Innovation Bootcamp & Pitch 2025 at Uganda Institute of ICT Nakawa on Sunday. (Courtesy)

The winners

Winner: RFID Book Detecting System

1st Runner-up: AI Tool for Hypertension Diagnosis & Treatment

2nd Runner-up: Facial Detection Car Security System

Notable Finalist: NdiMukozi – AI-Powered Handyman Service App

TIE – 5th Place: • CampusBite – Student-Exclusive Food Delivery App • Gym Appointment Scheduling App