Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) is proud to announce that a team of our exceptional graduate students emerged as the Best Overall Pitch winners at the STI Future Makers Hackathon 2026. Organized by the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat – Office of the President (STI-OP), the event was a focal point of the National Science Week, held under the theme: “STI WORKS: Powering Uganda to a $500B Economy.”
The winning innovation: ZuulaCare GastroDx™️
Addressing the critical challenge of diagnostic inaccessibility in underserved communities, the team will develop ZuulaCare GastroDx™️. This solution is a ground-breaking dual-target molecular diagnostic test designed to detect both Helicobacter pylori and Salmonella Typhi simultaneously from a single stool sample.
By integrating Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) with CRISPR-Cas12a detection, the tool provides rapid, lab-grade accuracy at the point of care, bypassing the need for expensive, centralized laboratory infrastructure.
The Winning Team
This victory is a result of the synergy between Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Chemistry. We celebrate the following innovators:
- Musau Immanuel Afrika (Team Lead, Microbiology)
- Mityaba Ronald (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
- Moses Ainembabazi (BIT/ Bioinfromatics)
- Victor Mugambe (Chemistry)
- Edith Mirembe (Medical laboratory sciences )
- Chellanagat Eliud (Pharmaceutical Sciences)
This achievement is a testament to the robust innovation ecosystem fostered at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. The team’s success was anchored in the dedicated mentorship of Abel Walekhwa (STI-OP) and the expert academic Mentorship of Prof. Joel Bazira.
Beyond their academic rigour, the team members were active participants in the Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer (CITT). Having engaged in various projects at the center, they gained invaluable hands-on experience through CITT’s Accelerator Product Development workshops. These sessions were instrumental in sharpening their skills in innovation, professional pitching, and rapid prototyping.
This foundation provided the technical and entrepreneurial blueprint that allowed these individual brilliant minds to converge, forming the ZuulaCare team and ultimately delivering a winning, market-ready solution.
Message from the Vice Chancellor
“On behalf of the entire Mbarara University of Science and Technology community, I extend my warmest congratulations to the ZuulaCare GastroDx™️ team for their stellar performance at the 2026 National Science Week.
This victory is a living embodiment of our university’s mandate: ‘To provide quality and relevant education at national and international levels, with particular emphasis on science and technology and its application to community development.’
By tackling the diagnosis of gastrointestinal pathogens in resource-limited settings, these students have shown that MUST does not just teach science—we apply it to solve the most pressing challenges of our people. This innovation directly aligns with Uganda’s vision of an STI-led $500B economy. We remain committed to fostering an environment where research transitions from the laboratory to the marketplace, ensuring that ‘STI Works’ for every Ugandan.”
This achievement underscores the university’s pivotal role in driving Uganda’s socio-economic transformation through science and technology. By bridging the gap between classroom theory and community-centered solutions, these innovators have set a new benchmark for excellence at MUST.
Looking ahead
As the ZuulaCare GastroDx™️ team moves from the hackathon stage toward large-scale impact, their success serves as a clarion call to all students and researchers. It proves that when diverse disciplines from Microbiology, Bioinformatics, to Chemistry and eventually Business unite under a shared vision, the result is more than just an award; it is a lifeline for those in underserved regions.
We celebrate this milestone not just as a win for the team, but as a victory for the spirit of African innovation. Congratulations once again to the team for proving that at MUST, we are truly powering the future of Uganda’s economy through science, technology, and an unwavering commitment to community development.
Succeed we must!
