Ugandan MPs Join Global Push to Remove Cuba from U.S. Terrorism List

A group of Ugandan Members of Parliament has joined over 600 lawmakers from 73 countries in demanding the United States remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The MPs include; Dr. Charles Ayume, Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, Judith Alyek, Atukwasa Rita, Rwemulikya Ibanda, Onore Derrick, Twaha Kagabo, and Kintu Florence Tumwine. They signed the global letter, which calls for an end to what they term as the “cruel and illegal” sanctions imposed on Cuba, citing the damage they inflict on the island nation's economy and its people.

Spearheaded by the Progressive International, the campaign aims to pressure U.S. President Joe Biden to reverse the 2021 decision to reapply the designation, which had been removed in 2015 by the Obama administration following a thorough review. The designation was reinstated during the final days of Donald Trump’s presidency, a move that re-imposed severe sanctions on Cuba. These sanctions, the signatories argue, restrict access to essential goods, including food and medicine, and stifle the Cuban economy.

The Ugandan MPs joined their global counterparts in denouncing the designation as not only punitive but also a violation of human rights.

Global Momentum Grows

The letter signed by the MPs follows a similar appeal made by 35 former heads of state and government who recently wrote to President Biden, urging him to remove Cuba from the list. In their joint statement, the lawmakers emphasized that the U.S. sanctions violate fundamental human rights, including the right to food, health, education, and economic development. The signatories point to assessments by United Nations experts who have consistently condemned the designation for its detrimental impact on Cuba’s social and economic systems.

"The designation is cruel because it maximizes the suffering of the Cuban people, strangling its economy and even restricting humanitarian aid," the letter reads. The Ugandan MPs have echoed this sentiment, stating that the sanctions are not only outdated but unjust.

A Glimmer of Progress

In May 2024, the U.S. State Department took a step forward by removing Cuba from the list of states "not fully cooperating" with the U.S. on counterterrorism efforts. However, the Progressive International-coordinated letter argues that this move is insufficient, as the state sponsor of terrorism designation continues to exclude Cuba from participating fully in the global economy.

Broader Implications

Currently, three other nations remain on the U.S. state sponsors of terrorism list—Syria, Iran, and North Korea. The consequences of being on this list are severe, ranging from trade embargoes to restrictions on foreign aid, limiting the country's ability to import critical goods, including medicines. The designation of Cuba is especially controversial given that many of the accusations that led to its inclusion have been contested internationally.

As President Biden enters his final months in office, pressure is mounting for him to fulfill his campaign promises to return to the Obama-era policy of engagement with Cuba. Lawmakers from Uganda and across the globe hope that their unified call will encourage the U.S. administration to take meaningful steps to remove the decades-old sanctions.