KAMPALA, Uganda — A Ugandan non-profit dedicated to advocating for LGBTQ rights is expressing significant concern over a recent decision by former U.S. President Donald Trump to suspend foreign aid, which is threatening their operations.
Pius Kennedy, a program officer at the Africa Queer Network based in Kampala, revealed last week that he and five other full-time staffers received a notification from USAID instructing them to cease all activities immediately following Trump’s directive on January 20 to freeze foreign assistance.
“USAID has been the primary funder for HIV programs,” he noted. As a direct result of this aid suspension, Kennedy stated that their organization has halted initiatives aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ individuals in Uganda. With the financial cuts, he and his colleagues have been unable to attend the office, as they can no longer maintain their efforts without fresh funding.
Kennedy warned that the impact of this aid halt could lead to an increase in sexually transmitted infections, as individuals will find it difficult to access essential supplies like lubricants, condoms, and self-testing kits.
Additionally, the Africa Queer Network relies on funding from various grants provided by other organizations, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, commonly known as PEPFAR, which is also facing funding uncertainties due to this political climate.
The temporary suspension of aid threatens to undo years of progress toward safeguarding the rights and health of sexual minorities in Uganda, he cautioned.
Across Africa, homosexuality remains illegal in over 30 of the continent’s 54 nations. This comes in the wake of a 2023 Ugandan law that enacted severe penalties, including life imprisonment, for consensual same-sex relationships, prompting the U.S. to signal potential repercussions while the World Bank pulled back on some funding.
Kennedy also commented on the broader implications of Trump’s dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within U.S. federal agencies, stating that this shift will reverberate beyond American borders, leaving groups like his without the support needed amid growing threats.
“We have always viewed the United States as a refuge to turn to when facing challenges related to insecurity in our homeland,” he remarked.
