Germany rejects Uganda's 'subversive activities' accusation – DW – 05/26/2025
Germany's Foreign Ministry has dismissed Uganda's accusations that the German ambassador to Kampala was involved in "subversive activities." Uganda's armed forces said they had suspended military cooperation with Berlin.
The German Foreign Ministry on Monday dismissed Uganda's accusations that Berlin's ambassador, Mathias Schauer, had been involved in illicit meddling in the East African country's affairs.
A ministry spokesperson said that Berlin "strongly condemned" the allegations, describing them as "absurd" and "baseless."
What are Uganda's allegations against the German ambassador?
In an X post published on Sunday, Ugandan military spokesperson Chris Magezi said that Kampala had received "credible intelligence reports" that the German ambassador had been "actively engaged in subversive activities" in Uganda.
He said that Uganda's army would suspend all cooperation with Germany.
"The Uganda People's Defence Forces has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany," Magezi said.
Ugandan troops participate in an African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, a mission partially funded by the European Union.
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the German ambassador was 'unqualified to be in Uganda' [FILE: May 7, 2022] Image: Hajarah Nalwadda/AP Photo/picture alliance
What is the political situation in Uganda?
Earlier in the month, Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba warned that the EU was "playing with fire" after a group of European diplomats met senior members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) opposition party, including leader Bobi Wine.
Kainerugaba is the son of President Yoweri Museveni and is likely to succeed the 80-year-old strongman, who has been in power since 1986.
Uganda: Is President Museveni's son 'above the law'?
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Wine, who was a popular musician before launching his political career, has been put under house arrest by Ugandan authorities multiple times.
Another major Ugandan opposition figure, Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), was jailed in November.
Last August, 36 FDC members were charged with terrorism, an accusation rights groups argued was politically motivated.
Uganda has also been criticized by Western governments and rights groups for a 2023 law imposing penalties of up to life in prison for consensual same-sex relations and containing provisions allowing the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality."
Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez
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