President of the republic of Uganda Yoweri Museveni has made a striking appeal to God not to blame him for the continued poverty of Ugandans, insisting that he has spent years urging them to abandon subsistence production and embrace income-generating activities, only for many to ignore his message.
Addressing the country during Uganda’s 64th Independence Day celebrations on October 9, 2026, Museveni appeared to shift responsibility for persistent household poverty onto citizens, arguing that government efforts to transform livelihoods cannot succeed when people fail to produce for the market and instead concentrate on growing food solely for their own consumption.
Visibly frustrated, Museveni said Uganda’s economic challenge dates back to independence in 1962, when, according to figures he cited, only 9% of the population participated in the money economy, leaving the overwhelming majority outside it. He expressed frustration that, despite years of government sensitization, many people had not fully embraced the economic activities he believes are necessary to lift them out of stinking poverty.
“Almighty God, don’t blame me with those people,” Museveni said, arguing that he had repeatedly explained to Ugandans what they needed to do to improve their economic circumstances.
The distinction between producing for the stomach and producing for the pocket remains central to his poverty eradication message, for Museveni. He argued that households cannot significantly improve their livelihoods if they do not engage in productive activities or, where they do, fail to generate surplus produce and income from their efforts.
It was this concern, he explained, that prompted him to bring his brother, Gen Salim Saleh, into the poverty eradication campaign and launch Operation Wealth Creation, which involves the army in efforts to help households transition from subsistence agriculture to commercial production.
The President said he had become dissatisfied with relying on conventional agricultural extension workers, including officers deployed at sub-county level, whom he questioned for failing to sufficiently change the economic practices of rural households.
He said the army was eventually brought in to help persuade citizens to participate in income-generating activities, an intervention that reflected his belief that the country’s poverty problem required more direct mobilization than government agricultural extension services had delivered.
The remarks also revived questions about the government’s responsibility for addressing poverty after decades in power. While Museveni has consistently promoted commercial agriculture, wealth creation and household participation in the money economy, his latest comments placed particular emphasis on citizens’ failure to act on government advice.
The President’s appeal to God was therefore not merely a reflection on poverty but also a defence of his own record, with the old warrior suggesting that he had repeatedly provided the guidance necessary for Ugandans to improve their livelihoods.
He invoked the prospect of being held accountable in heaven, insisting that he would explain that he had done his part but that the big headed people of Uganda had failed to listen.
“If I go to heaven, God will ask me. I will give all the accountability. I told them they didn’t listen,” he said.(For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
