University quiz shaping tomorrow's experts, says BOU governor

KAMPALA - Bank of Uganda of Uganda was the key sponsor of the brain-cracking competition in partnership with Uganda Communications Commission, National Environment Management Authority, Parliament of Uganda, Hariss International and Capital Markets Authority, powered by Net Studios Africa.

The Governor Bank of Uganda, Michael Atingi-Ego, was the chief guest at the event held at the Vision Group headquarters in the Industrial Area in Kampala to crown the champion yesterday.

Below is his speech;

Tonight, we celebrate more than a competition, we celebrate a vision that began as a spark and has now ignited a national movement. What started as a modest idea three years ago has evolved into a transformative platform, one that educates, inspires, and empowers Uganda’s brightest minds.

This journey reflects the essence of progress: innovation, resilience, and partnership. The collaboration between Bank of Uganda and Vision Group is no coincidence; it is anchored in shared purpose.

At the Bank of Uganda, our mission is clear: to promote price stability and a sound financial system in support of Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. For Vision Group, it is to generate and distribute content that advances society.

Together, these missions converge in the Ultimate University Quiz, a beacon of intellectual empowerment.

The Ultimate University Quiz is more than a televised quiz; it is a strategic intervention aligned with national priorities. It promotes economic and financial literacy, demystifying concepts such as inflation, interest rates, budgeting, markets, and financial stability concepts that shape everyday life.

It builds trust through transparency by humanising central banking, strengthens public engagement, and nurtures talent for Uganda’s future financial sector and policy spaces. Contestants gain visibility, confidence, and exposure to real-world economic thinking and problem-solving, contributing directly to the country’s talent pipeline.

The initiative also amplifies sustainability awareness, aligning with our strategic plan’s commitment to inclusive growth and ESG (Environmental Social Governance) principles.

The Ultimate University Quiz’s programming, university research prizes, and partnerships directly support the objectives of the Sustainability Standards Certification Initiative (SSCI).

By stimulating academic interest in economics and public policy, the Ultimate University Quiz elevates national conversations and inspires universities to innovate.

Beyond mastery of content, what truly inspires me is the organisational excellence you displayed. In every round, you demonstrated the power of diverse knowledge creating competitive advantage, blending specialists from economics, finance, and current affairs.

You mastered collaborative competition, that magical mix of individual confidence and genuine humility, knowing precisely when to defer to a teammate’s stronger knowledge to ensure collective success.

You proved that speed and accuracy under pressure matters processing complex information and making rapid decisions, a capability that distinguishes effective leaders in volatile business environments.

This competition has served as a high-impact, real-time test for the market, highlighting the talent best equipped for Uganda’s future challenges.

We stand at a pivotal moment, navigating the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI), where machines excel at computation. Yet global studies affirm that humans outshine AI in adapting to change and novelty.

The critical skills you demonstrated creative problem-solving, intellectual agility across disciplines, and collaborative thinking—are the uniquely human capacities that will deliver Uganda’s future.

This is why the Bank of Uganda actively champions these traits. Our Strategic Plan 2022–2027 prioritises building a future-fit culture through a Culture Change Roadmap and the development of a dedicated Innovation Strategy.

I hope that the discussions and questions in the Ultimate University Quiz have helped our community better understand the central bank’s role. Allow me to reaffirm a cornerstone of our mandate: price stability.

The Bank of Uganda pursues an inflation target of 5%, a level that safeguards households from the erosion of purchasing power, while providing businesses and investors with a predictable environment for long-term planning.

A stable inflation rate is not just a statistic; it is a promise a promise that your incomes retain value, your savings remain secure, and your investments thrive in a climate of certainty. This is how we build confidence, foster growth, and sustain transformation.

As we close this chapter, let us remember: The Ultimate University Quiz is not just about winners; it is about a generation equipped to lead Uganda into a future of stability, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

Your challenge now is to take this intellectual muscle and apply it. Embrace the uncertainty ahead not as a threat to fear, but as the ultimate opportunity where the human mind truly excels.