The United States’ statement on Wednesday that it will pull Uganda out of a trade pact due to human rights concerns was harshly criticised by the Ugandan government, which claimed the action would harm the nation’s small businesses and farmers.
Uganda, the Central African Republic, Gabon, and Niger will no longer be eligible to receive benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) starting in January 2024, according to a statement made by Washington this week.
This 2000 Act permits duty-free exports of a broad variety of goods from African nations to the United States. However, there are a number of requirements related to political pluralism, upholding the rule of law, respecting human rights, and combating corruption that must be met in order to receive this preferential trade treatment.
US President Joe Biden condemned the Ugandan government of violating human rights in a letter to Congress. Since the “Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023” law was passed in May, the UN, human rights organisations, and Western nations have sharply criticised Uganda.
“It seems that they (the United States) have decided that Ugandans should be punished” because of this law, a senior adviser to President Yoweri Museveni, Odrek Rwabwogo, said in a statement.
The government is “disappointed by this regrettable decision”, but remains open to discussions with Washington.
“Even if Ugandan trade via AGOA was insignificant, the growth of our exports to the United States and other partners was an important pillar of our economic strategy”, stressed Odrek Rwabwogo, adding that “Ugandan farmers and small business owners will suffer”.As soon as the “anti-homosexuality law” was passed, Joe Biden called for its immediate repeal and threatened to reduce American aid and investment in Uganda.
Those who engage in gay relationships and “promote” homosexuality face harsh penalties under the law.
Death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” is a punishment that hasn’t been used in Uganda in many years. The World Bank declared in August that it would no longer be making fresh loans to Uganda.
