Uganda has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, escalating a diplomatic dispute that has intensified in recent weeks.
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces announced the suspension on Saturday, September 19, saying it took immediate effect.
The military did not disclose the specific issues behind the decision.
Colonel Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information at Uganda’s Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, said the suspension would remain in place until the two countries resolve outstanding matters concerning their military relationship.
Military ties put on hold
The UPDF did not specify which areas of cooperation are affected.
It also did not give a timeline for restoring the relationship.
That leaves questions over existing arrangements involving military training, defence equipment, security cooperation and other bilateral programmes.
Uganda and Türkiye have maintained defence contacts for years.
Their military relationship has included discussions around security and defence cooperation, while Türkiye has expanded its role as a security partner in parts of Africa.
The latest suspension therefore represents a significant change in the relationship.
Lumbuye dispute adds pressure
The announcement came a day after supporters of Uganda’s Patriotic League of Uganda protested outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala.
The protesters demanded that Türkiye hand over Ugandan activist and government critic Fred Lumbuye.
Lumbuye has lived in Türkiye and has continued to criticise Uganda’s political leadership through online platforms.
Ugandan authorities accuse him of offences including harmful propaganda, incitement and cybercrimes. His supporters dispute the government’s characterisation of his activities.
The Turkish Embassy closed ahead of Friday’s demonstration.
The protest was organised by the Patriotic League of Uganda, whose chairman is Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Kainerugaba has repeatedly called for Lumbuye’s return to Uganda and has publicly criticised Türkiye over the issue.
However, the UPDF statement announcing the military suspension did not mention Lumbuye or Friday’s protest as the reason for the decision.
Somalia creates another layer
The dispute also comes as Türkiye expands its security role in Somalia.
Uganda has deployed troops in Somalia for years as part of African Union-backed efforts against Al-Shabaab and in support of the Somali government.
Türkiye has meanwhile developed a substantial security and economic presence in Somalia, including military training and defence cooperation.
Ugandan military officials have raised concerns about Türkiye’s expanding role in the country.
But the UPDF has not formally identified Somalia as the reason for suspending military cooperation with Türkiye.
The issue is becoming more significant as Uganda prepares to withdraw its troops from Somalia by August 2027.
The United States also agreed this week to give the UN another year to wind down its support arrangements for the African Union’s Somalia peacekeeping mission. The move gives the mission more time to find alternative funding and logistics arrangements, but questions remain over its long-term sustainability.
A wider diplomatic relationship at stake
The military dispute does not automatically mean Uganda and Türkiye have severed diplomatic relations.
Indeed, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni met Türkiye’s ambassador in Uganda on Thursday, one day before the protest at the Turkish Embassy.
Neither Uganda’s State House nor its Foreign Affairs Ministry has announced a suspension of diplomatic relations with Ankara.
That distinction is important.
The UPDF’s announcement specifically concerns defence and military cooperation.
Trade, investment, infrastructure and other civilian areas of the bilateral relationship could therefore continue unless the governments announce further measures.
What happens next
The immediate question is what Kampala means by the “outstanding issues” cited by the UPDF.
Neither side has publicly provided a detailed account of the dispute behind Saturday’s suspension.
Further clarification from Uganda’s government or Türkiye could determine whether the measure becomes a short-term diplomatic pressure tactic or develops into a broader deterioration in bilateral relations.
For now, Uganda’s military cooperation with Türkiye remains suspended until those issues are resolved.
