Uganda has suspended defence and military cooperation with Turkey amid a diplomatic dispute over demands by Ugandan authorities for Ankara to hand over prominent political blogger and government critic Fred Lumbuye.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced the suspension on Saturday, following escalating tensions between the two countries over Lumbuye, who faces multiple criminal charges in Uganda.
Army spokesman Chris Magezi said the suspension took effect immediately and would remain in place until outstanding issues concerning defence and military cooperation between the two countries were resolved.
“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has with immediate effect suspended all and any Defence and Military cooperation with the Republic of Turkiye,” Magezi said in a statement.
“The measure will remain in force until outstanding issues of mutual defence and military cooperation between the two countries are resolved,” he added, without providing further details.
Army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and widely regarded as a potential successor to his father, reposted the statement on X.
Kainerugaba has repeatedly clashed with Turkish authorities over efforts to secure Lumbuye’s extradition to Uganda.
Lumbuye, a political commentator and outspoken critic of Museveni, faces 15 criminal charges, including alleged incitement to violence, spreading false information and computer misuse.
The latest development followed a protest on Friday by thousands of supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda, a civic and political pressure group associated with Kainerugaba, outside the Turkish embassy in Kampala.
Uganda and Turkey have maintained close defence relations for nearly a decade, with cooperation covering military training, arms procurement, surveillance equipment, technology transfers, counter-terrorism and other security matters.
The dispute has also raised concerns over wider bilateral relations, following threats to cancel a $3 billion railway contract awarded to Turkish construction company Yapi Merkezi and calls for the expulsion of Turkish nationals from Uganda.
