IT IS A JOY TO GRADATE BUT WHAT NEXT FOR A GRADUATE?

 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 of life comes into play. I have met graduates who after such an achievement question why they undertook their respective courses. If a graduate undertook a course to simply make money, they are likely to be frustrated. This is because there are some graduates who have spent some good years without formal employment. Does that mean their degrees are worthless? The answer is no. The degree is not a password to wealth creation as some graduates might think but rather you have been trained to be a researcher who will solve the world's pressing challenges. Today the world is fast moving away from the display of academic grades to the ability of the graduate demonstrating how they can solve an organization's challenges. A company will ably hire a graduate who has hunger to solve company challenges than one who is looking for a pay check. We should also remember that the world's wealthiest leaders have focused on solving problems and society richly rewards them with equivalent wealth.

A university student will require a paradigm shift to be able to make a meaningful contribution to the world. He or she will have to learn how to boldly express their ideas in a competitive market in order to be visible.

Previously at university the student has been used to getting upkeep but they are now likely to reduce since he or she is seen as an adult . So this calls for investing in financial literacy so as to manage their income responsibly. A university graduate will have to open an account with a financial institution regulated by Bank of Uganda as they prepare for their working life.

There is a lot that a university graduate will have to alter in order to be relevant in a competitive environment.

After university, what next?

For individual and corporate financial literacy training contact :

Coach Phillip Kiryowa

Personal Finance Coach (CPC)

Certified Master Trainer, Bank of Uganda

Founder, Advanced Empowerment Link

0752615916

For Financial Freedom and Sustainable Enterprises

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