Anti-Abortion Former Trump Official Signs Secretive Deal With Ugandan Government

Valerie Huber has been quite busy in recent years. After leaving her senior position in the US government, the former Trump official has 
spent months traveling throughout Africa, visiting officials and heads of state from at least nine different countries, ranging from Burkina Faso to Uganda. Her social media posts depict her engaging with ambassadors and posing with politicians, publicly expressing her dedication to advancing women's health and well-being.

At the center of her newest initiative is the Protego Women’s Optimal Health Framework, a public health program highlighted in an agreement signed in May by Janet Museveni, Uganda’s first lady and education minister. The launch of this program attracted notable doctors, women’s groups, politicians, and even schoolchildren, and was seen as a promising opportunity for enhancing Uganda's public health sector.

Protego is operated by Huber’s charity, the Institute for Women’s Health (IWH), which states that the project aims to provide "evidence-based interventions to support the health and well-being of women and their families." A senior figure in Uganda's health ministry noted that one of its ambitious objectives is to establish clinics offering a broad array of reproductive health services and cancer screenings for women.

However, it is important to note that Protego represents Huber’s latest venture in a 25-year career focused on promoting abstinence-centered sex education and so-called “natural” contraceptive methods. As a senior advisor in Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services, Huber implemented significant changes that resulted in the termination of various evidence-based family planning initiatives. She also played a key role in the Geneva Consensus Declaration, which was signed by 34 countries and stated that there is "no international right to abortion."

Now, TBIJ has uncovered that Huber and her charity, the IWH, have formed a clandestine agreement with the Ugandan government to secure public funding for the Protego program. Furthermore, crucial documents related to the project are being kept confidential, a situation described by one attorney as “unconstitutional.”

In Uganda, the foundation of women’s health is precarious. The country faces high rates of teen pregnancies, with girls and young women aged 15 to 24 accounting for nearly one-third of all new HIV infections, while approximately three out of every thousand mothers die during childbirth.

Contraception and sex education remain contentious issues in Uganda, with religious leaders and conservative politicians advocating for abstinence and purity instead of increased contraceptive access. Nonetheless, the high incidence of HIV-related fatalities and unintended pregnancies have compelled the government to make commitments to enhance the use of modern contraceptives, especially among youth. However, progress in this area is fragile and susceptible to setbacks.

Meanwhile, Huber has dedicated nearly three decades to promoting initiatives that advocate for abstaining from sex as the best strategy to prevent infections and unplanned pregnancies. After leading abstinence programs in Ohio, she managed the state’s abstinence-only education initiative, which was found to contain "false and misleading information" during her tenure. Subsequently, she spent ten years at the helm of the National Abstinence Education Association (later renamed Ascend) before her government appointment under Trump.

Research from reputable medical organizations indicates that abstinence-only education does not substantially delay the onset of sexual activity among youth; instead, it often leaves them uninformed and unprepared. Some studies have even shown that young people in abstinence-based programs are just as likely to use condoms as their peers. Leading experts have criticized these programs for providing inaccurate information and perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes.

In response to inquiries, Huber stated that the IWH and the Protego initiative are based on "science-based concepts." She referenced studies suggesting that individuals in abstinence education delay their "sexual debut," are "no less likely to use a condom," and experience "improved academic success."

While the specifics of the agreement with Uganda remain largely unknown, Huber has reportedly met with representatives from at least one women's hospital during the preparations for the Protego initiative. Her history implies that abstinence-focused education will likely be a prominent aspect of the program. A document related to Protego that was viewed by TBIJ mentions abstinence and “natural family planning” alongside modern, evidence-based methods, while also indicating that any discussions surrounding contraception should encompass education about "avoiding sexual risks," a term Huber uses to describe abstinence-focused education.

Gillian Kane, director of global policy at reproductive rights charity Ipas, expressed concern to TBIJ, stating, “There are existing programs in Uganda that are vetted and implemented by trained professionals. There are experts who know how to provide health services.” She noted that Huber’s initiative raises significant questions regarding its expertise and what services may be replaced.

Uganda's Ministry of Health informed TBIJ that Protego is designed to enhance, not supplant, existing health services. They also noted that the concept of abstinence is "integral to Uganda’s moral fabric" and has been previously utilized to combat HIV transmission, as part of a broader strategy including contraception.

In a response to TBIJ, Huber’s charity, the IWH, insisted that the Protego framework is "culturally sensitive" and does not impose any beliefs, values, or doctrines upon the nation or its people.

TBIJ has repeatedly requested access to the agreement and additional information from relevant ministries, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development, and Huber’s IWH, but has encountered persistent obstacles.

Kane remarked that individuals who have interacted with Huber have found themselves in a situation marked by a “vacuum of detail about what it is.”