ICT Clubs Innovation & Startup Development Course

Course Outline

UNIT 1: Foundations of Innovation & AI

  • Introduction to ICT Club Innovation Program
  • Generative AI Tools for Problem Solving
  • Identifying Community Problems
  • Solving Problems with Technology
  • Exploring Mobile App Builders (App Inventor)
  • Exploring Web App Builders
  • Algorithms (Optional Lesson)

UNIT 2: Research & AI Foundations

  • Researching Real-World Problems
  • Partnering with Community Organizations
  • Selecting a Meaningful Problem
  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
  • App Inventor: Closer Look
  • Web Apps: Diving Deeper

UNIT 3: Designing Smart Solutions

  • Identifying Innovative Solutions
  • Responsible Research and Innovation
  • Market Research Basics
  • App Inventor: Coding Conditionals
  • Finding Patterns with AI

UNIT 4: Lean Startup & Product Development

  • Lean Canvas Part 1
  • Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
  • Engaging Users & Testing Ideas
  • App Inventor Components
  • Debugging Your Code
  • AI Datasets & Data Collection

UNIT 5: Prototyping & AI Integration

  • Paper Prototyping
  • Planning Your Innovation Project
  • Variables and Lists in App Inventor
  • Training Your AI Model
  • Web Apps Using AI Models
  • Adding Generative AI to Your Application

UNIT 6: Ethics & Responsible Technology

  • Ethics in AI & Technology (Ongoing Process)
  • Case Studies of Real Innovation Projects
  • Responsible Data Usage

UNIT 7: Business & Financial Planning

  • Lean Canvas Part 2
  • Business Model Development
  • AI Software Options
  • Storing Data in App Inventor

UNIT 8: Advanced Development & APIs

  • Coding APIs in App Inventor
  • Integrating External Services
  • Outline Pitch & Technical Documentation

UNIT 9: Communication & Storytelling

  • Recording Project Demonstration Videos
  • Creating Technical Walkthrough Videos

UNIT 10: Media Production

  • Editing Project Videos Professionally
  • Preparing Visual Presentation Materials

UNIT 11: Reflection & Learning Journey

  • Documenting Your Innovation Journey
  • Lessons Learned
  • Measuring Social Impact

UNIT 12: Competition Preparation

  • Submitting Your Project
  • Preparing to Pitch
  • Mock Pitch Sessions
  • Final Review & NCC Competition Readiness

Introduction and Welcome

Welcome to the UCC ICT Clubs Innovation & Startup Development Course.

This program is implemented by KAWA in partnership with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) under the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF) program.

For more than five years, KAWA has worked closely with UCC to expand digital access, strengthen ICT education, and build innovation capacity in secondary schools across Uganda. Through this partnership, ICT Clubs have been supported nationwide to equip learners with practical technology skills aligned to the future of work and national development priorities.

This course represents the next phase of that journey.

It is designed to move students beyond basic computer literacy into innovation, responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI), entrepreneurship, and competition-level project development. Learners will identify real problems in their communities, research them thoroughly, design and build functional mobile or web applications, integrate AI responsibly where appropriate, and prepare their solutions for presentation at the NCC Annual Competitions.

The strength of this program lies in its ecosystem.

KAWA CONNECT works within a national innovation network that includes experienced coders, software engineers, entrepreneurs, AI specialists, and seasoned project managers operating at the Government National Innovations Hub and regional centres. Students are therefore not isolated in classrooms; they are connected to real innovation spaces and real industry expertise.

The program is further strengthened through collaboration with leading universities and distinguished dons and researchers from institutions such as Makerere University (particularly the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology – CEDAT), Kyambogo University, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), Gulu University, Mountains of the Moon University, and ISBAT University. These partnerships ensure that the curriculum reflects research-informed practice, strong technical standards, and entrepreneurial relevance.

International partnerships with organizations such as Edify and Learn with Grandma further enhance the quality, global perspective, and innovation standards of the program.

This course is not merely about coding.

It is about building problem-solvers.

It is about nurturing ethical technology creators.

It is about empowering young Ugandans to design solutions that respond to real community challenges in health, agriculture, education, climate, transport, safety, financial inclusion, and social development.

By the end of this course, students will have developed not only a working prototype, but also the confidence, collaboration skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and presentation ability required to compete nationally and contribute meaningfully to Uganda’s digital transformation agenda.

You are not just learning to use technology.

You are preparing to create it.