Misleading: Muhoozi Kainerugaba claims US Government has restored HIV/AIDS Support to Uganda

Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Chief Of Defence Forces Uganda in a tweet claimed he learnt from Adonia Ayebare, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations, that the U.S Government has restored all HIV/AIDS support to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC)

I have learnt from Ambassador @adoniaayebare that the US government has restored all HIV/AIDS support to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) after my tweet some days ago. I thank President @realDonaldTrump and his government for being on the right side of history and for…

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) March 5, 2025

Context

The US government abruptly halted almost all foreign assistance delivered through USAID and the State Department pending a 90-day review to ensure aid programmes align to its “America First” agenda.

USAID delivered an annual budget of US$950 million to Uganda, according to figures on its website, which has now been taken offline.

The funding freeze has led to widespread programme closures across Makerere University, including the School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, and Infectious Diseases Institute.

Claim

Muhoozi Kainerugaba in a tweet claimed that the U.S government claimed the U.S Government had restored all HIV/AIDS support to the Joint Clinical Research Centre (JCRC) after his tweet some days ago. Below is a tweet of Muhoozi requesting U.S President Donald Trump to reinstate US support for AIDS sufferers in Uganda.

I want to ask President @realDonaldTrump to reinstate US support for AIDS sufferers in Uganda. Our people will be grateful.

— Muhoozi Kainerugaba (@mkainerugaba) March 1, 2025

Pulse Uganda, a renown news publication in Uganda also published an article in this regard quoting Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s claim that the US Government has restored all HIV/AIDS support to the Joint Clinical Research Centre.

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A post shared by Pulse Uganda (@pulseuganda)

Verdict: Misleading

The tweet from Muhoozi Kainerugaba is misleading because no official statement from any U.S Government official or agency has confirmed that it has restored funding for HIV/AIDS patients in Uganda.

Tumwine Edward

Edward Tumwine is a Digital Communications Consultant, Lecturer, and Media Viability Expert with over nine years of experience in media relations, content strategy, and digital communications. He has advised organizations and journalists on media sustainability, new media skills, and leveraging digital tools for impact. Edward currently serves as the Communications Officer at Debunk Media Initiative, where he leads strategic communications to combat misinformation. He also lectures in Multimedia Production at Uganda Christian University’s School of Journalism and Communication.