US aid cuts forced Peter Waiswa to end his Ebola research in Uganda. His team studied why people avoided quarantine during outbreaks. The five-year project between Makerere University and UC San Diego stopped after President Trump canceled foreign aid on January 20. Many researchers lost their jobs as funding disappeared across Africa.
America funded 283 research programs worth $240 million in Africa during 2024. Uganda had 13 programs receiving nearly $700,000 before the cuts. Health researchers worry about participants in clinical trials who can no longer be tracked. Dr. Andrew Kambugu had to return the money for mental health integration with tuberculosis treatment.
Tuberculosis patient Enock Tibihwa faced depression when neighbors avoided him after his diagnosis. African nations promised to spend at least 1% of their GDP on research back in 2006. Most countries never met this goal. Uganda spends just 0.14% of its GDP on research compared to 3.45% in America.
Foreign donors often dictate which diseases receive funding, and important local health problems like elephantiasis remain overlooked. Egypt reached the funding target with 1.02% of its GDP for research. Kenya and South Africa invest about 0.8% and 0.61%, respectively. Waiswa believes governments could fund science if they shifted spending priorities away from elections.
America funded 283 research programs worth $240 million in Africa during 2024. Uganda had 13 programs receiving nearly $700,000 before the cuts. Health researchers worry about participants in clinical trials who can no longer be tracked. Dr. Andrew Kambugu had to return the money for mental health integration with tuberculosis treatment.
Tuberculosis patient Enock Tibihwa faced depression when neighbors avoided him after his diagnosis. African nations promised to spend at least 1% of their GDP on research back in 2006. Most countries never met this goal. Uganda spends just 0.14% of its GDP on research compared to 3.45% in America.
Foreign donors often dictate which diseases receive funding, and important local health problems like elephantiasis remain overlooked. Egypt reached the funding target with 1.02% of its GDP for research. Kenya and South Africa invest about 0.8% and 0.61%, respectively. Waiswa believes governments could fund science if they shifted spending priorities away from elections.
