Keypoints:
- Uganda accuses German ambassador of subversive activities
- Military cooperation with Germany suspended
- Move comes amid rising international criticism of Uganda’s crackdown on opposition
UGANDA has suspended all military and defence cooperation with Germany, accusing Berlin’s ambassador of subversive actions and interference in domestic affairs. The decision was confirmed on Sunday by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in a sharp escalation of diplomatic tensions.
‘With immediate effect, the UPDF has suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany,’ said Brigadier Chris Magezi, army spokesperson, via X (formerly Twitter).
Magezi said the move follows credible intelligence alleging that German Ambassador Mathias Schauer is engaged in activities that support what officials described as ‘hostile pseudo political-military forces’ working against the Ugandan government. The suspension, he added, would remain in place until the matter is fully resolved.
The German embassy in Kampala has not yet responded publicly to the accusations.
Rising tensions as elections loom
The fallout comes as Uganda faces growing international criticism over its clampdown on opposition groups ahead of the 2026 presidential election. On Friday, the military accused unnamed European diplomats of supporting ‘traitorous groups,’ and specifically named Schauer as being involved.
Local reports have detailed a recent meeting between European envoys, including Schauer, and Salim Saleh, the brother of President Yoweri Museveni. During the encounter, Schauer reportedly raised concerns over the provocative social media conduct of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s son and head of the army, who recently boasted about abducting an opposition figure’s bodyguard.
Kainerugaba, widely seen as Museveni’s successor, has become an increasingly polarising figure at the centre of Uganda’s political future.
Strategic partnership in jeopardy
Germany and Uganda have maintained decades-long diplomatic and development ties, with the German embassy describing the relationship as one based on ‘stability and trust.’
Ambassador Schauer has served in Kampala since 2020. According to the embassy, bilateral trade reached $335 million in 2023, with Uganda importing machinery and chemical products from Germany.
While the practical effects of the military freeze remain unclear, the move could affect cooperation in regional security, peacekeeping training, and arms transfers.
The diplomatic rift adds to a growing list of challenges for the Ugandan government, as it faces heightened scrutiny from human rights organisations and donor nations alike. Observers now await Germany’s formal response and whether broader diplomatic or economic consequences will follow.
