Uganda has “suspended” all navy cooperation with Germany, its military spokesperson stated Sunday, claiming the German ambassador is “engaged in subversive actions” within the east African nation.The escalation follows one other military assertion on Friday, which alleged some European diplomatic missions had been supporting “destructive and traitorous teams” against the federal government, additionally singling out German ambassador Mathias Schauer.It additionally comes as Uganda faces growing worldwide condemnation over its therapy of the opposition.“The Uganda Folks’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has with fast impact suspended all ongoing defence and navy cooperation actions with the Federal Republic of Germany,” stated military spokesman Chris Magezi on X.Magezi stated the transfer was in response to “credible intelligence studies that present German ambassador to Uganda His Excellency Mathias Schauer is actively engaged in subversive actions within the nation”.Magezi stated that the suspension will “stay in pressure till the total decision of the matter of the Ambassador’s involvement with hostile pseudo political-military forces working within the nation in opposition to the Ugandan authorities”.He didn’t give additional particulars, however confirmed to AFP that “the choice has been taken”.The German embassy in Uganda has not publicly commented.Human rights teams say Uganda has accelerated its crackdown on opponents and dissidents as they put together for presidential elections within the subsequent seven months.The president’s son and heir-apparent, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has regularly threatened members of the opposition, lately claiming to have kidnapped the bodyguard of the nation’s major opposition chief and to be torturing him in his basement.Native media reported on a latest assembly between European diplomats, together with Schauer, and President Yoweri Museveni’s brother.Through the assembly, Schauer reportedly criticised the colorful social media posts regularly made by Kainerugaba, who can also be the top of the Ugandan military.It’s unclear at this stage what influence the transfer to droop navy cooperation may need.Germany and Uganda have long-standing ties, with the German embassy characterising the connection as one in all “stability and belief” on its web site.Schauer has served because the European nation’s ambassador since 2020.Bilateral commerce between the 2 final 12 months was value roughly $335 million, in accordance with the German embassy, noting that Uganda primarily imported “equipment and chemical merchandise”.
