Mbonyumugara Mushi, a brilliant 16-year-old boy from humble beginnings, rose to immense distinction when he powered his way to the top in the recent O-Level examinations.

Mbonyumugara achieved the highest score with an aggregate of 8, becoming one of the nation’s best performers.

Speaking at The New Times, Mbonyumugara said: "My determination to work hard was the essential in passing”.

When asked how the youngest son of two children was able to achieve such a feat, his mother, Joyce Nakimuli, a teacher during her son’s younger stages, said he was never pushed to study or work hard.

Mbonyumugara, a staunch Adventist like his mother, strived to get to a prestigious school and made this known to his mother.

"I had to sacrifice a lot to get him into an English-speaking school,’’ Nakimuli revealed, when asked how she was able to fulfill her only son’s dream of studying at Nu-Vision High School.

Mushi’s parents were to him the best role models he could ever have, owing to the strong communication and advice they shared with him. He lists History as one of his best subjects, which is surprising, seeing that he wants to pursue a course in Civil Engineering after high school.

More so, like many other aspiring Engineers, Mbonyumugara is intent on doing PCM (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics) when he gets to A-Level.

Asked what challenging circumstances he faced during his examination preparations, Mbonyumugara said: "I think the Mock exams were a discouraging factor because they led to a brief depression”.

"If I’m to become successful in my profession, I would make it my objective to donate to charities around the world as a way of appreciating the care and support my parents have been able to give me.”

He encouraged other students to always work hard to overcome any distractions and to prepare well.