U.S. Rejects Uganda’s AGOA Reinstatement Plea Over Human Rights Concerns

Once again, America has firmly denied President Museveni’s lobbyists’ efforts to reinstate Uganda under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) without addressing significant human rights issues highlighted by the U.S.

During a panel discussion organized by the African Program at the Wilson Center on the bipartisan AGOA Renewal and Improvement Act, which seeks to extend AGOA until 2041, Uganda’s Ambassador to the U.S., Robbie Kakonge, sought a way for Uganda’s re-entry into AGOA. Her request was met with laughter, underscoring the U.S.’s unwavering stance against reinstating Uganda without addressing its human rights concerns.

“My question is: for those who are off the list of AGOA in this conversation, is there a chance they could get back on the list in the interim?” Ambassador Kakonge asked.

Responding with humor, Witney Schneidman, a member of the African Advisory team at the Wilson Center and the panel’s moderator, quipped, “Can you tiptoe back into AGOA?”

Delaware Senator Chris Coons’ Economic Policy Advisor, Sam DuPont, clarified, “The bill doesn’t change how the eligibility criteria are reviewed. It’s still up to the executive branch to carry out reviews and determine who is in and who is out.”

This isn’t the first time Uganda’s appeals have been rebuffed by the U.S. In December 2023, President Museveni sent his son-in-law and Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development, Odrek Rwabwogo, to the U.S. to salvage the trade relationship. Despite Rwabwogo’s emphasis on Uganda’s alignment with English-speaking nations over Chinese or Russians, his efforts were met with indifference.

“We speak English; we don’t speak Chinese or Russian,” Rwabwogo pleaded in 2023, urging America not to suspend Uganda from AGOA.

Uganda’s attempt to re-enter AGOA without addressing its human rights issues remains contentious, with the U.S. maintaining strict eligibility criteria to promote fair and humane practices among its trade partners.

Previously, President Museveni has publicly downplayed the impact of Uganda’s suspension from AGOA. In a 2023 statement, he assured local farmers, “As far as Uganda is concerned, we can achieve our growth and transformation targets, even if some of the actors do not support us.”