Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has met the US Ambassador to Uganda, William Popp, at State House Entebbe, amid a freeze on US foreign aid.
The US State Department has halted nearly all existing foreign assistance and paused new aid, following President Trump’s executive order for a 90-day review.
The move is likely to have significant implications for Uganda, which relies heavily on international aid.
The US is the world’s largest international aid donor, spending $68bn in 2023.
The funding freeze will affect various sectors, including development assistance, military aid and humanitarian programmes.
Today, I hosted the British High Commissioner, H.E. Lisa Chesney, at State House Entebbe. We discussed ways to strengthen ties and advance mutual interests between Uganda and the United Kingdom.
Later, I met with H.E. William W. Popp, the United States ambassador. Our discussion… pic.twitter.com/4ij7o6XHF9
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) January 27, 2025
USAID, the US Agency for International Development, has provided significant funding to Uganda in areas such as democracy, human rights, economic growth, education and health.
One former senior State Department official described the move as having a “potentially huge” impact on foreign aid programmes.
Dave Harden, a former USAID mission director, said 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, Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
The implications of the funding freeze on Uganda’s development programmes remain uncertain, pending the outcome of the 90-day review.
