Tensions soar as Uganda cuts defence ties with Germany over ‘subversive’ ambassador
First son and military chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, German Ambassador Mathias Schauer and Colonel Chris Magezi, Uganda's acting director of Defence Public Information. PHOTO/COMBO
What you need to know:
- Direct public accusations of subversion are rare and usually signal a serious breakdown in diplomatic relations.
- The suspension of defence ties marks one of the most serious diplomatic rifts between Kampala and a European power in recent memory.
Uganda's military on Sunday announced the immediate suspension of all defence and military cooperation with Germany, citing alleged subversive activities by Berlin’s top envoy in Kampala, in a move that has sharply escalated diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) accused German Ambassador Mathias Schauer—who has served in Uganda since July 25, 2020—of interfering in the country’s internal affairs and backing groups opposed to the government ahead of next year’s general elections.
“UPDF has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany,” said Colonel Chris Magezi, the acting director of Defence Public Information.
“The decision is in response to credible intelligence reports that the current German Ambassador to Uganda, His Excellency Mathias Schauer, is actively engaged in subversive activities,” he alleged.
The announcement on X (formerly Twitter) follows a fiery closed-door meeting in Gulu on Wednesday between veteran President Museveni’s brother, Gen Salim Saleh, and European diplomats.
During the talks, German Ambassador Mathias Schauer criticised the conduct of Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni’s powerful son and current UPDF chief.
Schauer reportedly warned that Gen Muhoozi’s social media tirades were inflicting “reputational damage” on Uganda and called for senior officials to disavow them publicly.
“What we have tried to convey is we are worried about the reputational damage that this is causing in this country,” the ambassador was quoted as saying in viral videos.
In this file photo, Uganda’s First Son Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba interacts with German Ambassador Matthias Schauer on April 21, 2021, during a meeting at the SFC Headquarters in Entebbe. Also present were Lt Col Stefan Hasler, Germany’s Defence Attaché, and journalist Andrew Mwenda, a close ally of Gen Muhoozi. PHOTO/HANDOUT
In response to the military’s accusations, opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, called the move a “ridiculous” attempt to criminalise dissent.
“They have stated that most of those so-called rebels are supporters of NUP!” he wrote on social media. “This is an all-too-familiar script by the regime: manufacturing 'threats' to shield itself from accountability and justify its relentless violent persecution,” Bobi Wine said on Saturday.
Late last week, Col Magezi claimed recent arrests and investigations had uncovered alleged rebel plots involving opposition supporters and acts of economic sabotage, including the destruction of electricity infrastructure across central Uganda, which the opposition has vehemently denied.
Col Magezi alleged that some European embassies in Kampala were “funding and mobilising” dissident groups, with German ambassador Schauer identified as a key actor.
“The intelligence services are aware about his clearly undiplomatic practices… which go against the spirit of the 1961 Vienna Diplomatic Conventions,” he said.
Footage from the Gulu meeting has caused internal consternation.
Uganda’s UN ambassador Adonia Ayebare described the diplomatic exchange as a “fiasco” and questioned how press access had been granted.
Meanwhile, Gen Saleh appeared to downplay the controversy over Muhoozi, calling him a “Gen-Z” officer and suggesting he would “get him on board” if necessary.
“The UPDF… strongly condemns foreign influence meddling in Uganda’s internal affairs and will take decisive action against those who seek to destabilise the country,” Col Magezi warned.
The suspension of defence ties threatens to unravel a years-long military partnership and marks one of the most serious diplomatic rifts between Kampala and a European power in recent memory.
Germany reacts
Germany on Monday dismissed Uganda’s allegations against its ambassador in Kampala as “absurd and without any merit,” following Kampala’s announcement that it was severing military cooperation with Berlin.
“We reject them in the strongest terms,” a foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters in Berlin, without commenting further on the nature of the accusations.
What International Law says
Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomats are expected to “respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State (in this case Uganda)” and are explicitly prohibited from “interfering in the internal affairs” of that State (Article 41).
If a diplomat is deemed persona non grata, the host country can request the sending state (in this case Germany) for their withdrawal. However, direct public accusations of subversion are rare and usually signal a serious breakdown in diplomatic relations.
"General Saleh has held successful meetings with diplomats in the past, this was clumsy. The net result of such [a] fiasco is a diplomatic fall out, which needs to be managed,” Ayebare said last week.
