I remember these words said to me circa 1991 as if it was yesterday. I had failed technical school admission exams. My grandpa, seeing I was distraught said: “I know only of Makerere University. It’s where the best go.” The rest as they say is history. I went to Makerere University. And my Grandpa was right. It is where the best go. But after going there, I learned about other places like reputable foreign universities, etc. But the lessons from the streets whether in Kampala or Mbarara or London or Bangkok streets, are timeless. Once in a while, get out…

The COVID-19 pandemic created enormous headwinds for the economy as well as the financial services sector. It became clear that banks needed to respond comprehensively, and embrace change to meet the new challenges. Ugandan banks seem to have navigated the initial storm. However, the optimistic outlook should not deceive. The need for transformation is urgent as ever because another period of uncertainty is ahead. It is still unclear how fast the economy will recover. The COVID -19 pandemic coupled with the rising cost of living attributed to geopolitics especially the Russia/ Ukraine war is exacerbating challenges already affecting borrowers thus…

Bang. Bang. I woke up suddenly to two loud noises in succession. Time check, 1:45 am 15th May 2022. Very terrible hour. This time we were at our village home in Munteme, Kikuube district. When you suddenly jump out of deep sleep, you behave like a zombie in the first two minutes, as the mind tries to process what could be happening. However, after our ordeal at our Kampala home, when the thieves visited in the dead of the night, on 10th May 2022, we are learning to stay alert. The luxury of deep sleep is slowly being taken away.…

She braked suddenly and hit the car in front, when the newly installed Kyanja traffic lights turned red, as she rushed to move past the junction heading straight to Nakawa. Accidents on the road vary in magnitude, some minor others major. Once you are involved in an accident, it could ruin your entire day or career or both. It pays to be careful and patient on the road. Any regular user of the Kisaasi – Ntida road has noticed major engineering flows in the road design. That is how glaring they are. Unfortunately, it appears roads are opened for public…

If you want to be a good business advisor, you must continuously exercise your brain including doing lots of reading, crossword puzzles, and of course playing chess and any other game you love. You must be curious and stay ready.  My experience shows that generalists consultants are more engaging and empower the client more. Many companies already have experts and specialist professionals in their ranks. All they need is a facilitator who challenges them to think deeper about their context, current challenges and how to solve them. Working with many clients allows you to learn about many things. And the…

Battle-hardened, decorated Army Generals always advise their upcoming colleagues that “the best commander makes sure his soldiers know the target and the strategy to win.” Wars are won and lost on the frontline. The foot soldiers are the folks who must remember and make the right calls amidst gunfire and fighting for survival. When you sit down with a battle-hardened soldier you appreciate the importance of teamwork and swift communication across the board. The messages must be short, clear, and crisp. People at the frontline do not have the advantage of reading long memos or instructions. They need something specific…