Lt. Gen. Kavuma Sparks Debate Over ‘Begging Abroad’ Comments

Mogadishu/Kampala — Lt. Gen. Sam Kavuma, commander of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), has stirred controversy after claiming that “God is angry with Ugandans for begging abroad.”

Speaking at a recent engagement, Kavuma linked Uganda’s reliance on external aid and remittances to a perceived erosion of self-reliance and patriotism. His remarks have ignited debate, with some Ugandans agreeing that overdependence on foreign donors undermines dignity, while others criticized the comments as insensitive to citizens struggling under economic hardship.

The statement has also triggered discussions online about Uganda’s development model, foreign aid dependency, and the balance between self-sufficiency and global partnerships.