MY WEEKEND INSIGHTS- 25th April,2026
One of the costliest mistakes you can make is spending your life trying to impress people who contribute nothing to your progress. Many are struggling financially not because life is difficult, but because they are funding a lifestyle designed for public approval rather than one that matches their actual financial capacity.
Some time ago, a casual acquaintance called me requesting a loan of UGX 1 million. I politely told him I couldn’t lend that amount. I’ve learned to only give what I’m prepared to lose, especially to people outside my close circle. He then asked if I knew a moneylender. I reluctantly referred him to one. He got the money at a steep 20% interest per month.
That same weekend, our group traveled to Kabale. To my surprise, this same man turned out to be the biggest spender of the evening. Drinks kept flowing, more bottles kept arriving, and he was the one footing most of the bills. I watched quietly as he spent borrowed money like royalty, forgetting that it wasn’t actually his.
A few moments later, he defaulted on the loan. Ruthless auctioneers seized and sold his car like “a dead cow” to recover the debt. None of the people he had been trying to impress showed up to help him.
This story is all too common in our society. People take loans to buy luxury cars they can’t afford, construct houses beyond their means (a discussion I had recently with my BIC friends), and throw extravagant parties and weddings — all in a desperate bid to appear successful. The painful irony is that many know their financial limits, yet the pressure to look good pushes them into crippling debt.
Recently, I saw a video recorded by TV West of a wedding where guests were denied access into the wedding reception tent because the caterers, decorators, and photographers hadn’t been paid. A celebration meant to mark love and joy turned into a scene of public shame and embarrassment all because someone maybe insisted on a grand wedding they could not actually afford.
This is the tragedy of living for public opinion.
Our African culture deeply values community, celebration, and social respect. However, culture should never trap you in financial slavery. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone if it means sacrificing your future.
The Bible puts it clearly in Proverbs 21:5:
True wisdom lies in refusing to let society pressure you into living beyond your means. If your finances cannot support a certain lifestyle, don’t force it. Build in silence. Grow steadily. Choose peace over applause. There is no shame in starting small — the real shame is pretending to be something you are not.
The hard truth is this: public approval will not pay your bills. When the music stops and the crowd disappears, you alone will face the consequences of your choices.