US Government imposed new punitive sanctions on Uganda after expelling the East African nation from a special US-Africa trade program.
President Joe Biden announced that the removal of Uganda from Agoa was due to
“gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” by their governments.
In May, the US government said it was considering removing Uganda from Agoa and introducing sanctions on the country after it passed a controversial anti-homosexuality law.
The law, which imposes a death penalty on people found guilty of engaging in certain same-sex acts, has faced global criticism.
Despite the threats, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni remained adamant on relaxing the penalties.
Other countries such as Gabon and Niger also suffered a similar fate.
“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,” President Biden said on Monday, in a letter addressed to the speaker of the US House of Representatives.
Their expulsion from Agoa is set to take effect from the start of next year and is likely to impact their economies, as Agoa has been credited with promoting exports, economic growth and job creation among participating countries.
The US introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) in 2000 and many African countries benefited from the program.
