
“The Departments of State, Labor, Health and Human Services, Commerce, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, today issued a Business Advisory on Uganda. The Advisory informs U.S. businesses, individuals, and other U.S. persons, including health services providers, members of academic institutions, and investors, of potential risks they may face if they are conducting, or contemplating to conduct, business in Uganda. Businesses, organizations, and individuals should be aware of potential financial and reputational risks resulting from endemic corruption, described in more detail in the 2023 Investment Climate Statement, as well as violence against human rights activists, media members, health workers, members of minority groups, LGBTQI+ persons, and political opponents described in the 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Uganda. Uganda’s enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act (AHA) on May 29, 2023, further increases restrictions on human rights, to include restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly, and exacerbates issues regarding the respect for leases and employment contracts” (U.S. Department of State – ‘U.S. Government Issues a Business Advisory for Uganda’ 23.10.2023).
A man that is steadily promoting value addition and financial integration. The President of Uganda is failing the nation. It is going backwards and not forwards. Not in any sense and now with the latest news. The investors and other on the financial markets will shun the nation even further. This will hurt the economy and make it even less viable.
The Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) can dry up from certain parts of the world. Just like the lack of foreign donors and donor funds to cover the shortfall in the national budgets. The domestic revenue and lack of investors might some come too. As other nations will follow the United States of America (USA) and these are the ones that comes with funds. Meaning this can be a big blow to the President and his National Resistance Movement (NRM).
The U.S. authorities are late on this one, but better late than never. This is going after the pockets and advice people to spend their monies elsewhere. That’s a blow for someone who has been working on reviving an economy since 1986. The President who speaks of exports and getting products to market. Now the market won’t come to him and the ones who has the ability to purchase are asked to shun it. Meaning there will be less tangible investments and others will follow.
The NRM and the Government of Uganda should see the writing on the wall. This is continuing to damage the economy. It is continuing where the World Bank suspended funding and this will also take away the food from the plate. There will be less funds and less people will have a chance to eat.
We could see this one coming when the state and the legislators decided to target one minority on the behalf of everyone. That’s one of the main reasons, but there are certainly other aspects which is also mentioned in the text. Showing that the human rights violations and impunity has a price.
This here will hurt the pride and prestige of the President. He knows this will spark a wildfire and he cannot contain it. The World Bank didn’t seem to significant and he hoped someone else would cover the shortfall of funds. However, now… there is becoming less viable and sooner or later other reactions will come too. By that time… it’s to late and the crippling economy is upon the nation. A nation that has been run on deficit financing and now the options for fiscal stimulus or outside revenue is dwindling. People will follow this advisory and other nations will follow the U.S. line of action.
This here is tragic for the shilling and the ones who depend on FDI. Because, the message is spread and this will haunt the 11th Parliament, State House and everyone else involved. They could see this one coming, but I am sure they just looked the other way. Peace.










