Uganda’s president has downplayed the US’ decision to expel the East African country from a major trade deal.
Last week, Joe Biden announced Uganda and three other countries would be dropped from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa).
The US had previously said it might take such action after Uganda passed a tough new anti-homosexuality law.
On Sunday, President Yoweri Museveni urged Ugandans “not to be over-concerned”.
“Some of these actors in the Western world overestimate themselves and underestimate the freedom fighters of Africa,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
Agoa, introduced in 2000, gives eligible sub-Saharan African countries duty-free access to the US for more than 1,800 products.
Under this deal, Uganda has been exporting goods, like coffee and textiles, to the United States for years without paying any import tax.