More than 25 student groups from UCU participated in the recently held UCU Student Innovation Challenge, organized by the university’s Directorate of Research, Partnerships, and Innovations. The challenge, among the many flagship activities of the UCU-RF, was intended to have the students develop innovative solutions that can solve real problems in different sectors.
Students are tasked with the implementation of their ideas within a period of six months, with a maximum of 10 teams winning $1,000 each. The competition is open to all fully registered UCU students, from diploma holders to postgraduate students, with project ideas in areas like agriculture, engineering, health, ICT, among others.
Dr. Elizabeth Kizito, the Director of Research, Partnerships and Innovations at UCU, said support for innovating students has to move beyond this competition, citing the need for continued training at the university’s incubation hub to help students make these projects even better and reach full potential.
The challenge has encouraged students to grow into finding effective solutions. Indeed, one of the leading teams presenting is She Funds: a crowdfunding platform led by Gabrielle Lukyamuzi Angel that empowers underprivileged women and children. Even though Gabrielle said that $1,000 wouldn’t cover her project expenses, she had hopes for its impact.
Another winning team is led by Norah Akaba of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, who produces cowpea leaf vegetable soup to reduce post-harvest losses and increase the consumption of traditional foods. Similarly, Kakande Hanington’s group makes eco-friendly unfired clay bricks by using ceramic waste and sisal fiber.
This is addressing some of the vital local challenges: the water crisis that has deeply eaten into the fabric of life in Kotido. Gaspher Alil Ageno designed a solar and wind-powered system for pumping water for irrigation and home use. His innovation aims to ease the shortage of water, which has contributed to food insecurity and underdevelopment within the region.
Another promising project by the UCU School of Medicine was led by Jeremy Rukundo; this was an automated irrigation system proposal based on nutrition and moisture sensors. This system is designed to combat food insecurity by efficiently using water in such areas where the erratic weather caused by climate change mostly affects Earth.
Through the UCU-SIC, students received not only financial support but also technical support and mentorship. Consequently, the culture of innovation has been nurtured at the university through the relentless effort of DRPI by providing the students with a platform to convert their ideas into practical applications for societal use.
The UCU Student Innovation Challenge will continue to run annually, grooming future generations who may be in a position to bring about lasting impacts in Uganda and beyond.
