By Joseph Mbazzi Muguluma
As Uganda grapples with unemployment and the rising cost of living, Joseph Mbazzi Muguluma has challenged young people to embrace discipline, acquire practical skills and pursue sustainable wealth rather than surrender to the temptation of quick money.
In his characteristically fiery address, Muguluma uses the lion and the goat as contrasting symbols of ambition, resilience and self-determination, urging Ugandans to develop the competence and patience required to succeed in an increasingly competitive economy.
“Be the lion! Be the lioness!” he declares, arguing that survival in today’s economy requires more than hard work; it demands a valuable skill, a clear strategy and the courage to resist shortcuts.
For young people in Kyotera, Katwe and Kikoni, he says, the difference between endless hustling and meaningful progress lies in what they learn and how they apply it.
He illustrates this through two young men: one spends his days riding a boda boda and scrolling through TikTok, while the other learns to manufacture animal feed from maize bran. Within a month, the latter has secured 20 farmers as customers.
Both may work hard, Muguluma argues, but only one has transformed effort into an income-generating skill.
He also cautions against sacrificing long-term investments for temporary relief, urging entrepreneurs to preserve their machinery, protect their land and remain committed to building viable businesses.
“Don’t eat grass today because you are hungry and sell your land,” he warns, drawing a distinction between patience and laziness.
Muguluma further encourages women entrepreneurs to pool resources, skills and networks instead of relying solely on individual capital or financial assistance from men.
He cites a group of mango juice producers as an example of how collective enterprise could open doors to major supermarket contracts.
His message extends to financial discipline, with young people urged to save at least 10 per cent of their earnings, continually acquire new skills and reject gambling, theft and other shortcuts to wealth.
Ultimately, Muguluma’s central argument is that economic independence begins with personal discipline, practical knowledge and the willingness to pursue opportunities that create lasting value.
His closing appeal is unequivocal: success belongs not merely to those who work hard, but to those who combine hard work with skill, patience and purpose.
