Aid Cuts Worsen Plight of Uganda’s L.G.B.T.Q. Community

The recent dismantling of U.S. Agency for International Development assistance has devastatingly affected Uganda's L.G.B.T.Q. community, leaving shelters underfunded and many individuals without access to vital resources.

In the wake of President Trump's executive order to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), Uganda's L.G.B.T.Q. community is facing a critical crisis. Local activists report that the withdrawal of U.S. aid is significantly impacting essential services, intensifying their already precarious situation in a country that has imposed stringent anti-gay laws.

One such activist, Andrea Minaj Casablanca, a 25-year-old transgender woman and counselor, has been overwhelmed with urgent requests for help as individuals reach out for HIV medications and safe shelter. "Our whole world has been turned upside down," Casablanca lamented, as she grapples with her own job loss due to the funding cuts.

Uganda’s legal landscape for L.G.B.T.Q. individuals has become increasingly hostile; the 2023 anti-homosexuality law, signed by President Yoweri Museveni, introduces severe penalties, including life imprisonment for same-sex relations and lengthy prison terms for any supportive actions. With no funding from U.S.A.I.D., shelters and essential services for this vulnerable population are significantly under-resourced, amplifying the risk of violence and discrimination.

Reports from the community indicate that feelings of hopelessness, depression, and even suicidal ideation are on the rise. The reduction in foreign aid has left many seeking refuge without adequate support, leading to a stark crisis for L.G.B.T.Q. individuals in Uganda—a demographic already under siege. Activists fear that the situation will continue to deteriorate unless new solutions and resources are found to fortify their community against this daunting backdrop.