The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye with immediate effect.
The army announced the decision in a brief statement issued in Kampala on September 19, 2026.
Col Chris Magezi, the acting director of Defence Public Information, said the suspension would remain in force until the two countries settled outstanding issues concerning defence and military cooperation.
The UPDF did not explain the nature of the dispute. It also gave no timeline for restoring cooperation between the two countries.
The announcement came a day after members of the Patriotic League of Uganda protested outside the Turkish embassy in Kampala. The group demanded the extradition of government critic Fred Lumbuye, who lives in Türkiye.
However, the UPDF statement did not mention Lumbuye or connect the suspension to the protest.
The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has protested outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala, demanding the extradition of government critic Fred Lumbuye.
PLU General Secretary Fadil Twalla said supporters held the demonstration on Friday following instructions from the PLU chairman, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Twalla described the protest as peaceful. He said the group expressed disappointment with Turkey for harbouring people wanted by Ugandan authorities.
“We asked them to extradite Lumbuye as soon as possible if they truly value our bilateral relations with them and respect our sovereignty,” Twalla said in a statement.
Twalla said PLU also opposes Lumbuye’s attempt to secure asylum in Turkey. He said that Turkey should allow him to return to Uganda and face the justice system.
“We asked them to respect our judicial system and stop granting Lumbuye the asylum status he has applied for through his lawyers to escape justice. He should come and face justice,” he said.
Twalla said embassy officials had promised to respond to the protesters’ demands. He warned that PLU would organise a larger protest if the Turkish government failed to act.
“If they don’t respond as they have promised, next time we will shut down the embassy with a wall of PLU supporters,” he said.
Twalla thanked PLU supporters for attending the demonstration in large numbers.
