Ugandan LGBTQ community turns to U.K. to rescue anti-HIV work U.S. has abandoned
At risk: Drop-in centers where LGBTQ Ugandans can get anti-HIV health care.
Following President Trump’s freeze of U.S government foreign funding for health and human rights globally, LGBTQI+ rights advocates in Uganda have embarked on a drive to secure alternative sources of funding for life saving anti-HIV programs and other services.
The suspension of US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), USAID, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding is having a severe impact on the LGBTQI+ community in Uganda.
In addition to supporting efforts aimed at pressuring the Trump Administration to reverse its devastating anti-LGBTQI+ policies, human rights activists have now turned their focus to Europe as a possible alternative source of funding for key programs like life-saving Drop in Centers (DICs).
These centers were established to provide safe access to healthcare (HIV/ AIDS and tuberculosis) for LGBTQ individuals, encourage health-seeking behavior within hard-to-reach communities, and mitigate stigma and discrimination in government and some private health facilities.
They achieve this by linking community members to public health centers that are staffed with personnel who are trained to respect and uphold the rights of LGBTQI+ persons.
Many organizations operating these centers are now at risk of closure due to the suspension of USAID funding.
According to Ugandan LGBTQI+ rights activist Frank Mugisha, this threatens the health of community members by increasing the likelihood of interruptions in medication, reduced access to prevention services, and overall deterioration in healthcare support.
“Without continued support, the closure of these organizations and staff layoffs will severely limit access to essential healthcare for LGBTQ individuals in Uganda, leading to worsening health outcomes and heightened vulnerabilities”, Mugisha said.
Mugisha recently returned from a weeklong advocacy visit to the UK where he met Dame Nia Griffith, a British member of parliament who is parliamentary under-secretary of state for equalities. He also met with the UK Minister for Africa, , and other British government leaders.
Mugisha says that, amid serious challenges caused by the combination of the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) and the withdrawal of critical international support, the UK should do more to save the lives of Ugandans, especially the LGBTQ community, which has become increasingly vulnerable.
“Supporting local organizations and raising awareness through diplomacy is crucial in these times” Mugisha stated on X.
Closure or staff layoffs at organizations that provide critical support to minority populations not only endangers the health and well-being of LGBTQ individuals but also threatens to reverse Uganda’s recent progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Some organizations have already shut down, while others face staff layoffs after receiving stop-work orders from Washington, D.C.
As a result, essential health programs have been discontinued, cutting off access to services such as HIV care and treatment, viral load testing, linkage to care, and anti-HIV commodities like condoms, lubricants, HIV self-testing kits, PrEP, and PEP.
In the past, the U.S. government has been the leading funder of health, human rights and development programs in Uganda.
Filling the gap left by Trump’s foreign funding suspension will be no easy task, but according to Mugisha, it’s achievable if people and governments work together.
“This goes beyond just us, and it is time we seriously assessed how the community can be supported, especially if we’re committed to achieving the goal of ending HIV/AIDS by 2030. Reflecting on these challenging times, we are focusing on continuous lobbying and advocacy to influence policymakers and raise awareness about LGBTQ rights”.
