KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s military has suspended all defense and military cooperation with Germany, alleging that German Ambassador Mathias Schauer engaged in subversive activities aimed at destabilizing the country. The move, announced Sunday by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), highlights Uganda’s growing assertiveness against perceived Western meddling in its internal affairs.
The UPDF’s acting director of defense public information, Col. Chris Magezi, stated that the suspension is a direct response to “credible intelligence reports” implicating Ambassador Schauer, who has served in Uganda since July 2020, in dealings with “hostile pseudo-political-military forces” operating against the Ugandan government. Magezi indicated the suspension would remain in effect until the matter of the ambassador’s alleged involvement is “fully resolved.”
While specific operational details were withheld by the UPDF, security insiders suggest Ugandan agencies have been monitoring diplomatic figures suspected of interfering in the nation’s domestic politics, including alleged clandestine links to groups advocating for regime change.
The suspended cooperation programs included joint training, logistical support, and strategic military advisory exchanges between the UPDF and the German Bundeswehr.
Security analysts view this decision as part of a broader trend where Uganda, alongside other African nations, is increasingly challenging what it considers undue Western influence in its domestic policy and security matters. This development follows a series of diplomatic tensions between Uganda and various European missions, often centered on issues of human rights, political freedoms, and governance. Ugandan officials have repeatedly cautioned foreign envoys against encroaching on what Kampala deems internal security concerns.