President Museveni has sent a special message to his United States counterpart, Joe Biden over the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) program.
On Monday, Museveni met and held discussions with the US Ambassador to Uganda, William W. Popp at State House Entebbe.
It is through this meeting that Museveni handed over the letter with the special message to Popp.
“H.E. President Biden wrote to me about AGOA, so I have answered him. You will deliver the letter to him,” Museveni said.
The US Ambassador in response reiterated his country’s commitment to continued relations with Uganda.
AGOA
In October, the US government announced that starting January, 2024, Uganda will be scrapped off the list of beneficiaries for the AGOA project.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House and president of Senate, US President, Joe Biden said Uganda together with Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger will no longer be beneficiaries of AGOA for failure to meet eligibility requirements.
“I am taking this step because I have determined that the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda do not meet the eligibility requirements of section 104 of the AGOA…. the Government of Uganda has engaged in gross violations of internationally recognized human rights,” Biden said.
Launched in 2000, AGOA grants exports from qualifying countries duty-free access to the U.S. market. It is set to expire in September 2025, but discussions are already under way over whether to extend it and for how long.
African governments and industry groups are pushing for an early 10-year extension without changes in order to reassure business and new investors who might have concerns over AGOA’s future.
Uganda is being punished by the US over its stance on homosexuality after passing the Anti Homosexuality Act by parliament.
