By Ugandans living with HIV/AIDS can now breathe a sigh of relief after the United States government issued a waiver allowing the continuation of life-saving humanitarian assistance. The waiver, announced on January 29 by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes just a week after President Donald Trump’s administration imposed a 90-day pause on foreign aid to review its alignment with the America First policy.
What the Waiver Covers
Secretary Rubio outlined that the waiver permits the continuation of essential humanitarian aid, including:
✅ Life-saving medicines and medical services
✅ Food, shelter, and subsistence assistance
✅ Supplies and administrative costs necessary for aid delivery
However, certain programs remain excluded from the waiver:
❌ Abortion and family planning programs
❌ Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives
❌ Transgender surgeries and related healthcare
❌ Unspecified administrative expenses
How Uganda Was Affected by the Aid Suspension
The U.S. is Uganda’s largest foreign donor, funding at least 80% of foreign-assisted programs in the country through USAID. In 2023 alone, Washington disbursed $72 billion in global aid, a large portion of which supports HIV treatment programs in Uganda.
With over 300,000 Ugandans depending on U.S.-funded HIV/AIDS services, the aid suspension sparked fear and uncertainty among health workers and patients. The latest waiver restores hope and prevents a looming health crisis, but only for the short term.
Ugandan Health Experts React
Uganda AIDS Commission: “We Must Reduce Reliance on Foreign Aid”
Dr. Vincent Bagambe, Assistant Director General of the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC), welcomed the waiver but cautioned that Uganda must start funding its own health programs.
“The U.S. government has been the biggest contributor to Uganda’s HIV response. The suspension raised great concern among service providers and recipients alike. This waiver is a welcome relief, but it also reminds us that we must re-evaluate our programming to ensure that critical services are funded locally—either by the government or the private sector,” he stated.
Dr. Bagambe added that UAC will continue working with stakeholders to develop a resilient and sustainable HIV response system that can withstand future funding cuts.
Medical Experts: “This Is a Wake-Up Call”
Renowned HIV/AIDS activist and medical doctor, Dr. Stephen Watiti, who has spent over 30 years advocating for better healthcare, said the crisis should push Uganda toward self-reliance in its health sector.
“While we welcome this relief, I urge the government to increase investment in healthcare to avoid such embarrassing situations in the future. We cannot always depend on foreign aid to sustain essential health services,” he advised.
What’s Next for Uganda’s HIV Response?
While the U.S. waiver prevents an immediate health catastrophe, experts warn that Uganda must take long-term steps to reduce dependence on foreign aid. Solutions include: Increased government health budget allocation, Public-private partnerships for healthcare funding, Exploring alternative international funding sources
With 300,000 lives on the line, Uganda’s next steps will be crucial in ensuring sustainable healthcare that doesn’t collapse whenever foreign donors shift priorities.
