Learning how to learn is like that secret sauce no one teaches you at school. But for anyone out here trying to hustle smarter — not harder — it’s one of those superpowers that makes everything else easier.
Now, I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon. In fact, most of what I know now — about money, about the online world, about tech, even visas and survival tactics — I had to learn from scratch, usually from a noisy café in town with spotty WiFi and a borrowed laptop. That’s the Ugandan way: learn on the go, under pressure, and with limited resources.
In Uganda, if you don’t learn fast, life slaps you quicker. You either hustle smart or you hustle broke.
Mukiibi Hamza Katende
In this piece, I want to share nine practical, no-BS tips that have helped me learn faster — and stay ahead in the game. Whether you’re in Uganda or the diaspora, whether you’re grinding in Kampala or navigating your first week in a foreign land, these strategies work.
🪓 1. Sharpen the Axe — Plan Before You Grind
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” — Abraham Lincoln.
Before diving into anything — whether it’s forex trading, HTML code, Canadian immigration law, or starting a poultry business — spend some time understanding the meta-game. That’s the strategy behind the hustle.
For instance, when I wanted to understand cryptocurrency (IYKYK how hot that gets in Uganda), I didn’t just download Binance and start throwing money. I hit YouTube, followed Ugandan Telegram groups, asked a guy in Nakulabye who’d lost money (😅), and downloaded a few PDFs.
That’s how you sharpen the axe. You map out how you’re going to learn — not just what.
🔑 2. Use Crutches to Focus — No Distractions, No Excuses
Let’s be honest: distractions in Uganda are on another level. Loud neighbors, noisy bodas, WhatsApp groups popping every two seconds. It’s chaos.
But focus is your secret weapon.
I use two simple hacks:
The Five-Minute Rule: I tell myself, “Just do this for five minutes.” Whether it’s a business proposal or watching a tutorial, I commit to five minutes. That usually tricks my brain into doing more.
Phone in Another Room: Literally. If I’m writing or learning, my phone is either on airplane mode or with someone else. No notifications. No temptations.
Discipline isn’t about being perfect — it’s about building systems that make focus easier.
🌍 3. Immerse Yourself — Be in the Arena
If you want to learn fast, you have to stop being a spectator. Get in the game.
When I wanted to improve my English fluency, I joined Facebook groups with Nigerians (bro, they don’t joke with grammar). When I was learning to build websites, I posted on LinkedIn and begged people to let me build theirs for free.
Learning isn’t a classroom thing. It’s a field thing. You learn faster when the stakes are real, when you’ve got skin in the game.
🔗 4. Attack the Weak Spots — Fix the Leaks in Your Boat
It’s tempting to keep doing the things we’re good at. Like if you’re hustling in tech, you might avoid marketing because it’s “not your thing.” But here’s the thing — your growth is hiding in your weak spots.
Ask yourself:
“If someone gave me an opportunity today, what would make me panic?”
That’s your weak link. Fix it.
When I realized I didn’t know how to pitch myself to clients, I stopped learning more web dev stuff and started learning how to write emails and proposals. That pivot landed me more gigs than any new coding skill ever could.
🧠 5. Test Yourself — Don’t Just Watch, Do
Watching YouTube tutorials without doing the thing is like watching gym videos while eating chips. You feel productive… but nothing changes.
You only really learn when you try to recall and apply what you’ve just learned.
I set up challenges for myself:
- After watching a tutorial, I recreate it from memory.
- After reading about visas, I try to explain it to a friend without looking at notes.
- After learning about TikTok strategy, I make a post that same night.
That discomfort when you can’t remember something? That’s your brain actually working.
📢 6. Get Real Feedback — Not Just Likes
Likes feel good, but feedback makes you good.
At first, it hurts. I posted a website I made and someone commented, “Bro this font is killing my eyes.” I was salty… but he was right. I changed it. The next person hired me.
Ugandan culture sometimes avoids direct feedback — we like to be polite. But real growth comes from raw, constructive feedback. Find people who’ll tell you the truth. Those are your gold mines.
📚 7. Overlearn — Know More Than You Need
Don’t just stop at “enough to pass.” Dig deeper.
When I was learning digital marketing, I didn’t just stop at YouTube Ads. I went deeper into analytics, copywriting, A/B testing. That made me dangerous in a good way — because I could solve bigger problems for clients.
Overlearning gives you confidence, and in the hustle economy, confidence closes deals.
🕰 8. Use Spacing — Don’t Cram the Hustle
You don’t have to grind 24/7. In fact, your brain needs breaks.
I used to pull all-nighters trying to finish courses. But I’d forget most of it. Now, I learn in small chunks. One hour in the morning. 30 minutes in the evening. That spacing gives my brain time to breathe, connect dots, and actually retain what I learn.
Cramming = forgetting. Spacing = mastery.
🧑🏿🏫 9. Teach It — Hustle Knowledge is for Sharing
Want to master something fast? Teach it.
I started a small WhatsApp group where I broke down tech stuff for my friends. It forced me to simplify what I learned, explain it clearly, and fill in any gaps. Guess who became the go-to tech guy? Me.
When you teach others, you learn twice. And in Uganda’s hustle culture, being “that person who knows” opens a lot of doors.
Final Word
Learning is a lifetime hustle — and the faster you master learning itself, the faster you level up.
So whatever you’re learning — visa info, copywriting, plumbing, driving in winter — apply these tips. They’ll take you from “Eh, I’m trying…” to “Boss, I got this!”
The world moves fast. But you can move faster.
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