Uganda, (East Africa):- A section of disgruntled workers from Uganda have petitioned United States President Donald J Trump seeking the White House’s intervention in exploitation issues surrounding J4:14 Foundation, an international organization owned by an American national but with offices in Mbale, eastern Uganda.
The workers, who have been employed by the Texas-based foundation since 2015, are demanding the U.S. president to issue an order for justice to be served on their side after a series of troubling events that they say have left them without fair pay, protection, and justice.
J4:14 Foundation, under the leadership of Justin Daniel Smith, an American citizen, has been operating in Uganda with the purported goal of providing charitable services, including rehabilitating water sources for rural communities.
However, the workers allege that the organization, which raises funds in the U.S. and claims to assist Ugandans, has been operating with a dual agenda.
According to the workers, the organization has been involved in questionable financial dealings, including charging Ugandan households for water services that are supposed to be free and are managed by the government.
Additionally, they claim that Smith and his associate, Mr Robie, have been exploiting the local workforce by underpaying employees and imposing excessive workloads, all while pretending to offer humanitarian aid.
The workers’ frustration reached a breaking point last year when Smith attempted to sell the organization in the U.S., despite valid operational contracts with employees running until 2026. When the workers voiced concerns about the sale and the future of their jobs, they allege that Smith flew to Uganda and used his financial influence to orchestrate their arrests.
During this episode, Smith allegedly made inflammatory remarks, stating that the U.S. was preparing to “colonize” Uganda and that his actions were shielded by the protection of the U.S. government.
The situation worsened when the workers discovered that J4:14 Foundation had forged signatures from Ugandan officials within the NGO Forum and accumulated over 1.6 billion UGX in unpaid wages and benefits.
Instead of addressing the grievances directly, the workers claim that Smith and his colleagues resorted to intimidation, bribery, and other unethical tactics to silence those demanding accountability.
One witness to these practices, a colleague of Smith, was reportedly quoted as saying, “Ugandans are poor people who can do anything for money, and I will bribe everyone to win the case.”
These words have left many workers feeling powerless and unable to seek justice, especially when it appears that the organization’s American leadership is being protected from legal consequences.
Faced with these injustices, the workers have turned to former President Donald Trump, whom they believe can help bring about the change they desperately need. In their open letter, the workers ask for a thorough investigation into J4:14 Foundation’s activities, both in the U.S. and Uganda.
They are now calling for the protection of their labor rights, the enforcement of their contractual obligations, and the payment of wages that have been withheld since December 2024. They also seek an investigation into the illegal dealings of Smith and Robie, both in the U.S. and Uganda.
The workers have taken matters into their own hands by securing the services of Judge Hillary March in the U.S. to help try their case. However, they are concerned that American citizens, particularly those with financial power like Smith, have historically been shielded from accountability for their actions abroad.
“We remain hopeful for your intervention, Mr. Trump,” the workers write. “Your leadership has always emphasized fairness, justice, and accountability, and we trust that under your guidance, these injustices can be addressed.”
Below is their open letter
Open Letter from the Workers of J4:14 Foundation
January 2, 2025
To: His Excellency Donald J. Trump, 47th President of the United States of America
From: Concerned Ugandan Workers
Your Excellency,
We extend our heartfelt congratulations upon your swearing-in as President of the United States of America. As Ugandans, we recognize and appreciate your dedication to socio-economic transformation across the world, including in Africa. Your leadership has brought hope to many, and we believe you stand for justice and fairness.
However, we write to you with a pressing concern regarding the operations of J4:14 Foundation, an international organization based in Texas, USA, under the leadership of your citizen, Mr. Justin Daniel Smith. Since 2015, we have been working under this organization, committed to its mission in Uganda. Unfortunately, last year, Mr. Smith attempted to sell the organization while in the USA without considering our welfare, despite our valid operational contracts running until 2026.
When we questioned this, he traveled to Uganda and, using his financial influence, orchestrated our arrest. During this ordeal, he made statements implying that the USA is preparing to “colonize” us, claiming that he has unchecked power due to his protection by the United States. Such statements undermine the principles of fairness and justice that the USA upholds.
Furthermore, under the guise of charitable work, Mr. Smith and his organization have been involved in questionable financial dealings. While they claim to rehabilitate water sources, Ugandan households are required to pay 4,500 UGX per month to use these water sources moreover they are for government. Additionally, he has been working alongside a colleague, Mr. Robie, under another entity, which exploits Ugandan workers through underpayment and excessive workloads while raising funds in the USA and while in Uganda they are in pretence of charitable service.
It has come to the attention of the Ugandan government that Mr. Smith and his associates forged signatures of officials within the NGO Forum and have accumulated arrears exceeding 1.6 billion UGX in unpaid worker benefits. Instead of addressing these issues transparently, they have resorted to bribery and intimidation tactics to silence those seeking justice. His colleague is a witness in one of the cases and he clearly said that Ugandans are poor people who can do anything for money and he will bribe everyone to win the case.
We have secured the services of judge Hillary March to also try our case in the USA and we seek for your intervention for fairness because previously every evil of an American has been protected by the state and people have been untouchable.
Your Excellency, we respectfully appeal to you to intervene and ensure that justice is served. We request the following actions:
- A thorough investigation into the activities of J4:14 Foundation and its financial dealings, both in the USA and Uganda.
- Protection of Ugandan workers’ rights and enforcement of their contractual obligations, including unpaid salaries and benefits.
- Accountability for unethical practices by foreign organizations operating under the pretense of charity but exploiting local communities in Africa.
- We seek for our payments because we worked for it, since December we have never received our salaries up to now.
- Mr JD Smith, Robbie be investigated on the illegal dealings they do in the USA.
Your leadership has always emphasized fairness, justice, and accountability. We trust that under your guidance, these injustices can be addressed, and Ugandan workers can receive the justice they deserve.
We remain hopeful for your intervention and look forward to your support in ensuring that such exploitative practices are brought to an end and poor Ugandans as they seek for Justice also help us and freeze their businesses in case they don’t comply with our pleas with the evidence we have.
Sincerely,
Workers of J4:14 Foundation
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