Museveni Asks Staff to Work for Free After Trump’s Order

The government of Uganda led by President Yoweri Museveni, has announced the suspension of United States (U.S) operations after President Donald Trump’s order halting foreign aid.

Health Permanent Secretary (PS) Dr. Diana Atwine wrote a letter to workers under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 30, 2025, informing them of these changes.

In the letter, Atwine said the Office of Management and Budget communicated a pause of Agency Grant, Loan and other financial assistance programs until the review is completed.

The PS said the Office made the announcement on January 27 after Trump’s order.

Consequently, Atwine said all activities related to disbursement of all federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the Executive Order were paused with immediate effect.

Therefore, the PS said the government has suspended the operations of workers funded by the U.S. government as it engages with Trump’s operations.

“Given that your operations and emoluments were directly supported by the United States Government and such activities have since been suspended, you are informed to halt work for which you had been contracted, as we engage with the United States Government on the way forward,” Atwine said.

She said the government of Uganda is exploring ways of integrating essential services into routine healthcare to minimize disruptions.

Affected Uganda Staff to Work as Volunteers

In the meantime, she asked affected staff to continue working for free as volunteers until Uganda reaches an agreement with the U.S. government.

“As such, contracted staff that are willing to continue working in the spirit of patriotism as volunteers until we harmonize with the United States Government are encouraged to contact the respective hospital directors or my office, for those deployed at the Ministry Headquarters, for integration into the existing healthcare system,” reads part of the letter.

The PS encouraged the staff to remain optimistic as the government engages all the relevant stakeholders in an effort to restore normalcy.

Also Read: Ruto’s UDA Party Asks Uganda to Plan Future Without Museveni

Trump Stops Foreign Aid

Trump signed an executive order on January 20, suspending all foreign development assistance for 90 days.

He said the U.S. foreign aid industry and bureaucracy do not align with American interests and, in many cases, contradict American values.

Additionally, Trump said the aid serves to destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that directly contradict harmonious and stable relations within and among nations.

Also Read: Trump Slaps South Africa with Sanctions, Cuts Aid for 3 Reasons

He explained that the halt will allow assessment of programmatic efficiencies and consistency with U.S. foreign policy. 

Trump affirmed that no further U.S. foreign assistance will be disbursed in a manner that is not fully aligned with the foreign policy of the United States.

He directed the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to enforce the pause through its apportionment authority.

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