Uganda President Yoweri Museveni has rubbished the US’s move to impose further sanctions against his country. Uganda President Yoweri Museveni is unmoved by US sanctions. The East African country has been at loggerheads with the West since it passed a law outlawing and criminalising same-gender relations and LGBTQ associations in March 2023. In December 2023, the US Trade Representative’s office wrote a letter stating that Uganda was among the African countries that had been locked out of the US preferential market agreement, a move that was deemed retaliation against Museveni. The US said it made the decision because of Uganda’s move to pass retrogressive laws against human rights. “I have determined that Gabon, the Central African Republic, Niger, and Uganda do not meet the requirements described in Section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act. Accordingly, I have decided to terminate the designations of the countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of Section 506A of the Trade Act, effective January 1, 2024,” read the letter by the US Trade Representative. The trade deal between Uganda and the US was worth US$ 10.5 million, or about UGX 40 billion or KSh 1.67 billion.However, Museveni remains unmoved by the sanctions, reiterating that Uganda will only do business with partners who respect them. In a state address earlier in the week, Museveni poured cold water on the US’s move and said the restrictions were meaningless. Museveni stated that Uganda was a country of wealth creators and would thrive without trading with the US. “There are some people who are moved by foreign interests without remembering our strengths. It is a lack of seriousness for someone to come and tell you that unless you follow what I’m telling you, I’ll not…” Museveni said. He called on Ugandans to remain united to achieve their goals, as internal divisions would allow foreigners to outweigh their interests. “Foreign pressure is meaningless. What we are able to do is fight corruption and other local progress as we concentrate on regional integration. Internationally, we can only trade with people who respect us,” added Museveni .AGOA is a US trade preference law enforced in May 2000 and offers duty-free access to the US market for at least 6,000 products from countries that are beneficiaries. Other sanctions Uganda is facing after passing the anti-homosexuality law are restrictions on top government officials’ travel to the US and threats of terminating foreign aid to Uganda. US President Joe Biden slammed the anti-gay law and called for its repeal.
by Michael Ollinga Oruko