KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni has praised US President Donald Trump for what he described as a tough approach toward countries that rely heavily on foreign assistance, saying it should serve as a wake-up call for African states to build their own economic and institutional capacity.
Speaking during a televised address aired by Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC), Museveni said Trump’s policies were forcing countries to confront their dependence on Western funding.
“I like President Trump so much. I love him for chasing you people who don’t care about your country,” Museveni said. “This teaches you to build your own capacity within Uganda and Africa.”
His remarks come as Trump continues to signal a return to an “America First” foreign policy ahead of the 2026 US presidential election cycle, including deep cuts to foreign aid and a tougher stance on countries seen as benefiting from American support without reciprocal value.
Museveni’s comments place him among a growing number of African leaders and politicians who argue that dependence on Western aid has weakened local governance, accountability, and economic growth.
Across the continent, debates have intensified over whether decades of donor-driven development have entrenched elite corruption while leaving ordinary citizens worse off. Several African governments have faced pressure to demonstrate fiscal independence as global geopolitics shift and donor countries tighten budgets.
In Kenya, similar sentiments have recently been expressed by Saboti MP Caleb Amisi, who said Africa must “throw away the box” of donor dependency and learn to meet global partners “as colleagues, not beggars.”
However, critics argue that reduced international support risks hurting ordinary citizens, especially in countries where health, education and humanitarian programmes rely heavily on donor funding.
Uganda remains one of Africa’s largest recipients of international assistance, particularly in health, refugee support, and infrastructure development. According to international development agencies, foreign aid still plays a critical role in supporting millions of Ugandans.
Human rights groups have also warned that celebrating cuts in Western oversight could weaken accountability and entrench authoritarian tendencies.
Museveni, Africa’s longest-serving president, has repeatedly pushed for economic nationalism and industrialisation as the foundation for long-term independence, even as his government continues to receive billions in external support.
His latest remarks highlight the tension between Africa’s desire for sovereignty and the reality of global financial dependence — a debate likely to shape relations between African states and Western powers in the years ahead.
