Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu has sparked outrage after calling for the arrest of people claiming to be poor in the landlocked country where economic growth has not translated to reduction in poverty.
Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu said people who make poverty a topic of discussion in their daily lives should be arrested.
According to a report by the Daily Monitor on Wednesday, February 19, the officer said there was no reason whatsoever for Ugandan citizens especially in the Teso region to cry and speak about destitution.
The commander noted the area had fertile soils and as such people should engage in productive agricultural activities instead of “petty” politics that has impoverished them.
Elwelu said more people in the country were deteriorating into dependency when they have a lot of potential to improve their lives.
According to the 2016/2017 Uganda national household survey, Teso sub region is one of the areas with high poverty levels in the nation with 40% of the population living below the poverty line. His statement had mixed reactions.
“You think all people have jobs like you. Think before you say something,” Josephine Mathai said. “This must be a descendant of Iddi Amin Dadda,” Chigozie Kalimuscle opined. Okay, you will be poorer than them, wealth comes and go,” Symoh Kangerwe added.
