By Frank Kamuntu
Uganda has suspended all health-related operations funded by the United States following an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump, which froze American financial assistance worldwide.
In a letter dated January 27, 2025, the US Office of Management and Budget directed a pause on grants, loans, and other financial aid programmes pending a review. As a result, Ugandan officials have halted all US-supported activities, including salary payments for staff working under such initiatives.
“All activities related to the disbursement of federal financial assistance have been paused with immediate effect,” Uganda’s Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr Diana Atwine, stated in a letter addressed to affected personnel.
Uganda’s health sector has long relied on US funding, particularly for critical programmes such as HIV/AIDS treatment, malaria prevention, and maternal healthcare. The freeze has caused disruptions in service delivery.
On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) pausing U.S. foreign development assistance for 90 days to foreign countries, NGOs, international organizations and contractors. Following this, a memo was issued by the State Department urging the USAID-funded on-the-ground projects to stop work.
This meant that vital programmes including providing vaccinations to the world’s poorest communities and installing clean water and food supplies had to stop overnight.
Meanwhile, the Ugandan government is exploring alternative ways to sustain essential health services.
“Contracted staff willing to continue working in the spirit of patriotism as volunteers are encouraged to contact respective hospital directors for integration into the existing healthcare system,” Dr Atwine said.
She assured affected workers that negotiations with the US government were ongoing. “I encourage you to remain optimistic as we engage all relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy,” she added.
The suspension comes as global health advocates warn of the impact of the funding freeze, with thousands of frontline health workers at risk of losing their jobs. While Uganda seeks internal solutions, experts fear prolonged disruptions could jeopardise the country’s fight against major public health challenges.
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