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Mixing Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice

Contact:
Stacy Bailey
(801) 616-8849
stacyannbailey@gmail.com

Sorting through raisins, measuring out sugar and rolling out dough with a flour-covered rolling pin, Susan Mugimu kicks off another day at Broadway Bakery. She has three wedding cake orders due that afternoon, but she takes her time in making each icing rose look picture perfect. She pulls out freshly baked, golden-brown buns from her oven, and she remembers when she would bake buns on a charcoal stove, often burning the buns and even her hands in the process. She sets out the pastries and cookies for the day and smiles at the fact that Broadway Bakery is the most popular and successful bakery in Uganda.

Mugimu has labored excessively to establish Broadway Bakery in hopes of accomplishing her goals of creating a small, profitable business and giving back to her community.

Since she was a child, Mugimu has loved to bake. When she was young, she would help her mother bake bread and rolls to sell in the local market in Uganda. As a newlywed, Mugimu baked and sold bread while her husband, Christopher, attended Makerere University in Uganda. Not long after being married, the Mugimus became members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Being a member of the church has motivated me to continue my goal in becoming a professional baker," said Mugimu. "The missionaries used to teach classes centered on baking. These lessons opened my eyes to new methods, and I wanted to learn more."

Soon after joining the church, Mugimu's husband was accepted into Brigham Young University's PhD program in education, so the family moved to the United States. While living in Provo, Mugimu yearned to attend a culinary arts program.

"I wanted to be a job creator, not a job seeker," said Mugimu. "I knew there would be a market for baking when I returned to Uganda, and baking was my passion."

Through a gracious sponsor she enrolled in UVSC's culinary school. There she excelled, winning various statewide baking competitions and earning academic scholarships.

In 2004, the family returned to Uganda in hopes of establishing new economic opportunities for their native country. The Mugimus did not view their education as an escape ticket from the hardships of Uganda but as a tool to help their people.

"Many people, once they find their way into the United States, do not return to their native countries. Our contribution is to be back home," Christopher Mugimu once said. "That is where we can make a difference."

In September of 2005, Mugimu opened Broadway Bakery in Mukono, Uganda. Mugimu seeks to better her country's economy from her business as she provides jobs for her immediate and extended family, as well as five other regular employees.

Mugimu has been guided and helped by many people along her journey in establishing Broadway Bakery.

While living in Provo, Mugimu enrolled in cake decorating classes at Shepherd's Cakes and Candy, a store in Orem. While attending classes Mugimu started counseling with Sara Strong, the store owner, about the prospect of opening her own bakery. Since Mugimu moved back to Uganda, Strong has been guiding Mugimu in her business strategies as well as sending her supplies for her bakery.

"It's a good experience to be able to work with other people and help them to progress in an area that I have a passion for," said Strong. "Susan is an ambitious and talented individual, and I am impressed with her work."

Mugimu has also been working with HELP International, a nonprofit organization based in Provo. HELP International volunteers advise Mugimu on business strategies that will make the bakery more profitable, such as bookkeeping, streamlining her decorating and organizing her finances.

"Susan is dedicated to her bakery, and she works very diligently to keep it successful, profitable and sustainable for the long term," said Teija Springman, HELP International's country director in Uganda. "Probably the biggest thing I've personally gained from working with Susan is the knowledge that sacrifice is the key to accomplishing your goals in life. Susan has made several sacrifices throughout the years, and she will likely to continue to make several more."

Mugimu has future plans to expand her business throughout Uganda. She also plans to start a culinary school in Uganda, which will offer training in baking and nutrition.

"I want to teach others what I know so that the community will develop," said Mugimu. "I love owning a bakery, and it is encouraging to know that I can improve other people's lives through the bakery. It is what I have always dreamed of doing."