Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has made a surprising suggestion that the government may be forced to compel citizens to record statements at police stations to explain why they remain poor.

Nabbanja made this suggestion while launching the Semwanga Development Foundation in Rakai. As the head of government business in parliament, the Prime Minister believes that the government has invested heavily in household income-generating programs like Emyooga and Parish Development, among others, to lift citizens out of poverty.

However, according to her, many have intentionally refused to participate, while others have misused the funds.

Based on this assumption, Nabbanja warned that the government may soon force citizens to become rich.

“If they don’t want to get rich peacefully, we will make them rich by force,” Nabbanja said.

She added, “People have large tracts of land but are not utilizing it. We are now speaking to you humbly, but the time will come when we say, ‘we want you to be rich’.”

Despite efforts to alleviate poverty, Uganda remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with 41% of its population living on less than $1.90 a day. This indicates a low well-being of Ugandans in terms of health, education, vulnerability, and deprivation, among others.

To achieve middle-income status, more needs to be done. Government programs have had little success due to institutionalized corruption, bureaucratic tape, financial illiteracy among beneficiaries,  and inadequate state investment.