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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Businessman and gospel artist Benard Feni, popularly known as Mungu Feni, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2026 Business Excellence Awards, where his company, Euro Gold Refinery Ltd, was also recognised as the Platinum Winner in the Best Natural Resources and Extractives category.
The awards, organised by Consumer Publications Uganda Ltd, were held over the weekend and recognised businesses based on consumer-driven research.
Feni said the recognition reflected the company’s focus on transparency, employment creation and business growth, while also representing the efforts of young Ugandans seeking to build businesses and create opportunities.
“We believe in validation, we believe in job creation, and we believe in transparency, and it is because of this that we are able to receive this award,” Feni said.
He said the recognition was not only a personal achievement but also a reflection of the contribution businesses can make to Uganda’s economy through job creation.
The Business Excellence Awards assess businesses on factors including quality, service, value, integrity and innovation, rather than popularity alone.
Feni’s latest recognition comes as Euro Gold Refinery seeks to position itself within Uganda's mineral value addition industry.
The company has invested in gold refining capacity, technology and human resources as Uganda pushes for greater local processing of minerals instead of exporting them in raw form.
Euro Gold Refinery recently signed a contract with the Bank of Uganda to refine its gold. The company also holds a mining licence in Abim and has entered partnerships with local mining groups as part of efforts to integrate artisanal miners into the formal mineral economy.
Among these is an arrangement with Kakoka artisanal miners, who were supported to obtain a gold mining licence and have a memorandum of understanding to supply gold to Euro Gold Refinery.
The company also has a memorandum of understanding with Mubende United Miners Association focused on value addition through refining gold to 99.9 per cent purity.
In Yumbe, the company has recently acquired a mining licence and says it is seeking to promote responsible mining practices while expanding local participation in the sector.
The developments come against the backdrop of government efforts to increase mineral beneficiation and retain more value from Uganda’s natural resources within the country.
From business to community work
Feni’s activities extend beyond the mineral sector through the Mungu Feni Foundation, which focuses on youth empowerment, education, skills development and support for vulnerable communities.
The foundation has implemented community initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and supporting young people, adding a social dimension to Feni’s business activities.
Its work has also attracted recognition beyond Uganda.
The foundation was named Best Community Transformation Organisation in East Africa at the East Africa Brand Quality Awards.
At the 2025 West Nile Quality Brand Awards, it received several accolades, including the Quality Excellence Award – Platinum, Best Community Development NGO and Best Local NGO for its work with young people and vulnerable communities.
Feni was also recently recognised as the Best Innovative and Extraordinary Entrepreneur 2026 by the Uganda National Innovative Graduates Wealth Creation Association (UNIGWA).
The latest awards therefore add to a growing list of recognitions for both his business and community work, as Euro Gold Refinery continues to expand its role in Uganda’s mineral value chain.
