Uganda’s army has announced an immediate suspension of all military cooperation with Germany, accusing the German ambassador, Mathias Schauer, of engaging in “subversive activities” and being “wholly unqualified” to serve in the country.
Though the army did not provide evidence to support its claims, the decision marks a significant strain in relations between the two nations.
Reacting to the accusation, a spokesperson for Germany’s foreign ministry dismissed the allegations as “absurd and without any merit,” according to Reuters.
The diplomatic fallout appears to stem from concerns raised by Ambassador Schauer during a meeting with European Union (EU) diplomats last week.
According to local media reports, Schauer expressed unease over controversial social media posts by Uganda’s army chief, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni.
In recent posts on X, Gen Kainerugaba threatened to behead opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, and also claimed to have tortured Wine’s bodyguard while in custody.
Human rights organisations have frequently accused the Ugandan government of targeting opposition figures, particularly ahead of national elections.
Bobi Wine, a popular musician turned politician, is expected to challenge President Museveni in the upcoming election scheduled for next year.
Museveni, who has been in power for nearly 40 years, is often accused of running the country like a family dynasty. His wife, Janet Museveni, serves as Minister of Education, while his brother, Gen Salim Saleh, oversees a key government programme—Operation Wealth Creation.
During the recent meeting with EU envoys, it was reported that Schauer raised concerns about Gen Kainerugaba’s inflammatory tweets and the potential reputational damage to Uganda. Gen Kainerugaba responded on social media, claiming he had “issues” with the ambassador personally.
“He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people, whom I admire a lot,” the general wrote.
Following his comments, army spokesman Col Chris Magezi issued a statement announcing the suspension of military ties with Germany.
He cited what he described as “credible intelligence reports” linking the ambassador to unspecified “pseudo political-military forces” working against the Ugandan government.
“The suspension will remain in force until the full resolution of the matter of the Ambassador’s involvement,” the statement said, though it did not provide further evidence.
Germany’s embassy in Uganda has not directly responded to the suspension but noted on its website that bilateral trade between the two countries was valued at around $335 million in 2024. It described their relationship as one grounded in “stability and trust.”
Although details of the military cooperation were not outlined, Uganda plays a major role in regional peacekeeping, including its ongoing involvement in Somalia, where it supports efforts to combat Islamist insurgents.
