Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), through its Institutional University Cooperation (IUC-UCoBS) Program, has once again demonstrated its commitment to practical learning, innovation, and community transformation. This follows the successful completion of a 5-day Tech-Preneurship Bootcamp co-organized by UCoBS Sub-Project 5 (Youth Employability) and Sub-Project 6 (ICT Capacity for Information Access and Utilization), in strategic collaboration with Kreative Campus, a regional innovation hub.
Held at the Innovation Village from June 9th to 13th, 2025, the bootcamp brought together over 60 students from computing, business, and interdisciplinary backgrounds to explore the intersection of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The goal was clear: to close the gap between academic innovation and market-ready tech solutions.
The bootcamp addressed a growing issue: while computing students create impressive tech prototypes as part of their academic journey, few, if any, go on to commercialize their solutions. The bootcamp was designed in response to a missed opportunity for both self-employment and community impact.
Student teams participated in a week-long program focused on design thinking, ideation, validation, business model development, and prototyping. Field trips helped them develop their empathy and problem-solving skills, while industry guest speakers and expert facilitators guided them to innovative and scalable tech-based business concepts.
On June 13th, nine student-led teams presented their solutions to a panel of judges. Ideas included AI-powered health platforms, agricultural technology, and community-based financial tools. Kreative Campus’s Tech Advance Program supported five top-performing teams in a mentoring and incubation phase.
Mr. Sankara Byaruhanga, Co-founder of Kreative Campus and Mandela Washington Fellow, emphasized the significance of connecting academic research to the marketplace. “We are proud to collaborate with MUST and UCoBS projects to ensure that innovation does not end in the classroom. “We’re investing in the next generation of founders,” he stated.
The team leader of Subproject 5, Dr. Manasseh Tumuhimbise, hailed the initiative as a strong step toward solving youth unemployment. “By nurturing entrepreneurial thinking within our academic programs, we empower students to become job creators,” he said.
Dr. Fred Kaggwa, team leader for subproject 6, emphasized the importance of digital skills in bridging information access gaps and praised the students’ efforts to create effective solutions.
Mr. Robert Kanusu, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Mbarara City, the Chief Guest, in his closing remarks, commended MUST for fostering innovation among the youth and encouraged continued partnerships between academia and the private sector.
The Tech-Preneurship Bootcamp marked a milestone in interdisciplinary and community-based collaboration and sets a strong precedent for future joint initiatives aimed at solving real-world problems through technology.
