The US Ambassador to Uganda William Popp is optimistic that Uganda can still re qualify to access the American market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
In October 2023, the US President, Joe Biden announced that he was cutting Uganda, Central African Republic (CAR), Gabon and Niger from the AGOA beneficiaries effective January 2024.
The move however did not phase President Museveni who said, Uganda and Africa at large has got all the ingredients to succeed if used correctly.
Speaking to the press in Kampala at the launch of the US report to the Ugandan people, Ambassador Popp mentioned that the cut off countries were clearly notified why.
“Reasons including lack of respect for human rights and closing democratic space where some of the reasons given to Uganda” he said
“Uganda was also guided on how she can re-qualify in the future”, he added
AGOA grants exports from qualifying countries duty-free access to the U.S market.
Since the enactment of the AGOA legislation in 2000, Uganda has been a beneficiary with the program initially set Agoa to expire in December 2025
Over 80 percent of Uganda’s exports under Agoa were from the agricultural sector
