The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, has called Ugandans who are dying of hunger “idiots.” Oryem claims that Uganda has enough food, land, and potential to feed anyone who works hard, so no one should complain or even die of hunger. Speaking during a media interview, Oryem said that any Ugandan who dies of hunger is an “idiot.”
“Those are real idiots that can die of hunger in Uganda,” he said. “There is enough food in Uganda. If you work hard, there is land, and the climate is right. If you make double efforts to go out in the morning, till your land, plant the seeds, and maintain your plantation, how can you possibly fail to get food?”
At least 2,000 people died of hunger in Uganda last year. According to Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), eight million people suffer from chronic hunger, with the country’s northern region being the worst hit.
Oryem’s comments follow those of his boss, President Yoweri Museveni, who, while speaking to National Agricultural Advisory Services delegates, said that the image of Ugandans dying of hunger is not representative of the exact situation. Museveni insisted that “we have so much food” and wondered why people are dying of hunger despite this abundance.