The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, citing unresolved issues between the two countries.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Colonel Chris Magezi, the acting director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, said the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in force until the outstanding issues are resolved.
“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces has, with immediate effect, suspended all and any defence and military cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye,” Col Magezi said.
The decision comes a day after supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) marched to the Turkish Embassy in Kampala, demanding that Türkiye hand over social media critic Fred Lumbuye to Ugandan authorities to face criminal charges.
The Friday demonstration was led by PLU Secretary General Fadil Twalla, following a directive from PLU chairman and Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The Turkish Embassy had announced its closure on Friday in anticipation of the planned protest.
Twalla said PLU was opposed to reports that Mr Lumbuye’s lawyers had applied for asylum in Türkiye, arguing that he should instead return to Uganda to face justice.
“Lumbuye is not a refugee. He went to Turkey seeking a job and survival. Therefore, the continued harbouring of a person who is wanted to face justice in Uganda is a betrayal of the friendship between Uganda and Turkey,” Twalla said.
He said Uganda and Türkiye have maintained longstanding relations in areas including trade and investment and called for reciprocity in the relationship.
“We expect the same friendship to be reciprocal. What we offer Turkey, we also expect them to offer us,” he said.
Twalla also asked Turkish Ambassador Mehmet to convey the protesters’ demands to Ankara.
“To the Turkish Government, we ask you to produce Fred Lumbuye to face justice in Uganda. If you truly respect Uganda’s sovereignty and legal system, a friendship that is one-sided is not friendship,” he said.
He further warned that PLU could review Turkish interests in Uganda if the matter remained unresolved.
On Saturday, Gen Kainerugaba commended PLU supporters for the demonstration, saying it had demonstrated what he described as a strong patriotic spirit.
“The Turks will comply with all our demands. If they don’t, life will become untenable for them in Uganda,” Gen Kainerugaba said in a statement.
He also warned Ugandans against speaking in support of Türkiye, saying such people could face arrest.
“Being an apologist for Turkey in Uganda is a crime. We shall start arresting anyone who speaks for that country,” he said.
The latest development places the dispute over Lumbuye’s status in Türkiye at the centre of Uganda-Türkiye relations, with the UPDF now suspending military cooperation pending resolution of the outstanding issues.
