GDG Busitema Journey so far.

GDG Busitema was incubated on the 19th of February 2013, and it's based in Busitema University in Uganda. The core developers of this GDG are computer Engineering Students.
One of the reasons this GDG was formed was to motivate more students to develop using Google Technologies like Android,  Chrome, and tools like App Engine and other. Most developers liked to develop for Mobile and the web. So as Organisers we arranged a few code labs for Android.
We have worked closely with the developers and when an opportunity of the Africa Android Challenge came up,  7 Android Apps were submitted for the challenge from GDG Busitema. I think we deserve around of applause for that.
We have also done some serious collaborations with GDGs around us,  with GDG Mbale we attended the DevFestW and the #aac Barcamp. We are grateful to the team in Mbale lead by +Nsubuga Hassan for the support. We are also working on something with GDG Makerere you will here about it soon.
We have had some other events like a  Mapping Conference and the recent #io13 extended event that was done through the night and was a great experience.
We have had a few challenges as organiser and a group but we are grateful to the Google Team in Uganda and Africa who closely work with us.
Special thanks to +Van Riper , +Adriana , +Daniel Franc and +Max Bonbhel  for the great work for our GDGs.

GDG Busitema 3 months a growing stronger 
Nicholas Kamanzi
GDG Organiser

Google I/O Extended Busitema

Google I/O is an event every year that happens in San Francisco where Google unveils improvements and new technologies. For those who are not able to be in San Francisco, viewing parties across the world and this year for the first time GDGs Busitema hosted developers to its viewing party which last a good 10hours.
We started on 16th at 6:00 pm and ended it on 17th at 4:00am.
Developers were intrigued by the talks about Android and from the reviews we got most people liked Geo fencing,  Android talks and glass.
Snacks and soda  kept the developers going through the night and coffee was also served when the night became so cold.  We had our form of after hour by sharing cake and having breakfast together.
We thank Google for making all this happen   

Africa Android Challenge Experience.

The Africa Android Challenge is a challenge which is aimed at getting the best Android developer from the African continent.
In my country Uganda we celebrated this challenge like the rest of Africa by doing Barcamps for Developer to get a winner.
There was a mini Barcamp in Mbale at Maisha Africa Hotel.
We had a Demo of all the apps from the eastern part of Uganda which was  successful.
Alcatel who are one   the sponsors of this challenge provided test devices to both GDG Busitema and GDG Mbale. This was a big step to building test centers for the GDGs in Africa. This event took on the 27th April 2013.

On the 10th of May there was a main event for Uganda at Outbox Hub in Kampala which was aimed at getting a winner from Uganda and BodaPay emerged winner. We had some talks from the various developer about what was cool about their apps.
We also had a best practices talk on Android development. The winner walked away with an Evo7 HD  Tablet From Alcatel and the 2nd  walked away with an Alcatel phone.

Am personally truly grateful to Google, Alcatel OneTouch and other sponsors for sponsoring the Africa Android Challenge. It was really a great experience for me.

To the Organizing team lead by +Max Bonbhel it has been an honour working with you,  I believe we are going to get the best app from Africa.

Till the #aac next year,
Nicholas Kamanzi
GDG Busitema