On the 2nd of January, 2026, the MUST–HOWEST Students Bootcamp officially came to life, marking a major milestone in a journey that had been years in the making. Branded “Learning Uganda from Within,” the initiative was first envisioned in 2023. As Dr. Manasseh reflected in his opening remarks, its implementation was temporarily delayed by legislative changes in Uganda. Yet, the vision endured. In 2025, the idea began to take shape through the presence of two Belgian interns Lien and Sam at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), who spent three months contributing to the development of a business plan for the Entrepreneurship Centre. Their stay also coincided with the successful ACHA Bootcamp, laying a strong foundation for what would eventually become a larger, more immersive experience.
In 2026, that vision fully blossomed. Under the coordination of Project 5 and the leadership of the Flemish team leader, Prof. Thijs Martens, a vibrant delegation of 10 HOWEST students, two lecturers, and one industry expert arrived at MUST for an intensive five-day bootcamp. The program was opened by Dr. Manasseh, who expressed deep appreciation to Prof. Thijs for the seamless coordination and to the mentors whose dedication continues to shape and inspire young innovators. He also acknowledged the Flemish funders for their invaluable support and, notably, the parents of the HOWEST students for enabling their children to embark on this transformative journey to Uganda. Participants were encouraged to mix freely, learn intentionally from one another, and fully embrace the richness of cross-cultural exchange.
As the local coordinator, Dr. Medard echoed these sentiments, highlighting that this was the largest group of visiting students MUST had hosted surpassing even previous Canadian delegations. He introduced participants to the broader framework of the UCoBS program, with particular emphasis on Project 5, which directly addresses Uganda’s pressing challenge of unemployment and employability. Referencing the 2025 World Bank unemployment rate of 2.94%, he emphasized the project’s strong alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 8 and Uganda Vision 2040. He encouraged the Belgian students to explore Uganda thoughtfully and contextually, while urging MUST students to maximize the opportunity by building strong networks through active engagement.
The bootcamp was officially declared open by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor Robert Bitariho, who shared his long-standing appreciation for bootcamps as dynamic spaces for learning, collaboration, and innovation. Drawing from his background as a researcher and administrator, he applauded the organizers for creating a platform that bridges academia and industry while bringing diverse cultures together. He expressed optimism that the interactions would spark bold ideas capable of addressing real community challenges and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting such initiatives through the Entrepreneurship Centre.
A key highlight of the day was an intercultural communication session facilitated by Lieze, a Flemish project team. Designed to break the ice and build connection, the session brought participants into ten cross-cultural teams each comprising one HOWEST student and several MUST students. Through shared reflections on culture and important celebrations captured on sticky notes, conversations flowed effortlessly, transforming strangers into collaborators. Lieze further introduced Hofstede’s Cultural Onion Model, helping participants understand how symbols, heroes, values, and practices shape societies and everyday interactions.
