The Ugandan army announced on Sunday the suspension of all forms of military cooperation with Germany, accusing the German ambassador of engaging in “subversive activities” in the East African nation.
This escalation follows a previous statement from the army on Friday, which accused several European diplomatic missions of supporting “hostile and treacherous groups” opposing the government, particularly pointing to German ambassador Matthias Schauer. This comes as Uganda faces increasing international condemnation for its treatment of the opposition.
Army spokesperson Chris Magezi wrote on X: “The Uganda People’s Defence Forces have immediately suspended all ongoing defense and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany.”
The same source added that this step was taken in response to “reliable intelligence reports indicating that His Excellency the current German ambassador to Uganda, Matthias Schauer, is actively engaging in subversive activities in the country.”
Magezi noted that the suspension “will remain in effect until the issue surrounding the ambassador’s involvement with hostile political and military forces operating against the Ugandan government is fully resolved.”
The German embassy in Uganda has not publicly commented on this development, while human rights organizations state that “Uganda has intensified its crackdown on opponents, as it prepares to hold presidential elections in the next seven months.”
The president’s son and potential heir, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has repeatedly threatened opposition activists, stating recently that he “kidnapped the personal guard of the main opposition leader in the country and tortured him in the basement of his house.”
Local media reported on a recent meeting between European diplomats, including Schauer, and the president’s brother, Yoweri Museveni.
It was reported that during the meeting, Schauer criticized Kainerugaba’s posts on social media, noting that he also serves as head of the Ugandan army.
Germany and Uganda have maintained long-standing relations, which the German embassy describes on its website as based on “stability and trust,” while Schauer has held his position since 2020.
The trade exchange between the two countries approached $335 million last year, according to the German embassy, which noted that Uganda mainly imports “machinery and chemical products” from Germany.
