FINANCIAL LITERACY & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

 It is the  desire of every working professional to multiply their income. Where as this is a noble aspiration so many times our actions sometimes are contrary to our desires. When we have jobs sometimes we take them for granted. It is a privilege to have a job no matter how small. It is the attitude that counts most.  A few weeks back over 9,000 students graduated from Makerere University. The question is who will employ the majority of these young leaders? This state of affairs should awaken those who have jobs not to take them for granted. We cannot achieve financial freedom when we lack a source of income. This means that having a job in today's highly competitive business environment is a real privilege. Attitude plays a critical role in our relationship with money. A negative attitude will hamper our efforts in giving our best at work yet in the human potential industry every working professional has enormous potential to achieve both personal and organizational goa...

 Age has always been used as a barrier for not getting started. So many graduates are asserting that they are waiting for the ideal time to start their businesses. The adults in their advanced age are also explaining that they have no time to start a business or something significant in their lives. This is a paradox. Who is right or wrong? Unfortunately we are growing every day and there is no status quo. The earlier we realize that age should never be a barrier to transformation the better.  In his 60's when Colonel Sanders contemplated suicide is when he realized that he had a recipe that would later turn into KFC which is now a global organization. Imagine what the world would be missing had he regarded age as a barrier to his creativity. Today KFC is employing millions of people and contributing to national development. When it comes to the young generation age should never be given as a barrier for enterprise development. Facebook started as a university project and now ...

 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...