Buganda Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga has found an unlikely reflection of his own leadership philosophy in Zari Hassan’s views on fame, business and building a lasting legacy.
Mayiga shared his thoughts after reading a recent Weekend Monitor profile on Zari, which examined her evolution from a socialite and reality television star into an entrepreneur and businesswoman focused on building assets that can outlive her celebrity status.
READ: Zari’s evolution from socialite to empire builder
In a post on X, Mayiga highlighted several lessons from the interview, particularly Zari’s views on converting fame into something tangible, the importance of professionalism and discipline, and the difficult decisions that come with leadership.
“The Boss Lady’s words sound like they came straight from my mouth,” Mayiga wrote.
Among the ideas that caught his attention was Zari’s argument that fame on its own is not enough to guarantee lasting success.
“Fame is powerful, but it is also temporary if you do not convert it into something tangible,” Zari says in the Monitor profile.
I read an article in the “Weekend Monitor” about the public life of Zari Hassan, and I found these insightful lessons:
“Fame is powerful, but it is also temporary if you do not convert it into something tangible.”
“Popularity can open a door, but professionalism, consistency,… pic.twitter.com/jMvicqonrR— Charles Peter Mayiga (@cpmayiga) August 17, 2026
The entrepreneur, who has built interests spanning education, property, lifestyle, beauty, entertainment and brand partnerships, said her focus has gradually shifted from simply being visible to building systems, brands and investments capable of surviving beyond her personal presence.
For Mayiga, that thinking appears to mirror his own emphasis on turning influence into meaningful and sustainable institutions.
He also singled out Zari’s observation that popularity may open doors, but it takes discipline and professionalism to remain there.
“Popularity can open a door, but professionalism, consistency, and financial discipline are what keep you inside the room,” Zari says.
Her comments on leadership also appeared to strike a familiar chord with the Buganda Kingdom premier.
Zari acknowledges that being in charge can mean making decisions that disappoint people close to you, particularly when protecting the future of an organisation requires difficult choices.
“You can love people, support people and still have to make decisions based on performance, accountability or the future of the organisation,” she says.
Mayiga’s reaction comes against the backdrop of his own long involvement in leadership, business and institution building. The Buganda Kingdom describes him as a lawyer, entrepreneur and author who has served on numerous boards and been involved in the establishment of several Kingdom organisations and companies.
In recent remarks to members of the Buganda Lukiiko, Mayiga similarly urged leaders to focus on ideas, performance and their contribution to the Kingdom rather than simply the titles they hold.
That makes his reaction to Zari’s interview more than a casual compliment. It highlights a shared view of leadership in which visibility and popularity are only starting points, while discipline, accountability, institution building and long-term thinking determine whether success lasts.
Zari herself says her ambitions have moved from making an impression to creating an institution and a legacy, with her ultimate goal being for her name to represent resilience, ownership, enterprise and African excellence.
For Mayiga, those ideas apparently sound familiar.
And in his own words, the Boss Lady may simply have been saying what he has been saying all along.
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