Kampala — Democracy is not the solution to poverty, a senior lecturer at Makerere University has said.

"As long as African governments get away with poor governance and lack of accountability, foreign aid will remain a palliative rather than part of the cure to poverty," Prof. Agustus Nuwagaba said.

He said financial aid is good only if it ensures sustainable peace and security through resource redistribution.

Nuwagaba was speaking at a public lecture on development at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala last week.

He expressed concern that much as the country was experiencing a growth rate of 8.9%, nine million Ugandans still live in abject poverty. He also decried the rampant corruption, which he said hinders development.

Former East African Community secretary general Amanya Mushega told participants that the main challenge to development is the failure to access markets and commitment to the fight against corruption.

Theophane Nikyema, the United Nations Development Programme country representative, said: "Let us start focusing on programmes that create wealth, thus closing the wealth gap."

About 31% of Ugandans live below the poverty line, while only 17% of the world's population lives in poverty.