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3 clusters · 18 sources · 10 days · First seen · Last updated

Uganda-Türkiye diplomatic tensions

Overview

Diplomatic tensions between Uganda and Türkiye escalated following threats from Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Kainerugaba issued calls for Turkish nationals to ‘pack their bags and leave the country immediately’ and organized a large-scale protest at the Turkish Embassy in Kampala. These actions followed the cancellation of a $3.2 billion railway tender previously held by the Turkish firm Yapı Merkezi.

The friction is largely driven by Uganda’s demand for the extradition of Fred Kajubi Lumbuye, a government critic currently in Türkiye. Ugandan authorities and the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) have accused Lumbuye of cybercrimes and spreading propaganda. Lumbuye faces 15 charges in Uganda, including incitement to violence and spreading false information.

On September 18, 2026, the Turkish Embassy in Kampala suspended operations and closed its doors in anticipation of demonstrations organized by the PLU. During the protest, PLU leaders accused the presence of Lumbuye in Türkiye of interfering with Uganda’s sovereignty.

Following these events, the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) announced the immediate suspension of all military and defense cooperation with Türkiye. Acting spokesperson Colonel Chris Magezi stated the suspension will remain in effect until “unresolved issues” regarding mutual defense and military cooperation are addressed. While the UPDF did not explicitly link the suspension to the Lumbuye dispute, the move disrupts a decade-long relationship involving military training and equipment transfers.

Entities

Muhoozi Kainerugaba · Fred Kajubi Lumbuye · Uganda People's Defence Forces · Fred Lumbuye · Turkish Embassy in Kampala

Timeline

  1. about 9 hours ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 4 sources
    Uganda suspends all military and defense cooperation with Turkey

    Uganda has suspended all military and defense cooperation with Turkey, citing unresolved issues, amid diplomatic tension over the requested extradition of Ugandan critic Fred Lumbuye.

  2. 2 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 11 sources
    Uganda suspends military cooperation with Türkiye

    Uganda has suspended all military cooperation with Türkiye indefinitely following tensions over the extradition of dissident Fred Lumbuye and protests at the Turkish Embassy in Kampala.

  3. 10 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 3 sources
    Ugandan military commander calls for Turkish citizens to leave country

    Ugandan military commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba has called for Turkish citizens to leave Uganda and announced a planned protest at the Turkish Embassy in Kampala for September 18.

Sources

dokuz8haber.net · edge.ug · gazetepencere.com · haber7.com · halktv.com.tr · kentgazetesi.com · korkusuz.com.tr · newscentral.africa · oeildafrique.com · riotimesonline.com · sondakikakibris.com · spyuganda.com · srnnews.com · ubc.go.ug · ugbulletin.co.ug · uzalendonews.co.ke · winnipegfreepress.com · yenicaggazetesi.com.tr

This summary has been updated 2 times: see revision history