Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Health has advised health workers affected by the 90-day suspension of USAID funds, to be “patriotic” and work as volunteers as the government works out modalities of integrating them into the health care system.
In a scathing letter dated January 30, 2025 and addressed to staff who worked in projects funded by USAID, Atwine noted that since their activities were funded by the US agency, there was no budget line to support them.
However, she wrote: “…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.”
A volunteer essentially works for free although they could be provided with some facilitation and allowances from time to time.
More than 1,000 local health workers were affected by the aid freeze, according to sources within the government.
After returning to office, President Donald Trump last month signed an executive order that put almost all international spending on pause for a 90-day review.
Waivers were later issued for some humanitarian programmes, but the announcement upended the world of international development and disrupted services in several developing countries.
The US spent $68bn on international aid in 2023 of which at least $40bn was dispensed by USAID.
In Uganda, USAID spent at least $400m to support various projects in 2023.
