“Beat the poor”remark incites rage
“Beat the poor”remark incites rage
Speaking on ways to end poverty, Kasolo proposed that the government write laws that would physically punish “lazy –poor people” in an effort to drive them to become wealthy. This comment has sparked intense backlash and major worries.
Kasolo’s suggested approach is criticized for being cruel, ineffective, and a violation of human rights, hurting people’s dignity. The remarks have spurred a wider discussion regarding the moral and ethical ramifications of the use of force by the government as a development-oriented strategy.
This talk is in line with the worldwide dialogue on human rights-based approaches to ending poverty. According to current data from the World Bank, Uganda’s poverty rate may drop from 41.7% in 2023 to 40.7% in 2025, despite the fact that households’ limited ability to adjust may provide a barrier.
Access to food, cost, and environmental shocks are some of the variables that affect how quickly poverty is reduced. While they oppose the use of force, the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations call for the eradication of poverty in all its manifestations.
In response to Kasolo’s statement, Dr. Samuel Ssekajja Mayanja, a lecturer and consultant in entrepreneurship and project management, emphasized the need of investing in tools and skills rather than punishment as a means of addressing poverty. He made the point that reducing poverty is hampered by high borrowing rates and production costs.
Dr. Samuel Ouma, a clinical psychologist and lecturer, also refuted the idea that Ugandans are naturally lethargic. He drew attention to the problem of low workplace salaries, which fuel ongoing poverty.
He made the argument that raising wages and improving working conditions would have a greater impact on reducing poverty, citing studies on the difficult working circumstances faced by women in the Middle East.
The director of MEFMI’s Financial Sector Management Program, Dr. Patrick Mutimba, emphasized the value of financial education and literacy in helping individuals escape poverty.
The Parish Development Model and Operation Wealth Creation are two programs that the Ugandan government has put into place with the goal of integrating the underprivileged into the formal economy.
