Here’s How Much Money US Government Gives Uganda – Muhoozi is Shaking Tables with Expensive Drinks

Museveni and Joe Biden. Courtesy Photos

The tables that Ugandan first son, presidential advisor and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba seem to have expensive drinks, judging by how much money US government gives Uganda every year.

Gen Muhoozi has created diplomatic tension between the US government and Uganda after he accused US Ambassador William Popp of disrespecting President Museveni and undermining Uganda’s constitution.

The first son also gave Ambassador William Popp until 9AM on Monday, October 07, 2024, to apologize to President Museveni or prepare to leave Uganda.

Such an action would have implications for Uganda, an impoverished country which depends on foreign aid or loans for provision of essential services like health, education and improving infrastructure.

Let us look at how much money US government gives Uganda. Every year, Washington provides $1 billion – about Shs3.7 trillion in aid to Uganda. This “direct financial assistance to Ugandans to create a positive impact,” according to the US Mission in Uganda.

“For example, we put electricity into 230,000 homes in remote areas, partnering with Ugandans to build a more prosperous future,” the embassy noted on September 22, 2024.

It speaks well of the impact of its interventions in Uganda. “Through 13 government agencies, the United States invests almost $1 billion annually in Ugandan communities to promote economic growth and employability, to improve health and education, to uphold democratic values, and to strengthen security,” US Mission in Uganda says on its official website.

“Today millions of Ugandans are living healthy, learning better, earning more, or participating more fully in their communities because of this investment.”

Even for the UPDF, for which Gen Muhoozi is CDF – or simply army chief – the US government offers very helpful assistance, without which there would be a huge hole for key activities.

According to data that the US State Department declassified last year, in the period between 2019 to 2021, Washington gave Kampala $8.5 million (over Shs 31 billion) in military training assistance from. The US government also extended grants worth $21.9 million (over Shs 80 billion) for military equipment between 2012 and 2016.

As The Pearl Times has reported, there seems to be more trouble for Uganda as the US Government announced potential funding cuts to three ministries, a review military aid a move to redirect AIDS assistance over anti-gay law. (See Details Here).

Meanwhile, Gen Muhoozi has deleted his posts warning US Ambassador William Popp, leaving Ugandans wondering if the pressure has increased or decreased – or simply …creased. (Read Stories Here, There and Over There).

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Samuel Kamugisha

Samuel Kamugisha is a Ugandan journalist, editor, language instructor, poet, fiction and non-fiction writer. A Makerere University graduate of Journalism and Communication with a decade-long experience in news reporting, writing and editing, Kamugisha is Editor at The Pearl Times. Most of his previous work was published by The Observer. When he is not doing journalism work -- which is rare -- Kamugisha will be reading or writing a short story or a poem, or caught up in the writer's block.