WHY NETWORKING IS NO LONGER A LUXURY FOR EVERY ONE

 Recently I met a young entrepreneur who pointed out to me that his business was struggling. I quickly asked him if he belonged to any group. He told me no. This is where problems in life start from. No man is an island. Did we know that the most successful entrepreneurs in Kampala belong to a group? The question is why would rich people come together yet they have money which solves most of the society's problems. The wealthy people are the first to subscribe to clubs such as Rotary International and Lion's Club. They are able to share ideas and seek help where they need it. Manufacturers in Uganda belong to Uganda Manufacturers Association and Banks belong to Uganda Bankers Association. 

I have interacted with so many youths especially at university where some assert that they do not require to belong to any group. Many after university lectures just go back to their hostels and relax. In terms of social capital they take little time to invest in building social networks. There in lies the gap. It is said your network determines our network. Has one ever looked for some money and they fail to get it simply because they had limited social capital? Today technology is limiting our interest in investing in relationships. The phone is gradually replacing the human beings. The social bandings that used to prevail and provided an avenue for the youths to gain wisdom from elders is fast diminishing. This explains why many youths up to university level are losing their identity.

The university graduates should not solely put their faith in academic transcripts. An academic transcripts needs to be backed up by social impact. Many graduates have failed to get their desired jobs simply because their influence is limited to the academic transcript. The real world requires proactive youths who use their skills to mobilize others to solve social challenges. Today we are breeding a generation of selfish youths who are only interested in growing their individual lives .Life is meant to benefit others in society. For some youths to attend some trainings they must be promised to get transport refund and other material goods .In fact a recent headline in Daily Monitor of 24th May2025 showed that most youths are involved in gambling. So there is a lot of financial distress in society because instead of youths working together to combine resources, they spend the little that they have on get rich schemes.

All hope is not lost. This is because there is a group of university students who came up together and formed an investment club. Today this club is worth billions and has positively changed the lives of so many youths.

For individual and corporate financial literacy training contact :

Coach Phillip Kiryowa

Personal Finance Coach(CMA)

Certified Master Trainer ,Bank of Uganda 

Founder, Advanced Empowerment Link

0752615916

For Financial Literacy and Sustainable Enterprises

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