KAMPALA — The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, citing unresolved issues between the two countries.
The suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in place until the outstanding issues are resolved, according to a statement issued on Saturday, September 19, 2026, by Col. Chris Magezi, Acting Director of Defence Public Information at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs.
“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.
“The measure will remain in force until outstanding issues of mutual defence and military cooperation between the two countries are resolved.”
The UPDF statement did not specify the outstanding issues or indicate when military cooperation could resume. It also did not mention Ugandan political blogger Fred Lumbuye or the events surrounding the recent dispute with Türkiye.
The announcement comes a day after supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) demonstrated outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala, demanding that Türkiye extradite Lumbuye to Uganda.
Lumbuye, who lives in Türkiye, has been accused by Ugandan authorities of offences including incitement, harmful propaganda and cyber-related crimes. His continued presence in Türkiye has been a source of public statements and demands from Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the UPDF Chief of Defence Forces.
The Turkish Embassy had announced its closure ahead of Friday’s demonstration. Police blocked protesters from accessing the diplomatic mission.
However, the UPDF’s announcement of the military cooperation suspension does not establish a direct link between the decision and the Lumbuye dispute.
Existing military ties
Uganda and Türkiye have maintained defence and security contacts in recent years.
In November 2024, Kainerugaba met Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Fatih Ak and Turkey’s Defence Attaché Lt. Col. Caner Sağlam at the Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe, where they discussed Uganda-Türkiye economic and security ties.
The UPDF has also previously engaged Turkish defence companies. In one such engagement, Kainerugaba met representatives of Turkish defence technology company Karel, who presented defence-industry products to the Ugandan military.
The latest announcement raises questions about the status of existing military engagements, including training, equipment procurement and defence-industry cooperation. The UPDF has not publicly detailed which programmes or agreements are affected.
The suspension also comes amid broader concerns involving Türkiye’s growing security and commercial role in Somalia, where Ugandan forces have participated in successive African Union missions and where Türkiye has expanded its military and economic presence. However, the UPDF statement did not identify Somalia as a reason for the suspension.
The decision concerns defence and military cooperation. There has been no announcement that Uganda has suspended diplomatic relations with Türkiye or its wider economic, educational and commercial ties.
The development marks a significant escalation in relations between Kampala and Ankara as the two sides face unresolved questions over defence cooperation and the continued presence of Lumbuye in Türkiye.
