Eibu Built His Bond Portfolio From Ugx 500,000 Loan

First, who is Charles Eibu — occupation, age, marital status, level of education, hobbies, and more?   

I’m Charles Jubilee Eibu, 28 years old, a civil engineer by training with a bachelor’s degree from Kyambogo University, Kampala. I have a strong background in engineering. Currently, I’m a co-founder of a construction company called CJ Engineering Services Ltd that deals in engineering and construction works. Away from engineering, I’m deeply passionate about finance and capital markets. I spend much of my time investing, writing about capital markets, that is, fixed income securities (treasury bills, bonds) and equities on the Uganda Securities Exchange, and helping people understand how money can actually work for them. I’m not married yet but hopefully soon. Outside work and investing, you’ll probably find me writing articles on finance and investment, on a soccer field or in a swimming pool, my favourite hobbies.

 

Can you tell us when you first decided to invest in Uganda’s treasury bills, and what motivated you to take that step?

I first got introduced to capital markets through my investment group, which mainly focuses on managing assets in stocks and bonds. At the time, I had just graduated from university in late 2021, and it was in this investment group that I first heard about the stock market and treasury bonds. With their influence, I decided to start investing.

My first move was into the stock market when I bought shares in UMEME on the Uganda Securities Exchange. At first, I concentrated on building my portfolio in the stock market. Later, I saw the need to diversify my portfolio into fixed-income securities to spread risk. This led me to study treasury bonds in detail, and in 2024 I made my first investment in them. 

 

How much did you start with initially, and how has your investment grown since then?

I began with just UGX 500,000, and this was boosted by a small loan from my investment group, which supports members with affordable credit at an interest rate of 10% annually which is below the returns that bonds pay. My strategy has been to borrow, invest wisely, and repay steadily. What started as a modest step has grown into a portfolio I never imagined at the beginning — I will keep the number to myself — but just know it is big and I am happy with it so far. By laddering my bonds, I’ve reached a point where coupon payments flow in almost every month, creating a steady income stream. Along the way, I’ve built the discipline of setting aside UGX 300,000 every month to take part in primary market auctions, which has kept my momentum going and strengthened my financial journey.

 

What kind of returns or gains have you seen from your TBs investments so far?

On average, my bond investments return about 14.5% annually. What excites me most isn’t just the percentage but how those returns build on themselves through compounding, the “eighth wonder of the world.” Each time I reinvest, the growth becomes stronger and more visible. Very few businesses can guarantee such steady returns, and this has shown me that even with limited starting capital, discipline and consistency can turn small steps into real financial progress.

 

Have you ever faced any challenges or losses while investing, and how did you handle them? 

The main challenge for me has been access to large amounts of capital, since I have a high-risk appetite and like to go big. For now, I’m managing this by taking slow, steady steps and staying consistent. When the right opportunity comes for me to access bigger capital, I’ll be ready to take it. As for losses, I haven’t experienced any. My coupons have been paying consistently, almost every month. I’m also a long-term investor. My strategy is to buy and hold with a long investment horizon.

 

What factors or risks do you keep in mind before putting money into treasury bills? Are there any worries that still linger?

Treasury bills and bonds are safe low risk investments. Uganda has been issuing TBs since 1969. Over the decades, the country has undergone major political transitions, including leadership changes and even periods of civil unrest during Idi Amin’s regime in the 1970s and before the NRA took power in 1986. Yet through it all, the government has never defaulted on its obligations to investors. Just like in Game of Thrones, “A Lannister always pays his debts”, so does the government. With this strong track record, treasury bills and bonds remain one of the safest and most reliable ways to grow your money. 

 

Has investing in treasury bills influenced your personal finances or overall investment strategy?

Yes it has. Many people think investing is only for the highly intelligent or those with a lot of money. Some even find it intimidating, especially when they hear about it for the first time. But the truth is, investing is a life skill, one that can help you achieve your personal financial goals. Take a moment to reflect. Can you sustain your current lifestyle for the next 20 years? Or, even better, can you improve it? That’s where the art of investing comes in. It’s about choosing to delay instant gratification today so you can enjoy greater rewards in the future.

 

What advice would you give someone who hasn’t yet invested in treasury bills,  about getting started?

Treasury bills and bonds are considered a low-risk investment with a solid return, averaging around 14%. Very few small businesses in Uganda can match that. When you reinvest your earnings, through compound interest, your money grows even faster. Look at commercial banks, insurance companies, and fund managers: nearly half of their customer deposits are invested in treasury bills and bonds. Banks are the real players in the economy, driving growth through smart investments. Be the bank, not the banker. This is where real wealth is built. You don’t need millions to get started. With just UGX 100,000, you can begin investing today. Once you shift your mindset and take that first step, you’ll be amazed at how your money grows. 

 

Any parting shots?

Did you know that 75% of Ugandan start-ups don’t survive their first year? That’s a staggering figure. Maybe entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, but investing can be. With consistency and discipline, anyone can become a successful investor. As Charlie Munger, who was Warren Buffett’s legendary right-hand man, once said: “The big money is not in the buying or the selling, but in the waiting…”