Called people dying of hunger 'idiots', backlash grows like an avalanche

State Minister Henry Okello Oryem, in an interview with a television channel, referred to Uganda as a country suitable for agriculture due to its vast lands and climate, and commented, "A person who dies of hunger in Uganda is a complete idiot."

Oryem stated, "If you work hard, there is land in Uganda. The climate, despite climate change, is quite suitable. If you put in double the effort to set out early in the morning, plow your land, plant the seeds, and check your crops, how can you have a problem accessing food?"

Ugandans reacted to these remarks on social media and demanded the minister's resignation.

In a report submitted to Parliament in the country last year, it was reported that 2 thousand 200 people died of hunger or hunger-related diseases in the country in 2022.