KAMPALA — The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, saying the measure will remain in force until outstanding issues between the two countries are resolved.
The suspension takes immediate effect, 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 Peoples’ 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 did not specify the outstanding issues or indicate which particular defence programmes, agreements or activities are affected by the suspension.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions between Uganda and Türkiye, including a dispute over Ugandan blogger Fred Lumbuye, who is based in Türkiye.
On Friday, September 18, members of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) demonstrated outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala, demanding Lumbuye’s extradition to Uganda. The protest was organised amid repeated demands from Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, for Türkiye to hand over Lumbuye.
However, the UPDF statement announcing the suspension does not mention Lumbuye, the Turkish Embassy protest or any specific dispute with Ankara as the reason for the decision.
Uganda and Türkiye have maintained defence relations involving military training, technology transfer and defence-industry cooperation. The two countries have also maintained wider diplomatic and economic relations.