Uganda Development Bank (UDB) Managing Director Patricia Adongo-Ojangole has urged Ugandans to question assumptions, verify information and make evidence-based decisions, warning that poor judgement and unquestioned traditions can undermine institutions and national development.
Speaking at a public lecture at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono under the theme “The Power of Thinking: Why Critical Minds Build Better Futures,” Ojangole said critical thinking was increasingly important in an era of widespread misinformation and easy access to information.
“We are drowning in information, but often starving for wisdom,” she said, noting that the growing influence of social media and unverified claims had made it harder for people to distinguish facts from falsehoods. Ojangole said the ability to make sound decisions depended not simply on the information people possessed, but on their capacity to examine evidence, challenge assumptions and consider alternative explanations.
She cautioned against believing or circulating information simply because it had been widely shared, urging the public to verify claims before acting on them. Using the example of a WhatsApp message announcing the closure of a major road, she said people should check the date, establish the source, and consult relevant authorities before changing their plans, even when a message carried an official-looking logo or had been forwarded many times.
She said the same caution was necessary during public health emergencies, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and Ebola outbreaks as periods when conflicting information could confuse the public and influence decisions. Ojangole also warned against making hurried decisions under pressure, saying people should take time to establish why a particular course of action was being urgently demanded. “When you are under pressure, that is the time you actually have to slow down and step back,” she said.
She defined critical thinking as a disciplined process of examining information before accepting it as true. This involves asking what evidence supports a claim, what assumptions underpin it, whether alternative explanations exist, and what information might be missing. Drawing on the biblical account of King Solomon’s judgement in 1 Kings 3:9, Ojangole said wisdom required looking beyond appearances and competing claims to establish the truth and act fairly.
She also cited the Bereans in Acts 17:11, who examined the Scriptures to establish whether Paul’s teachings were true, as an example of the importance of remaining open to new ideas while scrutinising information. Ojangole challenged individuals and institutions to question their own beliefs, habits and established practices by examining why particular systems exist, who established them and whether they still serve their intended purpose.
However, she emphasised that questioning established practices did not necessarily mean rejecting them, but rather assessing their relevance and retaining those that continued to deliver value. She identified confirmation bias, groupthink, emotional reasoning and authority bias as major obstacles to sound judgement. Confirmation bias occurs when people seek information that supports their existing beliefs while disregarding evidence that challenges them.
Groupthink, meanwhile, arises when individuals accept a group’s position without independently assessing its merits, often to avoid disagreement or gain acceptance. She warned that groupthink could affect organisations when employees approve proposals without adequately questioning their feasibility, costs or alignment with institutional objectives.
Emotional reasoning involves treating feelings as facts, while authority bias occurs when people stop scrutinising information because it comes from an influential individual or institution. “Feelings are not facts,” Ojangole said, adding that emotions were an important part of human experience but should not replace evidence in decision-making. She said experience and intuition could help people anticipate risks but should be tested against available evidence rather than accepted without scrutiny.
On leadership, Ojangole said intelligence and academic qualifications alone did not guarantee wisdom, integrity or sound decisions, noting that even highly educated leaders and experienced professionals could make destructive or unethical choices. She said effective leadership required objectivity, fairness, ethical conduct and accountability, particularly when decisions affected institutions, employees and the wider public.
Reflecting on her experience at UDB, Ojangole said responsible leadership required decision-makers to understand their mandates, establish sound governance systems and accept responsibility for the consequences of their actions. She attributed her approach to decision-making to her Christian upbringing, professional training in accounting and auditing, and leadership experience. “Your cardinal duty is how you take your organisation forward while keeping it under control,” she said, emphasising integrity and the need to safeguard institutional interests.
Ojangole also challenged universities to move beyond producing graduates who memorise information to nurturing independent thinkers capable of evaluating evidence, interpreting information, solving problems and exercising sound judgement. Professor Aaron Mushengyenzi reinforced the call, urging leaders to move away from business as usual and embrace innovative approaches capable of transforming Uganda’s private sector, infrastructure, education and other institutions.
Mushengyenzi said UCU sought to nurture a generation capable of driving positive change, urging leaders to translate ideas into practical action. He cited UDB’s growth under Ojangole’s leadership, saying the bank’s balance sheet had expanded from Shs109 billion in 2013 to Shs2.8 trillion. Ojangole holds a PhD in development finance from the University of Stellenbosch Business School in South Africa and has experience in banking, accounting and auditing.
In 2025, she was named Banker of the Year at the African Bank Awards. She told students and other participants that critical thinking should not be confused with endless criticism or argument, but should help people identify the most effective, ethical and practical course of action. She said individuals and institutions needed to cultivate the discipline to examine evidence, question assumptions, and make decisions that advance society’s interests rather than simply follow popular opinion or established routines-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
