Ubuntu Touch is still going. It's up to it's 13th release now and I don't think it's a failed project.

However I do think it's something that isn't yet ready for primetime, and it's going to be more a year or more before it is.

In the meantime they are trying to iron out bugs, improve features and get more developer attention for it. Recently they've added support for React Native: https://github.com/CanonicalLtd/react-native

HN readers might like to check out the Ubuntu Developer blog: https://developer.ubuntu.com/en/