Uganda Suspends Military Cooperation With Turkey

Uganda has suspended military cooperation with Turkey following a dispute over efforts to extradite political blogger Fred Lumbuye.

Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesman Chris Magezi announced the decision in a statement on Saturday.

He said the suspension would remain until both countries resolve outstanding issues over defence and military cooperation.

“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.

He added that the measure would remain in place until the two countries resolve the dispute.

The decision follows a long-running disagreement over Lumbuye, a prominent political blogger and critic of President Yoweri Museveni.

Army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is Museveni’s son, has repeatedly clashed with Turkish authorities over efforts to extradite Lumbuye.

Lumbuye faces 15 criminal charges, including incitement to violence, spreading false information and computer misuse.

On Friday, thousands of Ugandans linked to the Patriotic League of Uganda protested outside the Turkish embassy in Kampala.

The group is a civic and political pressure organisation associated with Kainerugaba.

Uganda and Turkey have maintained close military ties for nearly a decade.

Their cooperation has included military training, arms, surveillance equipment, technology transfers, counter-terrorism and security operations.

The latest dispute has also affected relations beyond military cooperation.

Uganda has threatened to cancel a $3 billion railway contract awarded to Turkish construction company Yapi Merkezi.

The government has also threatened to expel Turkish nationals from Uganda.

However, the army did not provide further details on the specific defence issues behind the suspension.