The Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a reckless and shortsighted move that exposes a profound hypocrisy in America’s foreign policy.
By abruptly halting billions in aid and effectively dissolving the world’s largest humanitarian aid organization, the administration has turned its back on vulnerable populations across Africa, particularly in nations like Uganda, where USAID’s programs have been lifelines for millions.
This decision not only undermines decades of progress in health, food security, and economic development but also lays bare a callous disregard for African lives under the guise of “America First.”
In 2024, USAID allocated $12 billion to sub-Saharan Africa, supporting critical initiatives in healthcare, food security, and democratic governance. In Uganda, a country heavily reliant on foreign aid, USAID’s $306.8 million in funding—now slashed by 66%—supported maternal healthcare, family planning, and the fight against HIV/AIDS through programs like PEPFAR.
The sudden freeze and subsequent dismantling of USAID have left clinics shuttered, HIV medication in short supply, and maternal health services in disarray. For a nation where 1.4 million people live with HIV, the loss of PEPFAR funding alone threatens to reverse years of progress in combating the epidemic.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, has been vocal in her condemnation, stating, “This is a death sentence for millions. Cutting AIDS funding is not just policy—it’s a moral failure that will cost lives.” Her words echo the despair felt across the continent as communities brace for the fallout.
The ripple effects extend beyond Uganda. In Ethiopia, where 16 million people depend on food aid, the halt in USAID operations has disrupted critical food distribution, pushing millions toward starvation.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, where 70% of aid comes from the U.S., the loss of $386.7 million threatens to exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis.
From Sudan to South Africa, the abrupt cessation of programs addressing mpox, cholera, and gender-based violence signals a retreat from humanitarianism that will deepen suffering and instability. Byanyima’s cries resonate here too: “Abandoning the most vulnerable is not leadership—it’s betrayal.”
The Trump administration’s rationale—labeling USAID a haven for “radical lunatics” and aligning aid with narrow U.S. foreign policy interests—lacks evidence and reeks of political posturing.
USAID’s track record, from controlling Ebola outbreaks to saving millions through HIV prevention, speaks for itself. Yet, the administration’s actions suggest African lives are expendable, revealing a hypocrisy where American rhetoric of global leadership clashes with policies that prioritize isolationism over compassion.
This move also cedes strategic ground to competitors like China, which is poised to fill the aid vacuum, further diminishing U.S. influence in Africa.
For Uganda, the consequences are immediate and devastating. Rural women farmers, who relied on USAID’s microfinance programs, now face economic ruin.
Maternal healthcare services, critical in a country with high maternal mortality rates, are at risk of collapse. Byanyima’s warning cuts deep: “When you cut aid, you cut hope. You cut futures. You cut lives.” Her words should haunt the architects of this decision.
The dissolution of USAID is not just a policy misstep—it’s a moral failing that undermines America’s claim to global leadership. By abandoning Africa, the Trump administration has exposed a truth: its “America First” mantra comes at the expense of the world’s most vulnerable.
For Uganda and the continent, the path forward demands resilience and self-reliance, but the immediate human cost of this betrayal will be measured in lives lost. The U.S. must reverse course, restore USAID, and honor its commitment to humanity before it’s too late.