The ripple effects of President Trump’s foreign aid suspension have hit Uganda’s LGBTQ community hard, leaving vital health services hanging by a thread. At the Kampala-based Africa Queer Network, empty offices tell a story of sudden disruption after USAID ordered an immediate halt to operations.
Program officer Pius Kennedy reveals a grim reality: HIV prevention services have ground to a halt, cutting off access to essential supplies like testing kits and preventive materials. The organization, once a beacon of hope in a country where homosexuality faces severe legal penalties, now struggles to maintain its lifeline to vulnerable communities.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Uganda’s recent anti-homosexuality legislation, which carries potential life sentences for consensual same-sex conduct, has already pushed the community further into the shadows. The aid freeze threatens to unravel years of progress in health outreach and protection services.
For organizations like Kennedy’s, the impact extends beyond immediate health concerns. The group had long viewed the United States as a reliable ally in times of crisis, offering crucial support when local threats emerged. Now, that safety net appears to be unraveling, coinciding with broader changes in U.S. policy regarding diversity and inclusion programs.
In a country where LGBTQ individuals already navigate a complex landscape of social stigma and legal persecution, the suspension of these vital services creates a dangerous void. Healthcare workers worry about a potential surge in disease transmission as access to prevention resources disappears.