FINANCIAL LITERACY & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

 In my journey as a financial literacy trainer I have had a privilege of interacting with countless individuals and we have discussed about financial matters. This has given me an opportunity to learn the importance of preparation when it comes to acquiring a loan. In financial matters every person is wise with their experience but then there is always a better way in every dimension of life. When it comes to borrowing I have realized that clients place more emphasis on the physical cash than the process of acquiring a loan. Just like adequate attention is given to planning when putting up a storied structure in the same way when acquiring a loan it is important the clients are well prepared. One of a glaringly signals of a poor loan appraisal is when a client is not adequately trained about the interest rate and other terms and conditions. Since a loan is meant to help a client to progress it is prudent that any financial institution takes time to train the client about the cost o...

On a good note there is an increase in financial awareness in most communities. Many people are talking about accumulating wealth so as to prepare for an unpredictable future. Who remembers the torrid experience the world went through during Covid 19 and the lockdown? I remember two young men burning themselves up because they could not cope with the high cost of living. This means financial issues are a matter of life and death, The statistics from National Social Security Fund are also not very inspiring. It is estimated that over 30% of the saver's savings are depleted by the second year of retirement. Many dreams have been forfeited simply because of financial hardships. A close look at families that have built successful businesses and have stood the test of time should give us a lesson so that we learn from them. We all know that the basic unit of society is a family. The question is, how can we use our family unity to enhance our finances? Africans have a strong social bond ...

 As a banker and financial literacy trainer I have received a question from several trainees, what is the least amount that a customer can save in a bank? This is an important question that if well understood it has the power to transform the lives of so many people. The first thing to note is the importance of humble beginnings. Most great companies started small but with consistence they grew into what they are today. There is no least amount to save in a bank. Some customers feel shy to bring small amounts in the bank but I take this opportunity to encourage them to save as low as they want. It is better to save small amounts than not saving any coin. The savings culture can only be promoted if it is encouraged from a young age. I have met university students who assert that they do not need an account. As future business leaders these students need to embrace saving at a young age.  We need to embrace the Indian culture where children learn about money at a young age. Some...

 In the Daily Monitor of 26th February 2026 on page 26 there was a story about graduates turning to casual labor as the job crisis bites. This requires serious reflection and attention in a nation where over 70% of the population is below 30 years. In the mind of any graduate is to get a decent job after gradation. That is what our education system wires us to think and work upon after graduation. But with the unprecedented rate of change a graduate must take caution about their career. No longer can a student or graduate leave their future to chance. The education curriculum is being changed to match the fast rate of change .Even policy makers are at a crossroads. Today even traditional courses such as Law, Engineering and Medicine cannot guarantee a graduate a job. In the past when there was one university students would be head hunted by companies even before graduation. Today the situation has changed because even for a university student to get an internship placement is a tal...

 This week of February 2026 thousands of students are graduating from over 30 universities in Uganda. I want to congratulate the finalists upon this milestone. This is because completing a university degree is not a small feat. To the parents and guardians of the graduates, I extend my appreciation for the brave act of paying tuition for the students from nursery up to university. A degree is a mark of resilience and determination that the student demonstrated during their time at university. Where as it is a moment of joy for the graduate it is also a period of transition and such seasons require careful attention and preparation. There are students who after graduation are privileged to get jobs immediately and there are those who are uncertain about what awaits them. One of the biggest fears of any graduate is the difficulty of getting a dignified job. I have been there and it is not a nice experience. What can a university graduate do after graduation? That is where the meaning...

 How do we view our salaries? It is true one might be earning less than they expect. But thank God we have  jobs. There is someone who is praying for the job that we currently possess. The inability to appreciate what we have can make us misuse the resources we have . Out of frustration of inadequate pay, a certain working professional used her monthly salary to start a retail shop. Over time the shop has accumulated profits for her and she has been able to pay school fees for her children. I know of a group of university students who after graduation started an investment club and today is worth billions in investments and have invested in real estate. I know of another group of former students of a secondary school who out of their online group started an investment club. They pooled resources and bought land and subdivided it.  The valuable lesson for a working professional is that we need a paradigm shift in how we view our resources. There are countless entrepreneurs...