Bernard Mugume grew up in a rural community with eleven siblings. His family prioritized faith and education but he didn’t have enough money to pay for his school fees. Bernard was undeterred by the obstacles he faced, however, and he worked hard to pay for his education. Each morning before school he would work at local plantations and in the afternoon he would cook and wash clothes. Despite the added work, Bernard thrived academically and he eventually graduated from Makerere University with a degree in Economics and Statistics.

After graduating in 2009, Bernard worked in the banking sector and quickly earned different leadership opportunities. Bernard was thriving in his career – after growing up in material poverty, Bernard was progressing towards prosperity. Yet Bernard knew he wasn’t called to settle into a comfortable life. He had worked hard to acquire skills and he wanted to use them to empower young Ugandans who also faced barriers to academic and professional development. Instead of pursuing personal success, Bernard wanted his career to be defined by how he served others. This desire led him to leave his job, and launch the Focus Youth Forum (FYF) in 2016. 

FYF exists to give skills and hope to the 80% of Ugandans under the age of 35. Specifically, Bernard established FYF to fight unemployment and poverty through capacity building. FYF specializes in supporting entrepreneurs, teaching marketing skills, and, ultimately, promoting a mindset shift. Bernard wants each youth that he works with to leave saying, “I can overcome my obstacles and accomplish my dreams.” To date, FYF has worked with over 1000 young people. 

His long-term goal is to open an incubation center for young Christian entrepreneurs. This fits in with his personal vision of fostering a spiritually, socially, and economically empowered young generation in Uganda.

In addition to his work with FYF, Bernard volunteers at church, works as a climate ambassador, and mentors young people. Bernard’s entrepreneurial spirit also led him to start coffee and banana plantations in Western Uganda in 2008. These plantations provide Bernard with additional income but, more importantly, help stimulate the local economy through job creation. 

Bernard applied to the Abundant Leadership Institute (ALI) because he believes that you must be constantly learning in order to be successful. He immediately saw that the values of ALI align with his personal vision, and he wants to improve his strategic planning. He is also excited to collaborate with leaders from different countries – an opportunity he’s never had before.

To learn more about Bernard's work, click here.