Proud moments. Bright futures. The future is here. #VU10thgrad @ReachDrMuganga @bbstvug @GalaxyFMUg @NBSBreakingNews

Proud moments. Bright futures. The future is here. #VU10thgrad @ReachDrMuganga @NBSBreakingNews @GalaxyFMUg @bbstvug

😂 The Victoria Sharks didn’t just beat Makerere Impis 20–10; they gave them a practical lesson in how to handle a shark attack! 🦈🏉� But this bus joke, I’m not part of it!!!I’m just sharing for my neighbour here! vu.ac.ug

Your loan just got heavier: What BoU’s rate hike means for you @BOU_Official yesterday raised its Central Bank Rate by 2.25 percentage points, from 9.75 percent to 12 percent. It is the highest level since 2017, and the effects will soon reach borrowers’ pockets. The decision came at an extraordinary meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee. The central bank is trying to stop the slide of the shilling, which has lost about 12 percent against the dollar this year, and to contain inflation driven by high global oil prices. Take a Kikuubo hardware trader with a Shs50 million, five-year loan used to stock cement and iron bars. If her bank passes on the full increase, raising her rate from 18 to 20.25 percent, her monthly repayment climbs from about Shs1.27 million to Shs1.33 million. That is Shs62,000 more every month, roughly the cost of a bag of cement and a jerrycan of fuel. Over the life of the loan, she will pay about Shs3.7 million more. She also pays more on the other side of her business. The iron bars she imports are priced in dollars, so the weaker shilling makes each consignment costlier. She now has two choices: raise prices for customers who are already tightening their belts, or accept thinner profits. For salaried workers, the pinch may come through salary loans, mortgages and overdrafts on variable rates. A teacher who planned to borrow to finish building her house may find the bank’s offer less friendly than it was last month. Anyone thinking of taking a new loan should expect stricter terms. The news is not all bad. Savers could earn more on fixed deposits and Treasury bills as returns rise. People who have been disciplined about saving may finally see their money work harder. Businesses were already holding back. A recent Bank of Uganda survey found that only 8.8 percent of firms applied for loans in the three months to September, half the share of the previous quarter. The central bank has also cut its growth forecast for 2026/27 to between 6 and 6.5 percent. Commercial lending rates, already at 17 to 19 percent, are expected to rise in the coming weeks. What borrowers should do now •Ask your bank whether your loan has a fixed or variable rate, and when any change will take effect. •Avoid dollar loans unless you earn in dollars. •Postpone expansion plans that are not urgent. •Chase customers who owe you money, and keep some cash in hand. The central bank says it stands ready to act again if inflation pressures persist. For now, the cost of money has gone up, and every borrower will feel it.

IT’S OFFICIAL! OUR BOOK IS HERE! We are delighted to announce the release of our book, “Managing Your Boss: The Power of Upward Leadership,” co-authored by Conan Daniel Businge and Prof. Lawrence Muganga. For too long, leadership has been discussed largely from the perspective of those at the top. But what about the people who must work with, influence, understand and deliver results under their bosses? In this insightful and practical book, we explore the psychology of managing upwards, navigating workplace power dynamics, building trust, communicating strategically and growing professionally without losing our authenticity. Managing your boss is not about manipulation. It is about understanding people, building productive relationships and learning to lead upwards. Whether we are young professionals, experienced managers, emerging leaders or entrepreneurs, we must recognise that success at work requires more than technical competence. It also demands emotional intelligence, strategic thinking and the ability to manage relationships effectively. Through practical insights into workplace realities, we challenge conventional thinking about leadership and encourage readers to take ownership of their professional growth, build stronger workplace relationships and become more intentional about their careers. We are excited to share this work with readers across Africa and around the world! 📖 Get your copy today! Discover African Books: africanbooks.com/ Here’s to better workplaces, stronger professional relationships and a new generation of leaders who understand the art of leading upwards! Let’s learn, grow and lead differently. ✍️ Authors: Conan Daniel Businge conanbusinge.com & Prof. Lawrence Muganga @ReachDrMuganga @VUKampala @NBSBreakingNews @newvisionwire @GalaxyFMUg @bbstvug @babatvuganda @ntvuganda @SamsonMKasumba @CanaryMugume @isaacBakashaba2 @CapitalFMUganda @JorynCarterVU

Freddie Jackson gone!!

Your Degree Gets You Shortlisted. Your Skills Get You Hired. Across Africa, employers have stopped trusting the paper on its own, & graduates who can’t prove what they can do are being left behind. Picture a graduate in Kampala holding a first-class degree, a neat transcript and a CV full of qualifications. They sit across from an employer who skips past all of it and asks one question: “What can you actually do?” Across the continent, more and more job interviews now turn on that question. The paper still opens the door A degree still matters. In South Africa, qualifications remain the entry requirement for most graduate jobs, & they are mandatory in regulated professions such as engineering, health, accounting and law. In Uganda, public service salary scales and professional bodies are still built around certificates. But once a candidate is through the door, what counts has changed. A 2026 review of graduate employability in Uganda, published in the East African Journal of Education Studies, found that degrees alone are not enough to secure good jobs. Employers are putting more weight on practical, digital and soft skills than on certificates alone. Crisis in numbers The numbers show why employers have grown cautious. Only about 20–25% of Ugandan graduates find formal or stable work within one to two years of graduating. Employer surveys suggest more than 60% of graduates need extra training before they meet workplace expectations. The 2024 census put Uganda’s graduate unemployment rate at 15.2%. Some 42.6% of young people aged 15–24 are not in employment, education or training. Uganda’s National Planning Authority calls the result an “inverted skills pyramid.” Universities produce far more graduates in oversubscribed arts, business and social studies programmes than the economy can absorb. Meanwhile, employers can’t find enough engineers, technicians and other technical workers. “Skills beat paper” At Uganda Christian University, a study of business graduates found that 72% blamed their unemployment on a lack of practical skills. Another 68% pointed to overly theoretical curricula. A related study summed it up in three words: “Skills beat paper.” Its conclusion was that “the world rewards not what people know but what they can do.” Victoria University Vice Chancellor Dr Lawrence Muganga has made the same point. He says graduates may think a transcript is everything, but employers now want people who are digitally competent and can use a range of tools in a fast-moving, technology-driven workplace. South Africa shows where this is heading In South Africa, the shift is already visible in hiring. Roles once thought to need a degree, including software development, quality assurance and cloud infrastructure, are increasingly filled by candidates who prove their skills through real work. Employers want graduates who can apply what they know, show digital and AI awareness, solve real problems & communicate clearly. The new graduate formula Africa is not abandoning degrees. Its employers are asking for more alongside them. The graduates getting hired combine the degree with: •Proof of work: portfolios, projects and internships •Digital and AI skills: knowing how to use the tools the workplace runs on •Soft skills: communication, teamwork, punctuality& coping under pressure •Experience gained while studying: internships, volunteering and side skills built in the second, third and fourth years Researchers are calling on universities to align their curricula with industry needs and build in mentored work-based learning. They also want universities to agree shared standards for graduate attributes with employers. Bottom line In two years, African employers will still ask for your papers. But that will only get you shortlisted. You get hired by showing what you can do. The question for every student today is whether, by graduation, they will be able to show it. somaaiacademy.com @unischsguide1

A proud moment for @VUKampala 🇺🇬 As AI continues to transform education, VU is taking the lead by equipping our staff with the knowledge and skills to harness AI effectively in teaching, learning and administration. Special thanks to Tim Abel, former Google & Microsoft executive, for facilitating this transformative training. Victoria University — We Think Forward. We Lead Change. #VictoriaUniversity #AIinEducation #AI #NTVNews @somaaiacademy

Rest in Peace