By Mike Rwothomio 

Bernard Feni, chief executive officer of Euro Gold Refinery, has been named Best Entrepreneur of the Year 2026, while his company secured the Platinum Award for Best Natural Resources and Extractives Company in Uganda at the 2026 Business Excellence Awards.

The awards ceremony took place on August 14, 2026, at Sheraton Kampala Hotel under the theme “Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Innovation.”

Organised by Consumer Publications Uganda, the recognitions were determined through consumer-driven research assessing businesses on quality, service, value, integrity and innovation rather than popularity alone.

Feni attributed the dual recognition to Euro Gold Refinery’s focus on transparency, job creation and business excellence. “This award is not to me as the CEO of Euro Gold Refinery as the Best Entrepreneur, but this award is to all the youth of Uganda that believe in themselves,” he said. 

He added that the accolade underscored the value of validating enterprises that generate employment and contribute to Uganda’s economy: “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.”

Industry State Minister David Bahati, who delivered the keynote address, emphasised that Uganda’s economic transformation depends on a strong private sector partnering with government.

He urged businesses to prioritise innovation, technology adoption and value addition to expand the country’s manufacturing base, reduce reliance on raw material exports and compete in regional and international markets.

Bahati noted that firms investing in modern technologies, workforce development and new products would be better positioned to meet evolving consumer demands and access wider markets. 

He reaffirmed government support for local manufacturers through policies promoting value addition, affordable financing, infrastructure development and consumption of Ugandan-made goods, while highlighting the private sector’s central role in job creation and economic growth.

Euro Gold Refinery’s Platinum Award and Feni’s individual honour stood among the night’s most prominent wins, reflecting the broader push for industrialisation and entrepreneurship in Uganda’s natural resources and extractives sector.

Feni Benard ( Right) received his award from Minister David Bahati.

Mike Rwothomio is the news editor at Zoomer Africa your number one grassroot information hub for African news trends and updates.