![](https://www.independent.co.ug/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lt.-Gen.-Peter-Elwelu.jpg)
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Commander of Land Forces in the UPDF, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu has said that people crying and making poverty a topic of discussion on daily basis should be arrested.
Gen. Elwelu, speaking at the belated NRM function in Kamuda sub county, Soroti district yesterday afternoon said that there is no reason for anyone, especially in Teso to cry and speak about poverty.
He explained that there are immense opportunities in the region, including fertile soils that can change lives better, but many people have instead opted to rally for unproductive ventures like politics.
The seemingly agitated General noted that many people in Teso are deteriorating into dependency syndrome, when they have a lot of potential to improve on their livelihoods.
Teso sub region is among the top five sub regions in Uganda with high poverty levels where over 40% of the population lives below the poverty line, according to Uganda National Household Survey, 2016/2017.
Gen. Elwelu observed that most people in Teso have failed to understand their potential to alleviate poverty, asking them to stay away from politics.
Vincent Ssempijja, the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries urged the Teso community to embrace government programs in order to alleviate themselves from poverty.During the function, Soroti district paraded three tractors donated by MAAIF to the community on hire scheme for handover by Ssempijja.
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