My name is Ahumuza Bill, and I am a student, public speaker, and entrepreneur at Makerere University Business School.
My journey with Junior Achievement (JA) began in 2016 during the Company Program when I was in Senior One at Mbarara High School. That year, my team qualified for the national competition held at Kitante Hill School. It was my first time traveling to Kampala, and the experience was truly unforgettable.
The JA Company Program ignited my passion for business. I met many young people who were running impressive businesses, opening my eyes to the vast possibilities of entrepreneurship, even at a young age. This experience inspired me to pursue entrepreneurship as a viable and fulfilling career path.
When I joined university, I was thrilled to discover that Junior Achievement was also active on campus. I participated in the Social Equity Program, supported by the ZZurich Foundation, which featured an intensive four-day boot camp. During this program, I gained practical knowledge about starting, managing, and sustaining a business.
It was during this boot camp that I teamed up with other attendees to form Team Safisha. Together, we developed the Safisha Water Purifier—a portable, solar-powered solution aimed at providing vulnerable communities with access to clean and safe drinking water, directly addressing Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG-6) which seeks to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Our hard work and determination paid off. Team Safisha won the national competition and recently triumphed at the AfrInnovate Youth Challenge, securing first place among participating African countries. This achievement was made possible through the invaluable training and mentorship provided by Junior Achievement Uganda. With a combined seed funding of $8,500, we are now preparing to launch and scale our business, aiming to create a lasting positive impact in underserved communities. A heartfelt thanks to the ZZurich Foundation and Junior Achievement Uganda for their unwavering support.
To young people, my advice is simple: don’t wait for the perfect time—just start. You’ll figure things out as you go, and by putting yourself out there, the right people will notice and support you.
The Social Equity Program is an excellent starting point for anyone eager to learn and grow. It changed my life, and I believe it can change yours too. Don’t miss the chance to join the third cohort and begin your own transformative journey.
