By Jonan Kandwanaho
In Uganda today, your wallet is no longer just leather and receipts it’s a loudmouth. And whether you like it or not, it’s been talking behind your back and sometimes to your face.
If you’ve ever found yourself whispering, “Eh! Where did my money go?” you’re not alone. That wasn’t just you talking. That was your wallet, catching you off guard mid-confession.
See, the real problem is not that wallets are empty. No. It’s that we’ve stopped listening to what they’re trying to say about us our habits, our beliefs, our fears, and our fantasies. Money doesn’t just buy things. It exposes values. And your wallet? It’s the snitch that never sleeps.
Let’s be real. Your bank statement doesn’t lie. Your mobile money history doesn’t sugar-coat. If your expenses read like the calendar of a celebrity influencer brunches here, new kicks there, random giveaways to people who didn’t even ask yet your income is doing backflips just to keep up with rent, then maybe your wallet is screaming, not whispering.
Every swipe of your card, every “send money” transaction, every weekend impulse that’s your money saying something. Sometimes it says, “This was necessary.” But too often, it quietly says, “This was ego. Or boredom. Or pressure.”
I have seen people blame the economy and yes, things are tight but inflation is not the only thing eating our money. Sometimes it’s our need to keep up, our inability to say “no,” our habit of spending like we’re trying to impress people who are too busy scrolling to care.
But there’s hope. You see, a wallet that’s part of a plan doesn’t panic. It breathes. When you sit down and tell your money where it should go instead of asking where it went something powerful happens. You stop surviving and start steering.
Interestingly, it’s not always about how much you earn. I’ve met low-income earners with incredible financial discipline — they track every coin, save with intention, and borrow with a plan.
And then I’ve met high earners who are always broke. Why? Because money without direction is like water in your hands. It slips through no matter how much you scoop.
But here’s the part we rarely talk about. Your wallet also reveals your heart. That 10K you lent a friend with no expectation of return?
That boda boda ride you paid for someone in need? That airtime you sent to your mother at midnight? That’s your character. That’s your value system. Because money is moral. It tells the story of who you are — not just what you want.
So, what can you do differently? Start by auditing your wallet. Look at your last 30 transactions. Categorize them. Needs or wants? Investments or indulgences? If your money had a job description, what would it be? Security guard? Employee? Or a reckless partygoer?
Next, define your financial priorities. What truly matters? Stability? Growth? Peace of mind? If your spending doesn’t align with your goals, then your wallet is speaking louder than your dreams.
Finally, make your money work. Savings are good, but savings alone don’t build wealth. Find small, smart ways to invest. It could be a SACCO, a side hustle, or even putting aside capital for a business idea. Let every shilling have a mission.
At Jonakee Holdings, we’ve heard thousands of money stories. Some loud. Some quiet. Some painful. Some full of promise. But all of them honest.
And that’s what matters. Because when you listen to your wallet, really listen, you stop chasing money blindly and start using it wisely.
So tell me,What’s your wallet saying to you today? And more importantly are you listening?
The Author is a President of Money lenders Association of Uganda