Uganda: Foreign Affairs Minister says People Dying of Hunger are ‘idiots’

A government official in Uganda has sparked controversy by labeling individuals who died of hunger in the country as “idiots.”

Henry Okello Oryem, the state minister for foreign affairs, faced backlash for his remarks, which many criticized as insensitive. Despite a report indicating over 2,200 deaths due to starvation and related illnesses in northeast Uganda in 2022, Oryem suggested that with Uganda’s favorable climate and fertile land, people should be capable of growing their own food, implying that only those lacking initiative would succumb to hunger.

However, his comments have drawn widespread condemnation, with critics highlighting the complexities of food insecurity, particularly in regions like Karamoja. Moses Aleper, a legislator from the affected area, emphasized that factors such as unpredictable weather patterns and climate change contribute significantly to food shortages, rendering Oryem’s stance misguided.

Furthermore, prominent figures like Charles Onyango-Obbo pointed out that hunger in Uganda stems more from distribution and market issues rather than solely individual effort.

Despite the minister’s assertions, the reality of hunger in regions like Karamoja persists, often exacerbated by semi-arid climatic conditions during dry seasons.