By Aggrey Baba
[When the river dries up, the fish must learn to survive in the mud]. This proverb aptly describes the Uganda’s current predicament following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to freeze foreign aid.
This sudden halt has sent ripples across Uganda’s health sector, particularly affecting HIV/AIDS programs that have long relied on U.S. support.
Responding to these developments, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the issue directly. In his message, he appealed to President Trump to reconsider the aid suspension, stating: “I want to ask the @realDonaldTrump to reinstate US support for AIDS sufferers in Uganda. Our people will be grateful.”
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order pausing nearly all U.S. foreign assistance for 90 days, and later suspended indefinitely. This decision was part of an effort to reevaluate and realign U.S. foreign aid with the administration’s “America First” agenda.
The suspension encompasses a wide array of programs, including those targeting global health issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. In Uganda, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a U.S.-funded initiative, has been instrumental in providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) to millions. The suspension of aid has led to immediate disruptions in these life-saving services.
The aid freeze has had swift and severe consequences for Uganda’s healthcare system. Many clinics have reported shortages of antiretroviral drugs, forcing some to halt services.
Patients who depend on these medications now face uncertainty and health risks. Numerous health workers whose salaries are funded by U.S. aid have been suspended or are working without pay, leading to reduced healthcare delivery capacity.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has issued an emergency appeal for $11.2 million to help Uganda contain an Ebola outbreak that has already resulted in two deaths. The outbreak, which began in January in Kampala, has been exacerbated by the U.S. aid cuts, which previously provided significant support to Uganda’s health system.
Looking ahead, if the aid suspension continues, Uganda may experience a resurgence of HIV/AIDS cases and related mortalities.
The Uganda AIDS Commission has expressed concerns that the funding gap could reverse the country’s progress in combating the epidemic. The coming weeks will reveal whether General Muhoozi’s plea resonates with the U.S. administration and leads to a reconsideration of the aid suspension.
[A tree is known by its fruit], and the current situation serves as a stark reminder of the profound impact that international aid has on public health in developing nations. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
