President Yoweri Museveni has said the problem in Uganda was that people still believed in the pre-capitalist social formations where they just worked to eat.
He called it a traditional system that was more of a subsistence economy and not a money economy.
“In the schools, they call it subsistence. You just subsist by your own effort. You don’t work for the money economy,” he said.
The president was speaking to KTN News journalist Sophia Wanuna in an interview aired on Sunday October 16, 2022.
“As you can see, Uganda is a very rich country. There are a lot of natural resources,” the president explained, clarifying that the country’s vast arable land has enabled many Ugandans to readily access food hence turning some of them into “lazy” people.
“That is why these Ugandans are lazy. They are lazy because a fool here cannot easily die. Even if you are a fool, you can survive by eating from your brother’s house. There is no way you will easily die in Uganda,” he noted.
Pres. Yoweri Museveni: Ugandans are lazy. Even if you are a fool, you can survive by eating from your brother’s house. Kenya is a bit harder because it is majorly semi-arid
Watch the full interview here: https://t.co/EVqtOPPHiS#MuseveniOnKTN pic.twitter.com/p2UWhpx29v
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) October 16, 2022
According to him, Kenya is a bit different and a bit harder (putting food on the table) because much of Kenya is semi-arid.
“Only a small part is for agriculture. Here (in Uganda) every place is very nice.”
He said since independence in 1962, this traditional system has hampered rapid economic growth.
“Although we are talking of 60 years, the years of progress in Uganda are only 36 because the initial 24 years we regressed.”
Pres. Yoweri Museveni: The problem in Uganda was that people still believed in the pre-capitalist social formations where they just worked to eat. Watu wanatumikia tumbo peke yake
Watch the full interview here: https://t.co/EVqtOPxy4K#MuseveniOnKTN pic.twitter.com/1Mi6GfcJDc
— KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) October 16, 2022