Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has caused a social media buzz after describing his countrymen as 'lazy' during a meeting with South African business community members.
Following a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday, Uganda's president said the country's favourable climate had made citizens work-shy.
"We at the equator, we have two rainy seasons. That is why these Ugandans are lazy because life is very easy for them. You don't have to work very hard. Even a fool can survive in Uganda," he said, according to the Daily Monitor.
According to Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's business environment is favourable, but the people are not motivated to do better.
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The head of state encouraged Ugandans to wake up and participate in activities that would significantly raise domestic revenue and lower poverty levels at the time.
"I am here to again remind our people, especially the ones who are not well educated that you can get out of poverty through commercial farming on a small scale. However, even some of the educated do not know how to make money; they only know how to work for the government and for people," he said.
"Our villagers do not have to remain unfocused and they can actually be involved but with proper planning. Those who are old enough remember that I once toured the whole country telling people that you people wake up, do modern farming and leave ancient ways of farming."
Museveni's remarks surprised South African investors, including Ramaphosa, who was pitching business opportunities at the time. It was, however, not the first time the controversial 78-year-old head of state leader accused his countrymen of being sluggish compared to competitors.in 2019 while touring north Uganda, the president criticized Ugandans, saying God does not like lazy people. Studies, however, rank Ugandans as the most entrepreneurial people on the continent
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