The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) partyish has blamed the government for teaching and encouraging Ugandans to borrow money, something that has birthed poverty and partly contributed to domestic violence in different parts of Uganda.

According to John Kikonyogo, the FDC party spokesperson, the government has taught people how to borrow money, and when they fail to pay it back, their securities are confiscated, which has partly led to poverty. He said that unfortunately, poverty causes domestic violence because men remain with nothing to take care of their families after borrowing money.

“Perish Development Model (PPDM), Emyooga are about borrowing; at the end of the day, some men remain with nothing after losing security, and of recent women have also shipped in to borrow money. Sometimes the women lend part of the loan money to their husbands, who sometimes fail to replace it, which leads to alterations leading to domestic violence, as witnessed by a female Member of Parliament,” Kikonyogo said.

“So as a country we can have other best ways to help our people get out of poverty but not teach them how to borrow,” he added.

Kikonyogo made the remarks while addressing members of the press on Monday, September 23, 2024, at party headquarters in Najjanankumbi along Entebbe Road.

Kikonyogo added that very few people who borrow money succeed in paying it back, and that’s how people are getting poorer when their security, such as houses, plots, and land, is confiscated by the lender.

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He further noted that it is unfortunate that nowadays men are also being silently tortured by women in their homes, stating that the only way such men can be helped is by building their financial muscles and being respected by their wives. According to Kikonyogo, it’s very difficult for a woman to fight a man with the ability to provide.

Eric Mukisa, a trader dealing in furniture along Entebbe Road, said that sometimes people borrow not because they want to but because it could be the only alternative available for them to start business for survival.

“It’s good to borrow every time, and at least everyone knows that, but sometimes things fail and you remain with only one alternative, which is borrowing. The government does not force people to borrow, but the financial constraints do. However, the government can still solve that challenge by providing good fiscal policies that bring money into the hands of people, not banks,” Mukisa said.

He also appealed to the government to protect their business from foreign dormancy.