Ugandan Taxi Driver Living with HIV Fears for the Future Amid USAID Shutdown
Mike Elvis Tusubira, a Ugandan taxi driver, has been living with HIV since testing positive in 2022.
For him and the 1.4 million people living with HIV in Uganda, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been a lifeline. However, with the recent suspension of all USAID activities in the country, Tusubira says the next three months will be a matter of “life and death.”
“The suspension has deeply affected me. I don’t know what to do next. What will happen to me?” he said.
“My doctor left the hospital I used to visit. What will happen to my child and my partner?”
Tusubira fears for his future, saying, “There are no shelters, no medicine, no condoms—nothing.”
His wife, who tested HIV-negative, had been taking preventive medication to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. But since the USAID-funded project was suspended, they can no longer access the same medical care, straining their relationship.
Uganda is among the top ten recipients of USAID funding in Africa. According to U.S. government data, the country received $295 million in health assistance in the 2023 fiscal year, ranking third behind Tanzania ($337 million) and Nigeria ($368 million).
Uganda’s health sector heavily relies on international aid, with USAID funding critical programs for HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, and maternal and child health, along with emergency health assistance.
