Uganda has suspended all military and defence cooperation with Turkey over Ankara’s refusal to hand over political blogger Fred Lumbuye, a prominent critic of President Yoweri Museveni.
Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesman, Chris Magezi, announced the suspension in a statement.
He said the measure would remain in place until outstanding defence and military cooperation issues between the two countries were resolved.
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“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, however, did not provide details of the specific issues behind the decision.
The move follows repeated demands by army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, President Museveni’s son, for Turkey to extradite Lumbuye to Uganda.
Lumbuye faces 15 criminal charges, including incitement to violence, spreading false information and computer misuse.
Thousands of supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda, a civic and political pressure group associated with Kainerugaba, protested outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala, demanding action over Lumbuye’s case.
Kainerugaba later reposted the UPDF statement on X.
Uganda and Turkey have maintained defence ties for nearly a decade, including military training, arms supplies, surveillance equipment, technology transfers and cooperation on counter-terrorism and security.
The suspension also comes amid threats by Ugandan authorities to cancel a $3 billion railway contract awarded to Turkish construction company, Yapi Merkezi and expel Turkish nationals from the country.
Africanews
