Watchdog Uganda

Watchdog Ugandahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com Latest News in Uganda and the rest of East African Region, Daily news and business from Uganda.Sun, 01 Aug 2021 10:07:42 +0000en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8https://www.watchdoguganda.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-mobile_Icon-32x32.pngWatchdog Ugandahttps://www.watchdoguganda.com 3232China’s CCP centennial hegemonyhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210801/118393/chinas-ccp-centennial-hegemony.html Sun, 01 Aug 2021 10:07:42 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118393BEIJING â€" For China’s Communist Party, celebrated its 100th birthday in July by just glorifying its past.
The celebrations were also about cementing its future and that of its leader, Chinese President Xi Jinping.
In the build-up to the July 1 anniversary, Mr. Xi and the party exhorted its members and the nation to remember the early days of struggle in the hills of the inland city of Yan’an, where Mao Zedong established himself as party leader in the 1930s.
Yet in marking its centenary, the Communist Party has been accused of using this past â€" selectively â€" to try to ensure its future and that of Mr. Xi, is eyeing an opportunity to rule for life. ]]>Why Your Boyfriend Never Says ‘I Love You’ â€" And What To Do About Ithttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/entertainment/lifestyle/20210801/118390/why-your-boyfriend-never-says-i-love-you-and-what-to-do-about-it.html Sun, 01 Aug 2021 09:16:54 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118390The feeling of falling in love is like nothing else. Being in love with someone is exciting, intoxicating, uplifting and heartwarming.

And the next best thing to experiencing true love is declaring those feelings out loud to the man you’ve fallen for, right?

Well, not always …

If you say I love you too soon, especially if it’s sooner than he’s willing to say those three words in return, his silence can feel insufferable.

In a flash, that easy, comfortable feeling you had in your relationship goes running out the door, while vulnerability, discomfort, and anxiety come rushing inside.

His lack of verbal reciprocation may even cause you to reconsider the value of your relationship altogether.

In truth, a man is clearly shows his level commitment to you when he dates you exclusively, shares himself with you intimately, and does things like consulting with you while planning his schedule.

And yet, there’s a tendency to judge the validity of a relationship, as well as a man’s intention, by his willingness, or lack thereof, to say those three words.

The problem is that doing so can unnecessarily sabotage an otherwise promising new romance, which is why it’s valuable to first understand what may be going on for him on a deeper level.

Here are 3 possible reasons your boyfriend doesn’t say “I love you” that you may not have considered before.

1. He associates saying “I love you” with expectations he isn’t ready to fulfill.

Expectations are one of the most deadly threats to relationships because they replace open communication with unspoken presumptions.

Many men associate saying I love you with the onset of new expectations they know they aren’t ready to fulfill. Others are simply afraid of what those expectations might be, thus they choose to keep everything moving along pressure-free.

Does that mean your man isn’t willing to give you everything you want? No. In fact, he may already be giving you more than you imagined.

The key is to clarify where he’s at and what his intentions are. Just as some men side-step a boyfriend label while simultaneously being the best boyfriend you’ve ever had, the fear of expectation can inspire a man to express love through action rather than words.

2. He doesn’t feel like he can live up to his definition of what saying “I love you” means.

Everyone associates different things with being in love. Your man may associate saying I love you with actions he’s not ready to take, or other conditions he’s not yet experiencing yet.

The more honorable your man is, the more important it will be for him to feel like he can live up to his definition of what saying I love you means.

Thus, instead of prematurely pulling out of the emotional investment necessary to yield those three words, find out what professing love means to him specifically.

3. He’s genuinely not in love with you.

Just as you can love someone without being in love, fabulous times, passionate kisses and intimate lovemaking don’t necessarily equal being in love.

It’s easy to assume that the man who bears his soul to you on a regular basis without wanting anyone else must be in love with you. But as crazy as it sounds, it’s possible for a man to share virtually every aspect of his life with you without being in love with you.

As much as he cares about you, it is possible he’s just not in love with you.

While the truth may hurt, it’s important to discern whether he’s closed off to loving you or simply a late bloomer in the falling in love department.

What should you do if your man won’t say I love you?

First, remember that all men and women experience and define love in all different ways. It’s critical for you to refrain from making assumptions when he refrains from saying I love you.

Second, make it a point to learn what your man associates with saying I love you, along with what he believes will be expected of him. Then you’ll have a better understanding of what saying those words mean to him.

Third, check in with yourself and be sure that you aren’t placing greater emphasis on words than what you’re actually experiencing in your relationship.

While it’s easy to harp on why he won’t say I love you, it’s equally important to understand why you’re placing so much value on him doing so.

Source: Your Tango

]]>Why Kikuubo, city arcades will remain closed for some days despite Museveni’s reopening directivehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210801/118385/why-kikuubo-city-arcades-will-remain-closed-for-some-days-despite-musevenis-reopening-directive.html Sun, 01 Aug 2021 08:27:06 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118385Kikuubo business centre, shopping malls and arcades in Kampala have been warned not to re-open without the certificate of compliance from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) despite President Yoweri Museveni’s order for them to resume business following the expiration of the 42 days of lockdown.

Delivering his Covid-19 address on Friday, Museveni permitted Kikuubo, malls and arcades to reopen but under strict observance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

However, according to the Minister of Kampala Metropolitan Affairs Hajjat Minsa Kabanda,the business centres must first comply with all SOPs and also get approval from KCCA before resuming business.

Speaking to journalists at Uganda Media Centre on Saturday, Hajjat Kabanda said the affected parties should wait until KCCA is satisfied that those opening meet the required conditions set by the President.

This means the reopening of city business centres may be delayed for some days as they get clearance from the responsible authorities.

Asked whether this doesn’t run contrary to what the President said, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance Dr Chris Baryomunsi said whatever the minister is doing is the correct interpretation of the presidential directives.

Baryomunsi called upon the public to comply with all the SOPs in order to avoid Uganda slipping into a third wave of the Coronavirus. He said the reason why the government decided to partially open up the country was to have a balance between saving lives and livelihoods.

“I call upon all of us to take on these measures in good faith because they are intended to see that all of us see tomorrow. I would also want to say that, let’s do self-policing. Let’s not wait for security people to alert us to say put on the mask. Let’s know that that is a duty whether somebody is seeing you or not,” Baryomunsi said.

]]>Minister Aceng, UNICEF contradict over number of oxygen cylinders donated to Uganda, citizens left confusedhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210801/118382/minister-aceng-unicef-contradict-over-number-of-oxygen-cylinders-donated-to-uganda-citizens-left-confused.html Sun, 01 Aug 2021 07:59:03 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118382The Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng and the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Uganda have contradicted over the number of oxygen cylinders donated to Uganda.

On Saturday, Uganda received a donation of 586,080 doses of Covid-19 vaccines from the governments of Norway and China as well as oxygen cylinders from UNICEF.

After receiving the donation, Dr Aceng went on her twitter handle to unearth the development.

“This morning, we received additional COVID-19 vaccines to support the vaccination exercise. We received a donation of 286,080 doses of AstraZeneca from the Government of Norway and 300,000 of the Sinovac vaccine from the People’s Republic of China,” she said.

“We also received 100 oxygen cylinders and their accessories from  @UNICEFUganda to support the COVID-19 pandemic,” the minister added.

However, at the same time, UNICEF Uganda also went on its official twitter handle to claim that they donated 500 oxygen cylinders thus creating confusion among Ugandans.

“@unicefuganda has procured 500 #oxygen cylinders, gas refill cylinders, medical regulator sets with masks and cylinder spindle keys to contribute to the national #COVID19 response in #UGA. In the photos Dr @Munir_Safieldin handsover supplies to Dr.  @JaneRuth_Aceng . #Uganda,” UNICEF Uganda tweeted.

The contradiction has since sparked fury among netizens.

So 400 oxygen cylinders disappeared along the way.@JaneRuth_Aceng said 100 oxygen cylinders pic.twitter.com/s4anmQ5yS3

â€" LEGAL OFFICER UOT 🇺🇬 (@CounselAllanVic) July 31, 2021

What happened really coz @JaneRuth_Aceng says she got 100 oxygen cylinders not 500.

â€" Joseph Patrick Mwidu (@josephmwidu) July 31, 2021

Thanks alot hope the 400 are on the way and not vanished cause minister reports 100

â€" Kabitswa (@ndiMunaUganda) July 31, 2021

This is a very big information gap that must be addressed urgently.@UNICEFUganda; 500 oxygen cylinders.@JaneRuth_Aceng; we received 100 oxygen cylinders.
Qn: Who took the 400 oxygen cylinders? @IGGUganda @PoliceUg @edthnaka @AntiGraft_SH find out plzhttps://t.co/Hm01BtaH6W

â€" Matua Job Richard (@JobMatua) July 31, 2021

However, the Ministry of Health Spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona says that it’s true the Minister received only 100 oxygen cylinders but not 500 as UNICEF Uganda indicated in a tweet.

Yesterday @UNICEFUganda indicated that it had procured 500 oxygen cylinders to support Uganda’s COVID-19 response. However, only 100 cylinders were received at @nmsuganda by @JaneRuth_Aceng 400 more cylinders are yet to arrive into country. Thanks for being attentive pic.twitter.com/SBbwhP6Mgm

â€" Ainebyoona Emmanuel (@ainbyoo) July 31, 2021

]]>10 interesting facts you didn’t know about Museveni’s younger brother Gen. Salim Salehhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210801/118378/10-interesting-facts-you-didnt-know-about-musevenis-younger-brother-gen-salim-saleh-2.html Sun, 01 Aug 2021 07:03:13 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118378General Salim Saleh real name Caleb Akandwanaho is the National Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation-a program aimed at improving the household incomes for poverty eradication, wealth creation and overall prosperity of Ugandans through facilitation of sustainable commercial agricultural production.

We unveil the 10 things which we feel you don’t know about the highly decorated army serviceman;

1. Gen Saleh was born on 14 January, 1960 and he is a younger brother to President Yoweri Museveni.

2. In 1976, aged 16, he left Kako Secondary School in Masaka to join the Front for National Salvation (Fronasa) based in Tanzania, a rebel group formed and led by Museveni to fight against the regime of Idi Amin.

3. He trained together with his friend Fred Rwigyema and his brother Museveni in Mozambique with Samora Machel’s Frelimo rebels. It was there that he adopted Salim Saleh as his nom de guerre .In 1978, Fronasa merged with other anti-Amin groups in Tanzania and formed the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), who together with Tanzanian forces captured Kampala on April 11, 1979, sending Idi Amin to exile.

4. Saleh was later made a platoon commander of a UNLA unit in Moroto district. Following the bitterly contested December 1980 elections Museveni declared an armed rebellion against the UNLA and the government of Milton Obote.

5. Saleh joined his brother’s National Resistance Army (NRA) and the guerilla war known as the “Busy War” that would last until 1986.

6. In January 1986, Salim Saleh commanded NRA’s assault on Kampala which eventually led to the demise of Gen. Tito Okello regime, with Museveni becoming President.

7. NRA became the national army, with Salim Saleh as commander. Saleh was the first Commander of the new army of Uganda. Saleh proceeded to command the army against rebel groups that were remnants of the UNLA, including Uganda People’s Defence Army (UPDA), in northern Uganda.

8. He was instrumental in working out a peace deal with the UPDA. In 1989, following accusations of corruption, he was sacked from the army by his brother. He later became the senior presidential advisor on defence and security (1996 â€" 1998).

9. In 2005, Saleh, then a Lt. Gen., was one of the pioneer classes to graduate from the new Uganda Senior Command and Staff College at Kimaka in Jinja. Following that course, he was promoted to the rank of General in the UPDF.

10. Prior to the 2006 general elections , Saleh went back to school and obtained an A â€"level certificate , the minimum requirement to become a member of parliament in Uganda or President of Uganda Following the elections, he was appointed Minister of State for Microfinance and then subsequently Senior Presidential Advisor on security and defence matters a position he holds up to date.

]]>DR IAN CLARKE: Antibiotic resistance, the next big threathttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210801/118376/dr-ian-clarke-antibiotic-resistance-the-next-big-threat.html Sun, 01 Aug 2021 06:52:20 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118376The human race is facing two major threats at the moment: global warming causing climate change, and pandemics. The Covid-19 pandemic is caused by a virus, but before the advent of penicillin, less than one hundred years diseases caused by bacteria were the big killers. During the First World War hundreds of thousands of soldiers died from bacterial infections, which could now be easily treated.

With the advent of Covid we have awakened to the reality of threats from microorganisms. Technically the Corona virus is not classified as a living thing, just a piece of RNA which needs the host’s DNA to replicate, but this small piece of non-life has caused death and disruption on a global scale. Many of these viruses, which can be so dangerous to humans originated in other animals and are known as zoonosis. Communities that live close to animals, or eat wild animals, are the link to transmission.

The precursor virus that gave rise to HIV first occurred in monkeys, who transmitted it to chimpanzee, who then developed a virus, Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which is almost identical to HIV. Close contact with Chimps allowed the transmission of SIV to humans.

The origin of the Covid-19 Corona Virus has also been hotly debated â€" whether it originated in a lab in Wuhan, or was transmitted to humans through the Wuhan market that specialized in selling seafood and wild animals. The most likely theory is that it existed in animals such as bats or pangolins, and was transmitted to humans in close contact with these animals. We have protected ourselves from a number of viral infections through vaccination: we now have vaccinations against polio, influenza, hepatitis, rubella, chickenpox, other childhood diseases, and most recently the Corona virus.

However, as far as the threat from other microorganisms is concerned we are going backwards. Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928 we have developed a wide range of antibiotics and come to take them for granted. In Uganda we can walk into any drug shop or pharmacy and get a supply of antibiotics without a prescription. Any farmer can get supplies of animal antibiotics without authorization from a vet. We have become so used to antibiotics that it is now common to administer self-treatment without any medical advice. A recent study by the organization ‘Anti-Microbials in Society’ in Uganda found that residents in Namuwongo automatically take metronidazole if they have diarrhea, and the unsanitary living conditions in this slum mean that diarrhea is a common problem, so metronidazole is widely used as a cure for diarrhea.

The inappropriate use of antibiotics results in microorganisms developing resistance and we are witnessing the emergence of superbugs in hospitals for which there is no treatment. I am seeing the overuse of strong antibiotics in Uganda against common infections because the antibiotic can be given through an IV cannula, which people believe is more effective. But if a patient is well enough to take an antibiotic orally there is no justification for giving it intravenously and we are simply encouraging the development of resistance in these useful second and third line drugs.

Health professionals need to sensitize the public to the dangers of the overuse of antibiotics rather than prescribing inappropriate antibiotics themselves, because if we return to the pre-penicillin era we will see devastating consequences from bacterial infections for which there will be no treatment. This would be an avoidable ‘epidemic’ so government should closely regulate second and third line antibiotics in terms of their indications for use so that they do not continue to be misused.

The author was a member of the AMIS advisory committee in Uganda.

]]>SIMON SSENYONGA: Emperor Museveni; the champion of discrimination and hostility against places of worship https://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210801/118374/simon-ssenyonga-emperor-museveni-the-champion-of-discrimination-and-hostility-against-places-of-worship.html Sun, 01 Aug 2021 05:53:36 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118374Here we are again,the President has just “partially” opened the economy and specifically kept places of worship closed.In a rather militaristic stance,he noted that whereas other aspects of the economy will be reviewed after 42 days,the places of worship have been asked to remain closed until they have been reviewed after a whooping 60 days! Can you imagine that?

As if that wasn’t enough,the President casually stated that places of worship can use alternative means of expression such as online platforms and even these have been limited to only 10 people at a time.Little wonder he gambled to explain this and he has left this explanation to be made by the relevant minister. The urgency and excited manner in which the President speaks about other aspects of the economy is definitive of his attitude towards places of worship- a mere tool of political mobilisation and patronage not worthy of urgent consideration.

What exactly do Churches and other places of worship want? The church and other places of worship simply want its congregants to be treated equally to comparable secular businesses such as the much revered Kikuubo,public and private transport,airports among others.From Mr.Musevenis’address, Uganda seemingly already trusts its residents and any number of businesses to adhere to proper social distancing and hygiene practices.

Assuming all of the same precautions are taken,why can someone safely walk down a grocery store aisle or the congested and ill-monitored kikuubo corridors but not a pew in a place of worship? And why can someone safely interact with a brave delivery woman but not with a stoic minister?

The State cannot assume the worst when people go to worship but assume the best when people go to work or go about the rest of their daily lives in permitted social settings.Uganda has ample options that would allow it to combat the spread of COVIDâ€"19 without discriminating against religion.

The President may not take a looser approach with, say, supermarkets, restaurants, factories, and offices while imposing stricter requirements on places of worship.The State also has substantial room to draw lines, especially in an emergency like COVID-19. But as relevant here,the Constitution imposes one key restriction on that line-drawing: The
State may not discriminate against religion.

The Church and places of worship would suffer irreparable harm from not being able to hold services on days of worship in the same way that comparable secular businesses and persons can conduct their activities.

There is no doubt that the President’s address only manifests a glaring display of discrimination of fundamental human rights.Remember,an affront to the freedom of worship is the first,but disguised stage that creates justification to derogate other rights like right to assembly,freedom of expression and subsequently the right to life.This condescending attitude towards places of worship must stop.

The freedom of worship is not merely being trampled upon,its being set on fire.At the most bare minimum,the state ought to scientifically and specifically prove to us that this virus spreads faster when places of worship open than other “vital” aspects of the economy which are poorly regulated and ill monitored and supervised.Oh,the hypocrisy!

These public health restrictions are a continous violation of such a fundamental right for over two solid years and an outright violation of constitutional provisions under Articles 20,21,29, and 42 among others under the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda.Shall we then merely sit back when we are being harassed by the state as believers in God and because of our faith? We must fight back and we shall.

#OpenPlacesOfWorshipNow
#StopReligiousOppression

The writer is a lawyer.

]]>After being attacked by Balaam, Bobi Wine contributes Shs2m to ailing Lil Pazohttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/entertainment/showbiz/20210731/118368/after-being-attacked-by-balaam-bobi-wine-contributes-shs2m-to-ailing-lil-pazo.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 16:54:46 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118368Musician turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has contributed Shs2 million towards the medical treatment of ailing colleague Lil Pazo Lunabe.

Bobi Wine’s contribution follows an attack from events promoter Balaam Barugahara who said it was too shameful for the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader to keep quiet when Lil Pazo, his renown supporter is seriously ill and in dire need of financial support.

Balaam who contributed Shs1 million to Lil Pazo on Friday said at least if Bobi Wine didnot have money he should have mobilised his supporters to bail out the bedridden singer.

Now Bobi Wine on Saturday contributed Shs2 million towards Lil Pazo’s treatment.

The contribution was delivered by Bobi Wine’s younger brother Dax Vibes.

“Coming from bombo military hospital to check on our brother @lilpazoofficial and deliver the President’s #message of 2m,” Dax Vibes said in a Facebook statement.

“The report will be given to you by the President himself though Lil Pazo still needs your prayers and financial support.
NB: Lil Pazo was forcefully taken back to Bombo Military hospital against his and his pregnant wife’s will from Nakasero hospital yesterday*His Nakasero reports show some food poisoning that irritated hiss ulcers.”

A few days ago, Lil Pazo underwent an operation due to ulcer related complications.

]]>MP blasts government for pushing illegal vehicle tracking project at expense of citizens’ privacyhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210731/118366/mp-blasts-government-for-pushing-illegal-vehicle-tracking-project-at-expense-of-citizens-privacy.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 12:12:09 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118366Bukoto Central legislator has blasted the government for pushing through the nose the number plate GPS tracker which is intended to cost billions of shillings to the tax payer, as well as individual motorists.

Engineer Richard Sebamala has pocked holes in the vehicle tracking project aimed at enhancing security and safety in the country at the back of criminality which has included assassinations for prominent people.

The MP said it should be noted that immediately after the State of the Nation Address, the Bukoto Central MP has been hitting hard against this project which has been awarded to the Russian firm, Joint-stock Global Systems under the project dubbed intelligent transport monitoring system.

While appearing on CBS radio and Kingdom Radio owned by Bishop David Kiganda and few other stations, Sebamala explained the illegality in the vehicle tracking instruction.

“It is an infringement on the privacy of people given under the article 27 section 4 of the constitution of Uganda,” Eng. Sebamala said, adding that the vehicle tracking instruction should be preceded by a proper legal framework.

Comparing the vehicle tracking policy of the United Kingdom, Sebamala said that the UK policy managed to embed five regulations;

1. The human rights act of 1998

2. The data protection act of 1998

3. The protection from harassment act 1997

4. Regulations of investigatory powers Act of 2000

5. General Data protection regulation (GDPR)

However, Sebamala, explains the system in Uganda is illegal and should be dropped immediately and follow the rightful procedure.

He advised that a committee of parliament should be created to benchmark this policy prior to implementation let alone the fact that the elite citizenry believes that the intentions of the government to track vehicles are beyond security and their safety. Sebamala said that at the heart of this project is human surveillance and he wondered why this sensitive matter should be hurriedly implemented.

Sebamala is in complete disagreement with the fact that tonnes of money will be dispensed to a foreign company yet our Ugandans can ably put this under implementation using our IT university departments and other experts. The government therefore is depriving Ugandans of jobs they can earn from, if this policy is implemented.

“In these hard times of Covid, it is not time for the country to dispense billions of money to foreign companies but rather to consolidate everything that can be saved. This looks like a lucrative deal for a few well-known government officials.

In the aftermath of the assassination attempt on Works minister, Gen Katumba Wamala, the President said in the state of the nation address that Uganda would be mandated to install the tracker at their number plate at their own expense.

]]>DR. INNOCENT NAHABWE: Education Vs Learning: Yes, some tycoons didn’t go to school but they are highly learnedhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210731/118354/dr-innocent-nahabwe-education-vs-learning-yes-some-tycoons-didnt-go-to-school-but-they-are-highly-learned.html Sat, 31 Jul 2021 11:41:33 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118354The UCE Exams are out and all that is in the media is people in jubilation. Of course we won’t see the ones that failed.

We live in a world of winners. We praise the victors/winners and forget the losers.
Parents and schools go over the moon about their children’s success in examinations. Often these same excelling students go on to excel at university. Unfortunately, it doesn’t follow that they will succeed in the University of Life. It’s a totally different ball game. It’s no longer what it used to be where all you had to do was excel in class. I was surprised last week when I saw an appeal on Whatsapp groups that Makerere’s best student who got the highest mark and best first class was still on the streets (to mean jobless) many months after school. Gladly, an audit firm took him on as an intern. Many aren’t as lucky. They do their best in school, study hard, excel but still suffer to get going in life; their great grades notwithstanding! Someone I was paying fees for, recently asked me why I always told him a lie that school was the key to success.

He wondered whether the padlock had been changed after he was done with school. I had no answer. Jobs are hard to come by. You can walk these streets for ever till you wear your shoe soles off but, all in vain. Even knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone who is a descendant of the descendant might not help.

Meanwhile, those who didn’t go to school or failed along the way, seem to fair better without books. The boy, who, dropped out in S.2 when Maths started getting complicated and joined the boda boda business, probably, now has his own house and a family. Joan, who dropped out in S.3 because she got pregnant by the Chemistry teacher, started a kiosk, and now has a supermarket chain. Kuraish who dropped out to join his dad’s garage after failing to get 50% in English, probably, now is a big time spare parts dealer. Sometimes, it appears that school gets in the way of success. Funny, isn’t it?

Well, here is why I think that is the case. When you drop out of school, usually, you deal with shame for a short time and eventually get on in the tough University of Life. The University of Life is cruel but doesn’t usually fail you. In this place, you learn how to survive, save, bargain, and identify leads. ‘You learn by doing’, as is the motto in one school in Kabale. If you survive, often the mistakes are so painful that the lessons cannot be forgotten. Because you don’t know a lot of Maths, you are not bogged down by projections, ROI and risk analysis among other complications. You come across a deal that makes sense, and with money at your disposal, you invest and watch it grow.

You also don’t have “standards”. No work is too much for you. You don’t worry about being seen in a market, bargaining for lunch. You can stay in a Muzigo (shanty single room) in a slum. You can walk to and from work because it’s very near. Because you don’t have many OBs to entertain and soaps to watch, you are totally focused on your hustle. You also have low cost of living, allowing your business to grow. Most educated people have a particular society expectation they have to fulfil which makes it hard to do some dirty business. We are too cool to fry cassava, sell boiled maize and work in a garage or drive a taxi. Our ‘levels’ deny us a chance to learn the dynamics of running a business from first principles. Our education denies us opportunity to learn practically in the University of Life. Failure is the best teacher, remember! School trains us to excel to an extent that we don’t know how to handle failure yet in real life that happens, so often.

There are hundreds of successful people that haven’t gone far in formal education. Off cuff, we have people like Mulwana, Sudhir Ruparelia, BMK, Gordon Wavamuno, Steve Jobs and Amos Wakesa, to mention but a few. Many of these have gotten honorary doctorates for excelling in their fields. What we are often not told is that these great men and women have actually done a lot of learning. They might not have had lots of formal education but they definitely have an unbeatable record in the University of Life. They have hands on experience for many years and excelled. They are experts in their field.

So, excelling in school alone may not do it for you in the current situation. You might need both. Many will end up like me, never really practicing what you studied. It will take both the school excellence and the other skills to help you break through the real world. Time to ask yourself; what is that extra skill that I have? Which one can I get and excel at? Remember it’s never too late to learn.

Congratulations to the excelling students.

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