Pan African Movement Uganda Condemns U.S. ‘Energy Siege’ on Cuba

The Pan African Movement (PAM) Uganda National Chapter has strongly condemned recent unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States against Cuba, describing the measures as an “energy siege” and a form of collective punishment targeting the Cuban people.

In a solidarity statement issued on May 4, PAM Uganda aligned itself with the position of the African Union and broader international voices opposing the new restrictions announced by Washington on May 1.

The organization said the Executive Order, which targets key sectors such as energy, mining, and financial services, represents a significant escalation of the long-standing U.S. embargo on Cuba.

“These actions are not symbolic—they are a systematic attempt to paralyze the Cuban economy and impose suffering on its people,” the statement reads in part.

The statement was signed by Daniel Rugarama, Chairman of the National Executive Committee of PAM Uganda and head of the Uganda-Cuba Solidarity Movement.

PAM Uganda warned that the measures extend beyond Cuba, raising serious concerns about sovereignty and international law. The group highlighted provisions enabling “secondary sanctions” against foreign institutions engaging with Cuba, arguing that such actions could directly affect third-party countries, including Uganda.

According to the statement, this approach undermines the principles of the United Nations Charter by attempting to influence the independent economic and foreign policy decisions of sovereign states.

The movement further cited emerging reports indicating that the sanctions are already disrupting critical sectors in Cuba. These include interruptions in industrial production, as well as strain on essential services such as healthcare and education.

PAM Uganda described the situation as a developing humanitarian concern, warning that restrictions on energy and financial flows could hinder access to food, medicine, and basic services across the island.

Historic Ties with Africa

The statement also invoked Cuba’s longstanding relationship with Africa, referencing its role in liberation struggles, particularly in Angola, and its continued contributions to healthcare systems across the continent.

“We cannot remain silent while a nation that stood with Africa is subjected to economic strangulation,” the organization noted.

Calls for Action

PAM Uganda outlined a series of demands and recommendations, including:

• A call for the Government of Uganda to raise the issue at the United Nations, leveraging its role within the Non-Aligned Movement
• A broader appeal to Pan-Africanists to reject narratives framing Cuba as a security threat
• A demand for the removal of Cuba from the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism

The group reaffirmed its commitment to standing in solidarity with the Cuban people, framing the sanctions as part of a wider pattern of unilateral coercive measures affecting developing nations.