Written By | BK Mugizi
PLU supporters demonstrate outside Turkish embassy in Kampala yesterday
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KAMPALA: The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, citing outstanding issues between the two countries.
The suspension was announced on Saturday by Col. Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF.
In a statement, Magezi said the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in force until outstanding issues concerning mutual defence and military cooperation between Uganda and Türkiye are resolved.
“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has, with immediate effect, suspended all and any defence and military cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye,” Magezi said.
He added that the measure would remain in force “until outstanding issues of mutual defence and military cooperation between the two countries are resolved.”
The announcement comes a day after hundreds of supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) marched to the Turkish Embassy in Kololo, Kampala, demanding that Türkiye hand over Ugandan political activist and government critic Fred Kajubi Lumbuye to face charges in Uganda.
The demonstration, led by PLU Secretary General Fadil Twalla, started at Lugogo Cricket Oval before protesters proceeded towards the Turkish diplomatic mission. The Turkish Embassy had announced that it would close on Friday because of the planned demonstration.
Police blocked the protesters as they approached the embassy, with brief scuffles reported between security personnel and some demonstrators. The protesters later delivered their petition through the embassy.
Twalla said the PLU wanted Turkish authorities to extradite Lumbuye to Uganda, arguing that he should return to face the allegations against him.
The protest followed weeks of public disagreements over Uganda-Türkiye relations, including the presence of Lumbuye in Türkiye and wider concerns raised by Ugandan officials about bilateral cooperation.
The latest UPDF announcement places military and defence cooperation between Kampala and Ankara on hold pending the resolution of the outstanding issues.
