Uganda Suspends Military Ties with Germany, Accuses Ambassador of Subversion

Uganda has abruptly suspended all military and defence cooperation with Germany, in a move that signals worsening diplomatic relations between the East African nation and a key European partner. The announcement was made Sunday by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), citing “subversive activities” allegedly linked to the German ambassador, Mathias Schauer.

“The UPDF has, with immediate effect, suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany,” army spokesperson Chris Magezi declared via a statement on X (formerly Twitter). He added that the decision followed “credible intelligence” suggesting Ambassador Schauer was “actively engaged in subversive activities in the country.”

While specific details of the alleged activities were not disclosed, Magezi said the suspension would remain in place “until the full resolution of the matter of the Ambassador’s involvement with hostile pseudo-political-military forces operating in the country against the Ugandan government.”

The German embassy in Kampala has yet to issue an official response.

The diplomatic fallout intensifies an already tense political climate in Uganda, where international observers and rights organizations have raised alarms over the government's increasingly harsh crackdown on opposition figures, journalists, and civil society groups. Uganda is gearing up for presidential elections in less than seven months, and the government is facing mounting scrutiny over alleged rights abuses.

On Friday, the UPDF had released a broader statement accusing unnamed European missions of supporting “traitorous groups” hostile to the state, explicitly naming the German envoy. Local reports suggest that Schauer may have drawn the ire of the Ugandan establishment following a meeting with senior government figures during which he reportedly criticized the conduct of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba—President Yoweri Museveni’s son and the army chief—particularly over controversial social media posts.

General Muhoozi, widely viewed as Museveni’s chosen successor, has sparked outrage with his incendiary online remarks and claims of extrajudicial actions, including the alleged abduction and torture of opposition members.

Despite the diplomatic strain, Uganda and Germany have long maintained a relationship characterized by economic cooperation and strategic dialogue. According to the German embassy, bilateral trade between the two nations was valued at approximately $335 million in 2024, with Germany primarily exporting machinery and chemical products to Uganda.

Ambassador Schauer, who has represented Germany in Uganda since 2020, has been a prominent figure in diplomatic and development circles. The latest allegations and the subsequent suspension of military cooperation mark a sharp turn in what was previously described by Germany as a “stable and trusting” bilateral relationship.