Introduction
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), through the Uganda Communications Universal Service and Access Fund (UCUSAF), promotes universal access to communications services and supports the development of digital innovation, digital inclusion, and socioeconomic development.

In line with Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), the Digital Transformation Roadmap 2023/24-2027/28 and the National ICT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy, UCC/UCUSAF is committed to invest in initiatives that strengthen Uganda's digital ecosystem through the establishment of emerging technologies and the adoption and local innovations. The programme aims to strengthen the ICT innovation ecosystem, support early-stage startups, and promote the commercialisation of locally developed digital solutions.

One such initiative is the National e-Booster Programme, which was established to identify and support promising locally developed ICT innovations and startups that demonstrate potential to create opportunities for sustainable growth, employment, and improved service delivery. Building on the experience and lessons from Cohorts I and II of the e-Booster Programme, UCC/UCUSAF now invites interested firms, organisations or consortia to submit proposals for implementation of Phase III of the National e-Booster Programme during FY 2026/2027.

UCC therefore invites proposals from eligible organisations or consortia to implement an integrated programme comprising three components:

1. ICT Innovation Acceleration: to identify, nurture and support promising locally developed ICT innovations.
2. National ICT Innovation Incubation: to provide business development, mentorship, and access to finance for startups.
3. Knowledge Management and Learning: to document and share experiences, lessons, and best practices from previous e-Booster Cohorts.

Through Phase III, UCC seeks to support promising ICT innovations with potential for scalability, job creation, and improvement of service delivery, generate knowledge on emerging technologies, and promote digital transformation through the National e-Booster Programme.

General Objective
To support the development and scaling of locally developed ICT innovations and startups, enhance digital entrepreneurship, and promote digital inclusion, while generating evidence and knowledge to strengthen Uganda's ICT innovation ecosystem.

Specific Objectives
The programme seeks to:

1. Identify, nurture and accelerate high-potential ICT innovations and startups for scale-up.
2. Strengthen the capacity of innovators to validate commercialise and scale sustainable digital solutions through technical, mentorship and business development support.
3. Promote digital entrepreneurship, local content development, employment creation and strategic partnerships with Uganda's digital innovation ecosystem.
4. Undertake a comprehensive national assessment of Uganda's ICT innovation ecosystem, including innovators, incubators, support institutions and enablers.
5. Assess the maturity, scalability, inclusiveness and socioeconomic contribution of ICT innovations and identify opportunities and gaps.
6. Develop a National ICT Innovation Index, a national innovation database and evidence-based recommendations to inform policy.
7. Document and disseminate the experiences, achievements, lessons and best practices from e-Booster Cohorts I and II.
8. Generate and share knowledge products that support replication and scaling of successful ICT innovations.
9. Increase the visibility and recognition of locally developed ICT innovations and their contribution to Uganda's digital transformation.

Project Actions
The successful implementing partner will be expected to undertake the following key actions:

1. Design and implement a transparent and competitive process for identifying and selecting high-potential ICT innovations.
2. Provide acceleration support, including technical assistance, incubation, technical and business development support, product validation, commercialisation support and market linkages.
3. Organise innovation showcases and stakeholder engagements that create opportunities for collaboration, investment, and market linkages.
4. The partner will also be responsible for implementing the National ICT Innovation Ecosystem Assessment and developing the National ICT Innovation Index and database.
5. Document and share the knowledge products and lessons learned in accordance with the Detailed Statement of Requirements.

Target Areas
Phase III of the National e-Booster Programme will be implemented across the following three components:
1) ICT Innovation Acceleration
The Programme will support promising ICT-enabled solutions that respond to national development priorities and contribute to solutions that address national development priorities and contribute to sustainable development goals.
Innovations may address areas such as agriculture, health, education, financial inclusion, tourism, climate change, governance, e-mobility and community development, among other relevant sectors.
2) National ICT Innovation Ecosystem Assessment
A national assessment will be undertaken to establish the status, gaps, and inclusiveness of Uganda's ICT innovation ecosystem.
The assessment will generate evidence on innovators, support organisations, funding instruments, infrastructure, policies, and constraints, and the contribution of ICT innovations to socioeconomic development.
The findings will inform policy, investment decisions and future UCC/UCUSAF interventions.
3) Knowledge Management and Learning
Experiences, achievements, lessons and good practices from previous e-Booster cohorts will be documented and disseminated through knowledge products, case studies and dissemination and scaling of successful approaches.
This component will include the development of an e-Booster Success Case Book and other relevant knowledge products.

Eligibility of applicants
Applicants shall meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:

1. The Applicant must be a duly registered and legally registered entities in Uganda. Where an application is submitted by a consortium, the Lead Applicant shall be a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, or a private limited company registered in Uganda. The Lead and Co-applicants shall be legally registered entities in Uganda.
2. The Applicant (Both Lead and co-applicant in case of a consortium) must be in satisfactory financial health and have the financial capacity to manage the project and report as per the UCUSAF guidelines.
3. The Applicant (Both Lead and co-applicant in case of a consortium) must demonstrate experience in implementing programmes related to innovation incubation, business incubation, acceleration, entrepreneurship, ICT innovation ecosystem development or related fields.
4. The Applicant (Lead Applicant or consortium) shall demonstrate the ability to manage the three components of the programme.
   i. ICT innovation support through incubation, acceleration, mentorship, technical assistance and business development services.
   ii. conducting national or large-scale research, mapping or assessment of innovation or digital ecosystems; and
   iii. documentation of project results, knowledge management, case studies, publications and dissemination of programme learning.
5. The Applicant shall demonstrate the combined experience of the Lead Applicant and Co-applicants shall collectively satisfy the above requirements.
6. The Applicant (Lead Applicant and Co-applicants), in the case of a consortium, shall demonstrate experience in working with government, development partners, research institutions, development partners, the private sector, and institutions of higher learning.
7. The Applicant (Lead Applicant and Co-applicants), in the case of a consortium, shall demonstrate proven capacity and experience in managing donor-funded projects, including planning, budgeting, financial management, procurement, reporting, monitoring and evaluation.
8. The Applicant (Lead Applicant and Co-applicants) in case of a consortium shall demonstrate sound financial management systems and experience in managing grant-funded programmes.
9. The Applicant (both Lead and co-applicant in case of a consortium) shall demonstrate the ability to leverage strategic partnerships and additional resources to support implementation and scaling of supported innovations beyond the grant period.

Application Timeline
The grant application is open from 28th September 2026 to 12th October 2026.

A Pre-grant Application meeting will be held on-line on 2nd October 2026 at 10:00am. The meeting link is below:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_326392440337814167%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22b9c7ce8a-7e57-4e8f-9b47-7c0e7b8c22a9%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%228b75a6ee-077f-459d-a5ce-2bff00f76111%22%7d

Detailed statement of requirements: https://www.ucc.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CALL-FOR-PROPOSALS-FOR-IMPLEMENTATION-OF-PHASE-III-OF-THE-NATIONAL-E-BOOSTER-PROGRAMME.pdf

Applications must be submitted through the grant application portal at https://services.ucc.co.ug/web/ by 11:59 pm on 12th October 2026.

For inquiries, contact:
Telephone: +256 414 339000 / +256 312 339000
Email: ucusal@ucc.co.ug

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Uganda Communications Commission
Plot 42-44, Spring Road Bugolobi
P. O. Box 7376, Kampala
Website: www.ucc.co.ug
Email: ucusal@ucc.co.ug
X: @UCC_Official