Following the recent cuts to U.S. aid, Uganda's L.G.B.T.Q. individuals, already vulnerable due to harsh anti-gay legislation, are facing catastrophic impacts, including a lack of essential medical supplies and support services.
Aid Cuts in Uganda Amplify Crisis for L.G.B.T.Q. Community
Aid Cuts in Uganda Amplify Crisis for L.G.B.T.Q. Community
The dismantling of U.S. foreign aid is leaving Uganda's marginalized L.G.B.T.Q. population in a dire situation, facing increased risks and reduced support.
In the wake of President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.), the L.G.B.T.Q. community in Uganda is facing unprecedented challenges. Andrea Minaj Casablanca, a counselor to the country’s marginalized L.G.B.T.Q. population, reports receiving numerous distress calls for vital assistance, including H.I.V. medications and safe shelter. This surge in demand comes as she grapples with her own job loss—her position was funded by U.S.A.I.D.
“Our whole world has been turned upside down,” lamented the 25-year-old transgender woman during a recent interview in Uganda’s capital, Kampala. This turmoil is exacerbated by an increasingly repressive legal environment; a law enacted by President Yoweri Museveni in 2023 imposes life imprisonment for same-sex relations, driving further fear among the LGBT community.
With U.S.A.I.D. cuts in effect, shelters are running on empty, leaving many in desperate situations. Hundreds have lost their jobs, while crucial medical supplies are alarmingly scarce. Many L.G.B.T.Q. individuals report feelings of depression and suicidal ideation as violence and discrimination continue to escalate.
As U.S.A.I.D. pulls back support, the already precarious state of the L.G.B.T.Q. community in Uganda has taken a turn for the worse, leaving activists and aid workers striving to address the rapidly growing needs under worsening conditions.
