U.S. health aid meets resistance across Africa

What the report says

The Independent Uganda, citing Xinhua and other reported sources, says U.S. health aid initiatives are facing pushback in several African countries as Washington expands a new “America First Global Health Strategy.” According to the report, the U.S. has signed health cooperation memorandums with more than 30 countries since December 2025, but terms attached to the funding have triggered objections over data access, legal oversight and links to other U.S. interests.

The article highlights disputes in Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya. It says Ghana declined a proposed five-year deal over concerns about access to health records and other data systems. Zimbabwe reportedly rejected an agreement it described as unequal, while Zambia paused talks after Washington sought to link health funding with a critical minerals pact. The story says Kenyan courts and local communities also challenged a U.S.-backed isolation facility in Laikipia county, near Nairobi, amid fears about Ebola preparedness and questions over the project’s legality.

Beyond the immediate disputes, the report frames the issue as part of a wider debate over sovereignty and “digital colonialism,” a term used by critics to describe foreign control over health data and related systems. It notes concerns raised by lawyers, analysts and civil society groups that the agreements could weaken national regulators and expose sensitive personal information.

The article argues that the controversy matters because health assistance is increasingly being tied to broader strategic goals, including data access and minerals, rather than only disease prevention and treatment.