Uganda has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced Saturday, citing unresolved issues between the two countries.
In a brief statement, the UPDF said the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in place until the outstanding matters concerning bilateral defence and military cooperation 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,” the statement by the acting UPDF spokesperson,Col Chris Magezi said on Saturday afternoon.
The military added that the measure would remain in force “until outstanding issues of mutual defence and military cooperation between the two countries are resolved.
The UPDF did not disclose the specific issues behind the decision or indicate whether discussions between the two sides are already under way to address them.
The announcement marks a significant change in a defence relationship that has previously included military and diplomatic engagement between Uganda and Türkiye.
In November 2024, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, then Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, met Türkiye’s ambassador to Uganda, Mehmet Fatih Ak, and Türkiye’s defence attaché, Lt. Col. Caner Sağlam, at Special Forces Command headquarters in Entebbe. The discussions covered Uganda-Türkiye economic and security relations.
On Thursday, the Patriotic League of Uganda(PLU) supporters staged a peaceful demonstration at the Turkish embassy in Kampala.
Earlier, the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Kainerugaba had asked PLU supporters to come in big numbers to join the protest against Turkiye.
The latest decision also comes amid a period of increased defence and security engagement by Uganda with other international partners.
Earlier this month, the UPDF reported renewed discussions with Russia on military cooperation, while on September 16 it reported talks with South Africa aimed at strengthening defence intelligence cooperation.
The UPDF has not said whether the suspension will affect existing defence contracts, training arrangements, procurement, personnel exchanges or other forms of military cooperation with Türkiye.
It also remains unclear what steps would be required for the suspension to be lifted.
For now, the military’s position is that cooperation will remain suspended until the “outstanding issues” are resolved according to the Ugandan army.
