Be Wise, Be Hopeful

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There is a lot of gloom around, courtesy of the roaring inflation that hit 11% during the period February to March 2011. The cost of living is going up as households lose purchasing power. A litre of petrol is costing Shs 500 more now than what it cost at the beginning of the year. The cost of food and other things such as transport has gone up too.

A story is told that one day mother bed bug and her children were resting in a mattress when they were suddenly hit by scalding hot water. A young bed bug was so scared by the water attack and cried out to mother bed bug who gave it this assurance, "every hot thing will eventually become cold." We can also take heart that the inflationary pressure will eventually ease of.

Economic challenges are like cold winds blowing into a room. An Arab proverb provides useful wisdom in response to this, "Close the door from which the wind blows and relax." Let us take encouragement from the current economically difficult times and acquire attitudes and habits that will lead to future financial success. Attainment of financial literacy is an effective way of closing the door through which the wind of financial challenges blows. We need to acquire knowledge about financial systems and services on the one hand and then go on to apply that knowledge to earn better income, save part of the earnings and invest effectively.

Just like the ressurection of Jesus gives hope of a better future to the christian, let us be hopeful as we look forward to the Uganda of tomorrow and begin to live out that hope by investing even if it is in a vegetable garden for starters.



To download the full April 2011 newsletter in pdf, please use this link
Akamai Newsletter April 2011

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