U.S. Aid Cuts Intensify Hardships for Uganda's L.G.B.T.Q. Community

The recent cuts to U.S. foreign aid have exacerbated an already precarious situation for Uganda’s L.G.B.T.Q. community. Activists report a surge in urgent requests for essential services and support, highlighting the profound impact of these funding losses, particularly amidst a backdrop of stringent anti-gay laws.

In the wake of drastic cuts to U.S. foreign assistance, Uganda's L.G.B.T.Q. community is grappling with intensified struggles for survival. The dismantling of U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) funding since the announcement of the executive order has put crucial services in jeopardy. Andrea Minaj Casablanca, a counselor working with marginalized individuals in Kampala, has been inundated with calls for urgent assistance.

"After the order, it feels like our world is collapsing," says Casablanca, a 25-year-old transgender woman who has recently lost her job because of the funding cuts. She emphasizes that her clients are in dire need of H.I.V. medications, therapy, and safe spaces amidst a heightened climate of fear and uncertainty.

In 2023, the Ugandan government implemented severe laws that place life sentences on same-sex sexual activities. This legal framework has only heightened the risks faced by L.G.B.T.Q. individuals since the U.S.A.I.D. funding went away. Shelters once funded by U.S. aid are unable to operate effectively, leaving many individuals without the necessary support systems. Reports of discrimination, violence, and mental health crises have escalated, with many community members expressing feelings of depression and despair.

Advocates warn that the implications of these funding cuts could be catastrophic for the L.G.B.T.Q. population in Uganda, as they continue to navigate an increasingly hostile environment without the resources they critically depend on.