eBooster Cohort 2 participants at the launch at Uganda Communications Commission Headquarters
Makerere University Business School (MUBS), in partnership with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), launched the eBooster Cohort 2 programme, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating digital inclusion by supporting innovators developing ICT solutions for underserved communities. The launch took place on Friday, 13 November 2025, at the UCC headquarters in Bugolobi.
Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Rogers Mwesigwa, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, representing MUBS Principal Prof. Moses Muhwezi, highlighted the programme’s mission to extend digital solutions to marginalized groups, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities. He noted that the success of Cohort 1, which supported five pioneering projects, laid a strong foundation for expanding the program reach into sectors such as health, tourism, transport, and education.
“One of the innovations under eBooster aims to improve the speed at which patients receive information in hospitals, addressing long-standing delays,” said Assoc. Prof. Mwesigwa. “The program is designed to deliver practical, problem-solving digital tools that directly improve people’s lives.”
The Executive Director of UCC, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, emphasised the importance of robust digital infrastructure for innovation.
“Strong networks are critical because innovations cannot function without them. We must link incubations facilities with accelerators to ensure that problems are identified, solutions are developed, and promising projects are supported to succeed,” he said. Prof. Ernest Abaho, eBooster Project Lead, reiterated the programme’s focus on empowering innovators not yet fully supported by mainstream industry players.
Assoc. Prof. Geoffrey Kituyi Mayoka, Dean of the Faculty of Vocational and Distance Education
“Our goal is to build local capacity for companies developing ICT solutions that improve communication access in health, education, agriculture, transport, and other critical sectors,” he said. “This initiative contributes to the national digitisation agenda, ensuring no community is left behind.”
Through mentorship, technical support, market linkages, and commercialisation pathways, the programme equips innovators with the skills and networks needed to scale affordable digital solutions. According to Prof. Abaho, this support is especially crucial for communities that have historically been digitally excluded.
Eng. Mujuni B. Arnold, Head of Technical Monitoring at UCUSAF, highlighted that Ugandan innovators are increasingly developing practical, locally owned digital solutions that address real societal needs.
The six selected companies in Cohort 2 focus on sectors including health, agriculture, education, transport, and tourism, leveraging advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Blockchain. The selection process was guided by a national baseline study and involved input from regulators, industry experts, educators, and ICT users, ensuring that innovations respond to community needs and sector priorities. Assoc. Prof. Kituyi Mayoka, Dean Faculty of Vocational and Distance Education, emphasised the importance of a structured, evidence-based selection process: “This framework ensures that investments support impactful, locally owned solutions that drive Uganda’s digital transformation.”
By combining MUBS’ academic expertise with UCC’s regulatory support, the eBooster programme aims to close the digital divide, strengthen service delivery, and empower communities. Its mission aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, reinforcing Uganda’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital era.