By Okello E. Moses,
KAMPALA
The government has been urged to allocate resources efficiently to critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture to best serve the economy amidst the suspension of US aid.
This call follows an Executive Order signed by the US President, John Donald Trump, suspending foreign aid under the USAID program for 90 days.
Faizo Muzeeyi, the head of media and communication at the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), emphasized the importance of prioritizing domestic funding for key sectors in the national budget. He noted that these sectors require sustained, long-term investment, urging the government to ensure their inclusion in future budgetary plans.
“Now that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced the freeze of its aid to countries where it has been operating, including Uganda, UPC urges the government to take this matter seriously and realign its budget priorities accordingly,” Muzeeyi stated.
Additionally, Muzeeyi called on the government to take decisive action against corruption, highlighting how corrupt officials hinder effective service delivery and waste public resources.
Since assuming office on January 20, President Trump has introduced several shifts in US global funding policies. Among them is an Executive Order withdrawing US financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and USAID. According to UPC, this decision is expected to have severe repercussions for developing countries like Uganda, which has historically benefited from substantial funding in key areas such as healthcare.
“The US withdrawal from the World Health Organization will significantly impact many health projects in Africa, particularly efforts to combat malaria and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This is why the government must take urgent steps to mitigate the effects,” Muzeeyi explained.
The UPC is urging the government to adopt a more strategic approach to national resource allocation, ensuring that critical sectors remain adequately funded despite the decline in foreign aid.
