May 5, 2025

Why Education Became His Mission in Uganda: The Story of Julius Chirimwami

Renelyn Gumban
Purpose Lab

In a world shaped by displacement, scarcity, and survival, the seeds of transformation can take root in the most unlikely places. For Julius Chirimwami, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, education was never just about textbooks or classrooms—it was about dignity, hope, and rebuilding lives. His story, beginning with personal loss and hardship, has blossomed into a powerful mission that now supports over 570 children and 200 adults through the Best Future Center in Uganda.

This is not just a story of one man’s vision—it is a story of how deep purpose, rooted in community and compassion, can create change even amidst extreme adversity.

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Podcast Summary

A Childhood Interrupted by War

Julius was born in Bukavu, in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo—a place once filled with the familiar comforts of home, family, and dreams for the future. But all of that was torn away in 2012 when violence and war forced him, his mother, and siblings to flee everything they knew.

They arrived in Uganda, broken but alive, and were placed in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement. The contrast was stark: from a home to a piece of land and a plastic sheet, from community to isolation, from stability to a daily fight for survival.

"It was terrible," Julius recalls. "You had everything in your country. Then you go to a place where you know nobody. You are homeless, you have nothing."

Yet even in this disorienting new world, the spark of something bigger remained alive in Julius.

The Power of Language and the Drive to Support His Family

Julius, raised by a single mother, had always felt the weight of responsibility for his family. After arriving in Uganda, he realized that learning English would be his first step toward economic independence and support for his loved ones.

“In Uganda, if you can't speak English, you are dying. You can't get a job,” he says. And so, he studied diligently—not for personal advancement alone, but as a pathway to uplift those he loved.

After completing English courses, Julius began a small home-teaching program. He recruited teachers to educate families who couldn’t attend schools due to cost or time constraints. From this humble beginning, something remarkable began to take shape.

Birth of the Best Future Club: Youth, Vision, and Action

In 2013, Julius formalized his efforts into what became the Best Future Club. The idea was simple but powerful: bring together young changemakers who wanted to improve their communities. Every Thursday, the group met to exchange ideas and plan educational outreach within the refugee settlement.

The club grew quickly. Volunteers began teaching children who had no access to school, mentoring peers, and creating bonds that restored a sense of hope and agency.

This spirit of grassroots transformation soon evolved into a more expansive mission.

The Best Future Center: Reimagining Education in a Refugee Settlement

By 2016, Julius established the Best Future Center (BFC) with a clear mission: to provide accessible, quality education to vulnerable refugee children—and to empower their parents with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.

Children were offered free education. Parents learned tailoring, entrepreneurship, and small business management. The idea was holistic: educate the child, equip the parent, and build a sustainable cycle of opportunity.

“Why shouldn't I use my skills, why shouldn't I use my passion for education to support these children?” Julius asked himself. And so he did.

Today, the center serves over 570 children and more than 200 adults, every single day.

From Preacher’s Pulpit to a Humanitarian Visionary

Julius’s calling for education goes back to his roots. At just 11 years old, he began preaching to over 500 people in his grandfather’s church. His grandfather, a respected pastor, saw leadership in Julius early on and nurtured his voice.

“He would give me Bible verses to preach on,” Julius remembers. “He told me, wherever you go, you’ll be a builder. You’ll make people happy.”

This deep-rooted mentorship stayed with him. Even after war scattered his family and stripped them of stability, Julius carried his grandfather’s words in his heart. Education, like faith, became his pulpit—a way to uplift, to lead, and to heal.

Empowering Women Through Skills and Self-Reliance

One of the key components of the Best Future Center’s impact is its focus on women. In refugee settlements, women are often the most vulnerable. The center provides them with training in tailoring, allowing them to generate income and regain control over their lives.

These women, once dependent on aid, are now business owners and breadwinners. This shift doesn’t just benefit individual families—it creates ripple effects throughout the community, reinforcing resilience and dignity.

Global Recognition and Local Transformation

In a groundbreaking achievement, the Best Future Center became the first refugee-run center in the world to receive a Rotary International Global Grant—over $140,000 to enhance their work in education and infrastructure. With the funds, they purchased school desks, installed water tanks, and extended access to clean water for more than 100 people daily.

For Julius and his team, this wasn’t just about the money. It was about validation. Their work, born in the dirt and dust of a refugee camp, was now recognized on the global stage.

“It has never happened before,” Julius says, with a proud smile. “We made it happen.”

Lessons in Humility, Persistence, and Starting Small

Julius is quick to acknowledge that he doesn’t have all the answers. But he’s learned one lesson again and again: you don’t need to start big to make an impact.

“If I cannot support a thousand people, I start with two,” he shares. “From two, I go to three. From three, I go to four.”

This philosophy—grounded in humility and realism—has allowed the Best Future Center to grow organically, with integrity and heart.

And while he once dreamed of helping thousands, today he’s already transforming hundreds of lives, one classroom, one workshop, and one story at a time.

A Dangerous Mission Worth Fighting For

Despite the center’s success, Julius’s work has not come without risk. In places like Nakivale, helping others can sometimes put a target on your back.

“There are those who will appreciate what you do, and there are those who will try to destroy it,” Julius explains. “Not everyone wants to see you succeed.”

Eventually, his safety and that of his family were compromised. Recognizing the danger, UNHCR and the U.S. State Department intervened, helping relocate Julius and his loved ones to the United States—where he could continue his work, now from a safer distance.

Still, his heart remains with the community in Uganda. And his mission is far from over.

Building a Legacy Through People

At the core of everything Julius does is a belief in people—especially the next generation. Whether it's a mother learning to sew, a child learning to read, or a young adult launching a business, his goal is to empower others to become agents of their own change.

“I’ve learned to learn from everyone,” he says. “I’m not complete on my own. When I bring close people with different skills, they help me better myself.”

His leadership style is not about command—it’s about collaboration. He doesn't build empires. He builds bridges.

A Future Beyond the Settlement

Julius’s journey from Bukavu to Nakivale to the United States is a testament to what’s possible when purpose meets perseverance. The Best Future Center isn’t just a school—it’s a beacon.

It’s a reminder that even in the harshest conditions, hope can be taught, nurtured, and passed on. And it’s proof that when we invest in education, we don’t just change individuals—we change generations.

As Julius continues to support the work from afar, his impact remains grounded in Uganda, where classrooms are filled, mothers are empowered, and children are dreaming again.

Closing Words

Julius Cherowwami’s story is not simply about escaping war or surviving displacement—it’s about what happens when the human spirit chooses to rise. He saw education as the tool not just to uplift himself, but to rebuild a broken community.

From preaching in a crowded church as a boy to founding one of the most impactful refugee-led education centers in the world, Julius has embodied the truth that the best future is one we build together.

And for hundreds of children and families in Uganda, that future has already begun.