In brief
Following the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid, Uganda's L.G.B.T.Q. population grapples with intensified discrimination, dwindling resources, and urgent medical shortages, threatening their safety and wellbeing.
In the aftermath of U.S. President Trump’s recent 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 has been thrust into a precarious situation. Local counselor Andrea Minaj Casablanca reports receiving a flood of desperate calls for assistance, ranging from requests for H.I.V. treatment to mental health support, exacerbated by her own job loss due to funding cuts. Casablanca described the upheaval as a period of terrifying uncertainty. For many L.G.B.T.Q. individuals in Uganda, where a harsh new law was enacted in 2023 imposing severe penalties for same-sex relations, the loss of U.S. aid is particularly devastating. Activists and community leaders express alarm over the impact: shelters dedicated to providing safety are struggling without essential funding, hundreds have lost their jobs, and dangers such as discrimination and violence are increasingly common.Many within the community are reportedly facing mental health crises, with rising instances of depression and suicidal thoughts as vital medical supplies become scarce. With shelters and support services in jeopardy, the hope of a safe environment grows dimmer for Uganda’s L.G.B.T.Q. citizens. The situation has effectively underscored the urgent need for international support and advocacy in the face of a rapidly deteriorating landscape for human rights in Uganda.
