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Ntege Lubwama : Dear President Trump: Redirect USAID to Ugandans, Not Their Oppressors

Dear
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP through the U.S. Ambassador,
I am writing as a human rights defender and activist, representing the voices of many Ugandans who are unable to speak out against the injustices and human rights violations they endure under the current Ugandan government. I deeply appreciate the role the United States has played in supporting global human rights, democracy, and development. However, the recent decision by President Trump to halt USAID to African nations, including Uganda, has raised both concerns and opportunities for reevaluation.
Uganda has long been plagued by systemic corruption and gross mismanagement of foreign aid. The administration of President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly diverted these critical funds away from their intended purpose—improving infrastructure, healthcare, and education—and instead used them to maintain an oppressive regime. Public institutions remain in dire conditions: hospitals lack basic supplies, schools are underfunded, and roads are in disrepair, all while billions in aid money disappear into the pockets of corrupt officials.
Rather than serving the Ugandan people, much of the aid has been funnelled into security apparatuses that suppress political opposition, silence dissenting voices, and fund the purchase of military equipment used against civilians. There is credible evidence that state resources have been used to bribe members of parliament, finance violent crackdowns on opposition leaders, and orchestrate political assassinations. During the COVID-19 crisis, relief funds meant for struggling citizens were mismanaged and embezzled, leaving many without essential support.
In a particularly alarming move, the government recently allocated UGX 500 billion to buy off musicians to counter opposition leader and former musician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), while neglecting pressing social and economic needs. Furthermore, Ugandan authorities have continued to engage in extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions of political activists, journalists, and human rights defenders. Many individuals languish in unknown and known detention facilities, subjected to torture and inhumane treatment.
Additionally, the Ugandan government has engaged in destabilising activities beyond its borders. The ongoing construction of roads in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Ugandan roads remain in poor condition, raises serious concerns about Uganda’s involvement in regional conflicts. Reports indicate that Ugandan forces have provided support to the M23 rebels, exacerbating instability in North Kivu and surrounding areas in pursuit of resource exploitation.
Given these realities, I respectfully urge the U.S. government to reconsider the manner in which any potential future aid to Uganda is allocated. If USAID is to be reinstated after 90 days, it should not be channelled through the Ugandan government, which has consistently demonstrated an inability to responsibly manage such funds. Instead, it should be directed through independent and accountable humanitarian organisations that prioritise the well-being of the Ugandan people without political interference.
As human rights activist Desmond Tutu once said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” The Ugandan people need support that empowers them, not a government that oppresses them. Similarly, Nelson Mandela emphasised that “to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.” It is imperative that international aid does not enable further oppression but rather fosters democratic governance and accountability.
Other prominent human rights defenders have echoed these sentiments:
- Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
- Malala Yousafzai: “We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt: “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home.”
- Vaclav Havel: “The only thing I can recommend is that people demand accountability and transparency.”
- Kofi Annan: “Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.”
The people of Uganda deserve a government that upholds democracy, transparency, and human rights. Until such leadership is established, the United States and other international donors must take firm steps to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most, rather than perpetuating an oppressive system.
I urge the U.S. Embassy to advocate for stringent measures in aid allocation and to stand in solidarity with the Ugandan people in their pursuit of justice, freedom, and accountable governance.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and hope for a future where aid is used to uplift rather than oppress.
Sincerely,
Ntege Lubwama Williams
Human Rights Defender & Activist
Toronto, Canada