A Ugandan minister has courted controversy for calling those who have died of hunger in the African country&nbsp;"idiots".&nbsp;Henry Okello Oryem, the state minister for foreign affairs made the tone-deaf comment.&nbsp;

Oryem argued that people should utilise Uganda's favourable climate and fertile land by growing food for themselves.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"It's only an idiot, a real idiot, that can die of hunger in Uganda,"&nbsp;Oryem told the NTV Uganda television channel.&nbsp;

"If you work hard, there is land in Uganda. The climate is right in spite [of] climate change. If you make a double effort to make sure that you go out in the morning, you till your land, you plant the seeds, you maintain your plantation, surely, how do you fail then to get food?"

The comments sparked outrage immediately, with&nbsp;Moses Aleper, a legislator for Chekwii County attacking Oryem for his insensitivity.&nbsp;

"I'm from one of the most productive parts of Karamoja where there is adequate rain and we produce food. But in situations where the weather fails us, the weather vagaries set in, we definitely fail to get food. And normally people definitely get famine and eventually hunger strikes," he told BBC.

Notably, Oryem's comments came days after Ugandan President&nbsp;Yoweri Museveni addressed the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) delegates and said the&nbsp;disturbing images depicting death from starvation in the country did not accurately portray the overall situation across the African continent.

“When you are out there, you may get stereotypes that we have no food, but we are dying from food here.&nbsp;Those images you see are not representative of all of Africa," said&nbsp;Museveni.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/african-leaders-criticize-israel-during-summit-in-uganda-683075">Watch |&nbsp;African leaders criticize Israel during summit in Uganda</a>

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<h2>Uganda's hunger statistics&nbsp;</h2>

According to a report published by the Uganda Human Rights Commission, over 2,200 people died in the northeast region of&nbsp;the country in 2022 due to starvation and related illnesses.&nbsp;

As per the 2022 Global Hunger Index, food insecurity in Uganda is classified as “serious". Malnutrition is widespread in the country as 29 per cent of children under the age of five are stunted while 53 per cent are anaemic.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/uganda-president-museveni-commends-indian-diaspora-for-establishing-900-factories-682038">Also read |&nbsp;Uganda President Museveni commends Indian diaspora for establishing 900 factories</a>

A report by the&nbsp;United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) states that&nbsp;adolescent girls and women in Uganda struggle to access nutritious diets, and poor nutrition is passed down through generations

(With inputs from agencies)

A Ugandan minister has courted controversy for calling those who have died of hunger in the African country "idiots". Henry Okello Oryem, the state minister for foreign affairs made the tone-deaf comment.

A Ugandan minister has courted controversy for calling those who have died of hunger in the African country "idiots". Henry Okello Oryem, the state minister for foreign affairs made the tone-deaf comment. Oryem argued that people should utilise Uganda's favourable climate and fertile land by growing food for themselves. "It's only an idiot, a real idiot, that can die of hunger in Uganda," Oryem told the NTV Uganda television channel. "If you work hard, there is land in Uganda. The climate is right in spite [of] climate change. If you make a double effort to make sure that you go out in the morning, you till your land, you plant the seeds, you maintain your plantation, surely, how do you fail then to get food?" The comments sparked outrage immediately, with Moses Aleper, a legislator for Chekwii County attacking Oryem for his insensitivity. "I'm from one of the most productive parts of Karamoja where there is adequate rain and we produce food. But in situations where the weather fails us, the weather vagaries set in, we definitely fail to get food. And normally people definitely get famine and eventually hunger strikes," he told BBC. Notably, Oryem's comments came days after Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni addressed the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) delegates and said the disturbing images depicting death from starvation in the country did not accurately portray the overall situation across the African continent. “When you are out there, you may get stereotypes that we have no food, but we are dying from food here. Those images you see are not representative of all of Africa," said Museveni. Watch | African leaders criticize Israel during summit in Uganda × Uganda's hunger statistics According to a report published by the Uganda Human Rights Commission, over 2,200 people died in the northeast region of the country in 2022 due to starvation and related illnesses. As per the 2022 Global Hunger Index, food insecurity in Uganda is classified as “serious". Malnutrition is widespread in the country as 29 per cent of children under the age of five are stunted while 53 per cent are anaemic. Also read | Uganda President Museveni commends Indian diaspora for establishing 900 factories A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) states that adolescent girls and women in Uganda struggle to access nutritious diets, and poor nutrition is passed down through generations (With inputs from agencies)

Ugandan minister says people who die of hunger are 'idiots', faces backlash

The Democratic Republic of&nbsp;Congo&nbsp;accused Uganda of "barbarity" Tuesday in a fresh bid at the UN's top court to extract billions of dollars in compensation over a brutal war two decades ago.

The International Court of Justice ruled in 2005 that Uganda had to pay Kinshasa reparations for invading its vast central African neighbour during a 1998-2003 war that left three million people dead.

The case is now back before the Hague-based ICJ, which must make a final ruling on the amount of compensation after the two squabbling countries failed to reach an agreement through negotiations.

"The armed conflict led by Uganda was very large scale. A five-year occupation followed by very serious breaches of human rights that were verging on barbarity," the DRC's legal agent Paul-Crispin Kakhozi Bin-Bulongo told the court.

Congolese officials said at the time of the original decision that they would claim between $6 billion to $10 billion from Kampala.

They had expected Uganda to "fully assume its responsiblity for the injury caused and a substantial contribution", but that had not happened in the end, Bin-Bulongo added.

"The judgment said parties should seek agreement in good faith... Unfortunately Uganda never acted in the same spirit."

Kinshasa filed a new application in 2015, asking the 75-year-old world court to reopen the case and to make a finding on reparations as negotiations failed.&nbsp;

The ICJ, in its 2005 ruling, however also said that Uganda was entitled to compensation after its embassy in Kinshasa was attacked and its diplomats abused.

The conflict at it its height drew in some nine African countries, with Uganda and Rwanda backing rebel forces against the Kinshasa government as they jostled for control of the mineral-rich Ituri region.

Uganda's representatives will state their case for a counter-claim on Thursday.

The Democratic Republic of Congo accused Uganda of "barbarity" Tuesday in a fresh bid at the UN's top court to extract billions of dollars in compensation over a brutal war two decades ago.

The Democratic Republic of Congo accused Uganda of "barbarity" Tuesday in a fresh bid at the UN's top court to extract billions of dollars in compensation over a brutal war two decades ago. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2005 that Uganda had to pay Kinshasa reparations for invading its vast central African neighbour during a 1998-2003 war that left three million people dead. The case is now back before the Hague-based ICJ, which must make a final ruling on the amount of compensation after the two squabbling countries failed to reach an agreement through negotiations. "The armed conflict led by Uganda was very large scale. A five-year occupation followed by very serious breaches of human rights that were verging on barbarity," the DRC's legal agent Paul-Crispin Kakhozi Bin-Bulongo told the court. Congolese officials said at the time of the original decision that they would claim between $6 billion to $10 billion from Kampala. They had expected Uganda to "fully assume its responsiblity for the injury caused and a substantial contribution", but that had not happened in the end, Bin-Bulongo added. "The judgment said parties should seek agreement in good faith... Unfortunately Uganda never acted in the same spirit." Kinshasa filed a new application in 2015, asking the 75-year-old world court to reopen the case and to make a finding on reparations as negotiations failed. The ICJ, in its 2005 ruling, however also said that Uganda was entitled to compensation after its embassy in Kinshasa was attacked and its diplomats abused. The conflict at it its height drew in some nine African countries, with Uganda and Rwanda backing rebel forces against the Kinshasa government as they jostled for control of the mineral-rich Ituri region. Uganda's representatives will state their case for a counter-claim on Thursday.

DR Congo claims billions for Uganda 'barbarity'

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Ugandan minister says people who die of hunger are 'idiots', faces backlash

DR Congo claims billions for Uganda 'barbarity'