The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Acting Director Public Information Colonel Chris Magezi has disclosed that the UPDF has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany.
Col Magezi said that the decision is in response to credible intelligence reports that the current German Ambassador to Uganda Mathias Schauer is actively engaged in subversive activities in the country.
According to a statement issued today May 25th 2025, and signed by Col Chris Magezi the suspension will remain in force until the full resolution of the matter of the Ambassador’s involvement with hostile pseudo political-military forces operating in the country against the Ugandan government.
“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany,” Col Magezi said in a statement.
The statement from the UPDF Acting Spokesman marks a new development that escalates an already tense standoff between Ugandan authorities and Western diplomatic missions.
This comes after the Germany Ambassador Schauer faced growing scrutiny in recent days, with Ugandan intelligence agencies accusing him of interfering in domestic political affairs and maintaining contact with groups opposed to the ruling government, however, the German Embassy in Uganda has not publicly responded to the accusations.
The development comes just hours after the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a political movement led by Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, announced a protest at the German Embassy scheduled for June 5th 2025 citing what they called the ambassador’s undiplomatic conduct as the basis for the demonstration, further fueling the diplomatic fallout.
A lot of tensions have been mounting since Gen Muhoozi posted a series of messages on social media claiming that he had the power to expel any ambassador from Uganda and the German Ambassador is reported to have responded by raising concerns over the tone of these remarks with senior Ugandan officials, including Gen Salim Saleh Akandwanaho.
The defence cooperation between Uganda and Germany has in the past included training programs, logistical support, and joint operations on peacekeeping and counterterrorism the German government in Berlin too has not commented.
