Ugandan socialite and influencer Zari Hassan has urged women not to look down on men simply because they lack money, arguing that building a future together can sometimes matter more than choosing a partner based on wealth.
Speaking at a conference in Kampala over the weekend, the mother of five challenged the idea that women should prioritise finding a financially wealthy man when searching for love.
Zari acknowledged that women are often encouraged to seek rich partners but said that approach does not guarantee they will find the person they genuinely want to be with.
“Ladies have been told, ‘You need a rich guy; find him.’ Sometimes you’re not gonna find that guy. Sometimes you’re gonna find your person and build,” she said.
To illustrate her point, Zari referred to her relationship with her late former partner, Ugandan businessman Ivan Ssemwanga, saying her experience had taught her that a couple could build a future together rather than expect a man to have everything from the beginning.
“That’s what I did with Ssemwanga. Don’t look down on broke men,” she added.
Zari also emphasised that men who are struggling financially should not be treated as less worthy of love or respect.
“Ladies have been told, ‘He needs to be rich,’ but those broke men are human too,” she said.
Her remarks offer a perspective on the role money plays in modern dating, particularly in conversations about financial stability, expectations and choosing a long-term partner.
Zari’s advice does not suggest that financial stability is unimportant in a relationship. Rather, her comments encourage women to consider a partner’s potential and the possibility of growing together instead of judging him solely by his current financial circumstances.
The discussion also reflects a wider debate about whether people should prioritise an established lifestyle when dating or consider factors such as compatibility, shared goals and a willingness to work towards a common future.
By drawing on her own experience with Ssemwanga, Zari encouraged women to remain open to relationships in which both partners can work towards their ambitions together.
Her central message was that a man’s current financial situation should not automatically determine his worth as a potential partner.