Uganda has announced the temporary suspension of its military and defense cooperation with Turkey following a long-running dispute over Fred Lumbuye, a Ugandan blogger and political commentator known for his criticism of President Yoweri Museveni and the Ugandan government.
Lumbuye, who has lived in Turkey for several years, is wanted by Ugandan authorities, who have repeatedly sought his extradition to face charges related to alleged incitement of violence, the dissemination of false information, and violations of laws governing computer and online communications.
The blogger has remained an outspoken critic of the Ugandan government, frequently using social media and online platforms to comment on the country’s political affairs.
The issue has gained increasing prominence in recent months, with General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) and son of President Museveni, publicly urging Turkish authorities to hand Lumbuye over to Uganda.
UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi announced that Uganda had suspended all military and defense cooperation with Turkey until the dispute between the two countries is resolved.
The decision came a day after hundreds of supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) staged a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala.
Protesters called on Turkey to extradite Lumbuye, accusing him of continuing to criticize and challenge the Ugandan government while residing abroad.
PLU Secretary-General Fadil Twaha said the protest was intended to convey Uganda’s concerns to Turkish authorities rather than create hostility between the two nations.
General Muhoozi also expressed support for the demonstration on social media, stating that he believed Turkey would eventually respond positively to Kampala’s requests.
The dispute centers on Lumbuye’s legal status in Turkey. In 2022, a Turkish court reportedly rejected Uganda’s request for his extradition.
Although the current status of any subsequent legal proceedings remains unclear, Lumbuye continues to comment regularly on Ugandan politics through social media and his YouTube channel.
What began as a disagreement over the extradition of a government critic has now expanded into a broader diplomatic issue affecting relations between Kampala and Ankara.
For years, Uganda and Turkey have maintained close defense ties, including agreements covering military training, defense industries, security cooperation, and the supply of military equipment.
The two countries have also worked together on counterterrorism initiatives and military capacity-building programs.
The suspension of defense cooperation comes at a sensitive time, as the two nations are also engaged in significant economic and infrastructure partnerships.
General Muhoozi has previously commented on multi-billion-dollar contracts involving Turkish companies, including participation in Uganda’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project.
The growing political dispute has raised questions about the future of some of those agreements.
Public statements from Ugandan officials and political figures have also suggested that additional measures affecting Turkish business interests or citizens in Uganda could be considered if Ankara does not change its position on Lumbuye.
As a result, the Fred Lumbuye case has evolved beyond a legal and extradition matter into a wider diplomatic challenge, with implications for defense cooperation, economic relations, and broader ties between Uganda and Turkey.
Both governments now face mounting diplomatic pressure as Uganda continues to push for Lumbuye’s extradition, while Turkey appears to be maintaining its position that any such request must proceed through legal and judicial channels.