
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has met with US Ambassador William Popp at State House Entebbe, amidst a funding halt by the US government. The US State Department has issued a pause on nearly all existing foreign assistance and new aid, following President Trump’s executive order for a 90-day review of foreign development assistance.
The move is set to have a significant impact on Uganda, which relies heavily on international aid. The US is the world’s largest international aid donor, having spent $68bn in 2023. The funding halt will affect various sectors, including development assistance, military aid, and humanitarian programmes.
USAID’s funding to Uganda focuses on areas such as democracy, human rights, economic growth, education, and health. The agency has provided significant assistance to Uganda, including a $250,000 investment in renewable energy companies and over $25 million in humanitarian funding for refugees.
The funding freeze has raised concerns among experts, with one former senior State Department official describing the move as having a “potentially huge” impact on foreign aid programmes.
Another expert, Dave Harden, noted that the pause could affect critical development projects, including water, sanitation, and shelter.
The meeting between President Museveni and Ambassador Popp was also attended by Adonia Ayebare, the Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations.