USA President Joe Biden has intensified his government’s economic war on Uganda this time round notifying the Speaker of the USA Congress (parliament) that he intends to end the participation of Uganda in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade program. This after the World Bank has suspended granting of development loans to Uganda because of the Anti -Homosexual law.
The African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA Trade and Development Act of 2000 was signed into law by President Bill Clinton and approved by the U.S. Congress in May 2000. The stated purpose of this legislation is to assist the economies of sub-Saharan Africa and to improve economic relations between the United States and the region. After completing its initial 15-year period of validity, the AGOA legislation was extended on 29 June 2015 by a further 10 years, to 2025.
Biden said he was taking the step because of “gross violations” of internationally recognized human rights by Uganda and three other countries , Niger, Gabon. and central African Republic.
He also cited Niger and Gabon’s failure to establish or make continual progress toward the protection of political pluralism and the rule of law.
“Despite intensive engagement between the United States and the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda, these countries have failed to address United States concerns about their non-compliance with the AGOA eligibility criteria,” Biden said in a letter to the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Biden said he intends to terminate the designation of these countries as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries under the AGOA, effective Jan. 1, 2024.
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Below : President Biden ‘s communication to the USA Speaker of Congress
