The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has, with immediate effect, suspended all defence and military cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye.
According to the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs/UPDF Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Col. Chris Magezi, the suspension follows outstanding unresolved issues regarding mutual defence and military cooperation between the two countries.
“The measure will remain in force until outstanding issues of mutual defence and military cooperation between the two countries are resolved,” he said.
Following the suspension, the General Secretary of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), Hon. Twalla Fadil, said the UPDF cannot continue cooperating with people who are unwilling to cooperate.
“We can’t cooperate with uncooperative people,” Twalla posted on his X account.
The move comes a day after members of the PLU pressure group marched to the Turkish Embassy, demanding that the Turkish government deport human rights activist and political blogger Fred Kajubi Lumbuye to face alleged charges in Uganda.
Twalla had earlier expressed disappointment with the Turkish government, accusing it of harbouring what he described as criminals and enemies of peace and unity in Uganda.
“We asked them to extradite Lumbuye as soon as possible if they truly value our bilateral relations and respect our sovereignty.
“We asked them to respect our judicial system and stop granting Lumbuye the asylum status he has applied for through his lawyers in order to escape justice. He should come and face justice.
“If they do not respond as they have promised, next time we will shut down the Embassy with a wall of PLU supporters,” he posted on his X account.
