After USAID’s Exit: Uganda’s Health Sector at a Crossroads
Introduction In 2023, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the suspension of $15 million in annual health funding to Uganda, followed by a broader withdrawal of aid in 2024. This decision, rooted in geopolitical and ethical tensions, has left a gaping hole in the country’s health sector. For decades, USAID was a cornerstone of Uganda’s public health system, funding HIV/AIDS programs, maternal care, and malaria prevention. Its departure underscores a harsh reality: the collision of human rights, governance, and global health diplomacy. This blog unpacks why USAID left, the immediate fallout, and how Uganda can navigate this new landscape. Why Did USAID Withdraw? The withdrawal was triggered by two intersecting factors: The Anti-Homosexuality Act (2023) : Uganda’s controversial law, which imposes severe penalties, including the death penalty, for “aggravated homosexuality,” drew global condemnation. Th...
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