The UPDF has announced suspension of its defence cooperation with Germany over the country’s ambassador’s conduct.
In a Sunday statement, acting UPDF spokesperson, Col Chris Magezi announced that the UPDF has with “immediate effect” suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany.
“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 in the country,” Col Magezi said.
“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 development comes a few days after the UPDF accused the German ambassador of engaging in subversive activities in Uganda.
On Friday, the Ugandan army said the German ambassador to Uganda, Mathias Schauer is supporting rebel activities in the country.
“We are particularly concerned about the illegal and clandestine activities of the German Ambassador in Uganda, His Excellency Mathias Schauer. The intelligence services are aware about his clearly undiplomatic practices that have been taking place in different parts of the country… contrary to the spirit of the 1961 Vienna Diplomatic Convention that regulates cordial relations between states,” Col Magezi said.
According to the army spokesperson, security and intelligence services have in the past few months arrested and interrogated several suspects with links to organised armed rebellion, plot to bomb populated public places, and economic sabotage through the vandalism of electricity infrastructure power lines in some parts of the country especially in central Uganda.
He noted that some of the arrested suspects previously passed off as opposition political party activists especially of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
“There is strong evidence tracing some of the funding and mobilisation for the negative and traitorous groups opposed to the NRM government to some accredited European diplomatic missions in Kampala.”
He said security condemns foreign influence meddling in Uganda’s internal affairs and that it will take decisive action against those who seek to destabilise the country.
“The youths of Uganda are advised to avoid falling in the trap set by enemy political actors who seek to exploit their vulnerability for political ends. They are further advised to embrace government wealth creation initiatives and youth development programmes for their long term wellbeing.”
The development comes a few days after the protest to the senior presidential advisor on military affairs, Gen Salim Saleh by Ambassador Schauer.
During a meeting at Gulu together with other EU Ambassadors, Schauer expressed concern over threatening social media posts by the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
