The second day of the Tech Advance Bootcamp 2026 was more than just another training day it was an opportunity to celebrate Heroes Day through action.
As participants continued their journey of Innovating for River Rwizi, they were introduced to the first stage of design thinking: Empathize. Rather than remaining in the classroom, the bootcamp took learning to the banks of River Rwizi, where participants experienced firsthand the realities facing one of southwestern Uganda's most important natural resources.
To commemorate Heroes Day, students, mentors, and stakeholders joined hands in a tree-planting exercise along the riverbanks. While planting a tree may seem like a small act, every seedling represented a commitment to restoring and protecting the river for future generations.
The activity brought together a diverse coalition of conservation champions, including UCoBS Sub-Projects 1 and 5, bootcamp participants, representatives from the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, environmental practitioners, U.S. Alumni, journalists, and members of the Mbarara City Traders Association.
Yet one question lingered among participants: Who will nurture these trees and ensure they survive?
That simple question sparked deeper conversations about ownership, sustainability, and community involvement exactly the kind of thinking that design thinking encourages.
As participants interacted with stakeholders and community members, they uncovered a wide range of challenges affecting River Rwizi. Environmental experts highlighted issues such as wetland encroachment, riverbank degradation, siltation, pollution from untreated waste, invasive floating vegetation, and the gradual narrowing of the river channel.
Representatives from the National Water and Sewerage Corporation emphasized another critical concern: the increasing cost of treating polluted water. Even after extensive treatment processes, only about 90% of contaminants can be removed, making prevention far more effective than treatment.
The river, however, is more than an environmental resource it is also a source of livelihoods.
Community members shared the various economic activities that depend on the river, including pottery, nursery bed establishment, fish farming, and car washing. Traditional recreational activities such as swimming continue to attract people to the river, while others simply visit the area to relax and enjoy the scenery. However, concerns were also raised about safety and insecurity, with reports of theft along some sections of the riverbanks.
Every conversation revealed a new insight. Every stakeholder shared a different perspective. Every challenge uncovered another opportunity for innovation.
Armed with these real-world experiences, participants returned to the bootcamp energized and ready for the next phase ideation. Working in multidisciplinary teams, they began transforming observations into opportunities and challenges into potential solutions.
The ideas are beginning to take shape as the innovators are getting to work and somewhere within these discussions may lie the next breakthrough for the conservation of River Rwizi. Stay tuned as we continue to follow the teams on their journey from empathy to innovation.