UICT Launches Fourth UJ Connect Cohort to Build Uganda’s Next Tech Startups

The Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology (UICT) , in partnership with the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance  and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),  has launched Batch Four of the UJ Connect Entrepreneurship Training and Mentorship (ETM) Programme, reaffirming its commitment to nurturing technology-driven entrepreneurship in Uganda.

The programme was officially launched by Dr. Aminah Zawedde at the National ICT Innovation Hub. The fourth cohort brings together 83 student innovators who will undergo intensive entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and industry exposure aimed at transforming their innovative ideas into commercially viable technology startups.

Through the programme, participants will be equipped with practical business skills, an entrepreneurial mindset, and access to professional networks that will help them develop sustainable businesses capable of creating jobs and addressing real-world challenges. The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Uganda’s digital economy by empowering young innovators to commercialize their ideas and contribute to national development.

Batch Four marks the final implementation cohort under the Uganda-Japan ICT Industry Promotion Project, a collaborative initiative between Uganda and Japan to advance the country’s ICT innovation ecosystem. However, UICT noted that the conclusion of the project also signals the beginning of a new phase, with entrepreneurship set to become a permanent pillar of the institute’s innovation and commercialization strategy.

UICT said it will continue working closely with partners, including Lwera Electronics and Semiconductors, to support emerging innovators and help build a vibrant technology startup ecosystem that will shape Uganda’s digital future.