Written By | Evan Sande Ndahura
Evan Sande Ndahura is a Ugandan writer, legal scholar, columnist, and cultural storyteller known for weaving philosophical insight with contemporary human experiences.
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In every age, three forces—money, power, and love—have shaped destinies, crowned kings, broken empires, and dissolved friendships that once seemed indestructible. They are the three magnets of human desire, and when mishandled, they turn loyalty into rivalry, affection into suspicion, and brotherhood into enmity.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle once warned that “where there is excess, there is error.” Nowhere does excess destroy more relationships than in money, power, and love.
THE PRICE OF MONEY: WHEN COINS BECOME SWORDS
Money has ended friendships, destroyed families, and collapsed alliances.
Historical & Modern Examples
Brutus and Julius Caesar: Though political partners, tension over wealth distribution and influence fed the betrayal that ended Caesar’s life.
The Wright Brothers—inventors of the airplane—fought bitterly with business partners and investors until their relationship collapsed entirely.
Mark Zuckerberg vs. Eduardo Saverin: Facebook’s founding friendship fell apart when the first major money arrived, turning brothers-in-vision into courtroom rivals.
In Uganda and East Africa, countless family businesses collapse because one sibling or uncle “eats more than the others.”
Communities have seen burial ceremonies turn into battlegrounds because relatives fight for property before the soil even settles.
As the African proverb says: “When money talks, even blood forgets it is blood.”
POWER: THE GREATEST DISTANCE BETWEEN FRIENDS
Power isolates. The moment one person rises, the dynamics of relationships shift.
Examples Through Time
Napoleon Bonaparte and his generals: Once loyal friends, some betrayed him when he rose too high, fearing his dominance.
Fidel Castro and Che Guevara began as brothers in revolution but drifted apart as Castro consolidated power.
Kizza Besigye and President Museveni: Once close comrades during the Bush War, their relationship fractured under the weight of political power and differing visions for Uganda.
In corporate institutions, juniors who rise quickly often abandon the seniors who mentored them, believing new titles make old friendships unnecessary.
Even in church leadership, power struggles have split congregations, turning prayer partners into rivals.
Lord Acton captured it perfectly: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Power reshapes loyalties, and the higher one climbs, the fewer hands remain steady beneath them.
LOVE: THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND MOST DANGEROUS FIRE
Nothing has sparked more personal wars than romantic affection.
Men Who Fell Out Because of Women
King Henry VIII and his closest advisors clashed repeatedly over his obsessive relationships with women—relationships that destroyed friendships, alliances, and even lives.
Samson from the Bible lost trust, relationships, and his destiny because of Delilah’s manipulation.
Modern times are filled with stories of male friends who stopped drinking, talking, or even greeting each other because they both pursued the same woman.
University hostels, company offices, and even villages have witnessed fights between men—sometimes leading to death—all because of a woman they both wanted.
Women Who Fell Out Because of Men
Cleopatra and Arsinoe, her own sister, became enemies over power and relationships with influential men.
In contemporary society, we see sisters, best friends, and co-workers tear each other down, damage reputations, and sabotage opportunities because of rivalry over a man.
Social media has intensified battles, with women recording each other, shaming each other, or publicly fighting over men who often remain silent.
Shakespeare’s words remain timeless:
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
And sometimes, it runs straight through the heart of friendship.
BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS LOST OVER MONEY
The founders of Twitter, Snapchat, and WhatsApp all broke apart due to profit disputes.
African political families have gone to court against each other over shared estates.
Successful transport and real estate businesses in Uganda have collapsed because partners fought over percentages rather than performance.
Even in small savings groups (SACCOs), friends become enemies the moment accountability is questioned.
Money doesn’t change people; it reveals them.
MENTOR–JUNIOR RELATIONSHIPS BROKEN BY POWER
Joseph Kabila and senior officers in DRC fell out when he inherited power at age 29, creating deep military divides.
South African liberation leaders experienced fractures when younger leaders gained influence and began undermining the elders.
In workplaces, juniors who get promoted often develop an attitude—forgetting who wrote their recommendation letters.
The truth is simple: Promotion exposes character more than poverty ever will.
WHEN RELATIONSHIPS COLLAPSE: THE GREAT EXIT OF THE THREE
Money vanishes. Power evaporates. Love grows cold.
Yesterday’s generous acts are twisted into manipulation;
Yesterday’s sacrifices are rewritten as “hidden agendas.”
Yesterday’s closeness becomes today’s avoidance.
Because when these three forces exit, they do not close the door softly—they slam it.
WHAT LIFE TEACHES US
1. Protect your relationships from money
Let transparency and honesty lead. Franklin warned: “A small leak will sink a great ship.”
2. Carry power with humility
Leadership is a blessing, not a weapon.
3. Love with maturity and self-control
For love without boundaries becomes chaos.
A FINAL WORD TO THE WISE
If you wish to keep the people you value:
Be mindful of how you handle money,
Disciplined with how you use power,
And gentle with how you love.
Relationships remain the most expensive wealth on earth—and the easiest to lose.
About the Writer
Evan Sande Ndahura is a Ugandan writer, legal scholar, columnist, and cultural storyteller known for weaving philosophical insight with contemporary human experiences. His works include “The Curved Road to Destiny,” “Never Outshine Your Master,” “Why Dictators Entrench Power,” and several reflective essays on leadership, society, and human relationships. Ndahura’s writing carries a distinctive classical tone, blending history, culture, and emotional depth to guide readers toward wisdom and self-awareness.
