Latest news with #Kainerugaba
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ugandan army accuses German envoy of 'subversive activities'
Uganda's army has announced the suspension of all military cooperation with Germany after accusing its ambassador, Mathias Schauer, of being involved in "subversive activities" and of being "wholly unqualified" to be in the East African state. The army did not back-up its claim but its decision signals a sharp deterioration in relations between the two nations. Rejecting the accusations, a German foreign ministry spokesperson called them "absurd and without any merit", the Reuters news agency reports. The highly unusual attack on Schauer came after he reportedly raised concerns about army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the president's son, at a meeting last week. On X recently, the general threatened to behead opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. Gen Kainerugaba also boasted about torturing Wine's bodyguard after detaining him. Rights groups have long accused the Ugandan government of targeting the opposition, especially in the run-up to elections. Wine is expected to run against President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for nearly four decades, in an election due next year. Museveni's critics allege that the government is run by a family dynasty - his wife, Janet Museveni is the minister of education, and his brother, Gen Salim Saleh, is the chief coordinator of a government programme known as Operation Wealth Creation. Gen Saleh held a private meeting with European Union (EU) diplomats last week, where Schauer - Germany's ambassador to Uganda since 2020 - raised concerns about the army chief's controversial tweets, and the "reputational damage" it was causing to Uganda, local media reported. Gen Kainerugaba hit back with a post on Sunday, saying he was "having issues" with the German ambassador "that has to do with him as a person". "He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people. Whom I admire a lot," he posted. In a separate statement, army spokesman Col Chris Magezi said Uganda was suspending with immediate effect all defence and military cooperation with Germany because of "credible intelligence reports" that Schauer was involved in "subversive activities". "The suspension will remain in force until the full resolution of the matter of the Ambassador's involvement with pseudo political-military forces operating in the country against the Ugandan government," the statement added, without giving evidence to substantiate its claims. On its website, Germany's embassy in Uganda said that bilateral trade between the two nations was worth around $335m (£247m) in 2024, and their relationship was based on "stability and trust". It did not give details of military cooperation between the two nations. Uganda is heavily involved in peacekeeping operations, including in Somalia where it is helping to fight armed Islamist groups trying to overthrow the government. Anger as Uganda president's son says he's holding opposition bodyguard How a Ugandan opposition leader disappeared in Kenya and ended up in military court Social media ban in Uganda raises questions over regulation in Africa TikToker jailed for 32 months for insulting Uganda's president How an ex-rebel has stayed in power for 35 years Ugandan internet propaganda network exposed by the BBC Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Germany rejects accusations towards ambassador after Uganda's military cuts ties
NAIROBI - Uganda's military has severed all military cooperation with Germany after it accused Berlin's ambassador to Kampala of involvement in "subversive activities" in the East African country, its spokesperson said. A spokesperson for Germany's foreign ministry said at a press conference in Berlin on Monday that the accusations were "absurd and without any merit and we reject them in the strongest terms". The spokesperson declined to comment further on the nature of the accusations. The Uganda People's Defence Forces spokesperson, Chris Magezi, also gave no further details in the statement he posted on X on Sunday, apart from saying the decision was in response to "credible intelligence reports". In a separate post on the platform on Sunday, Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the military was having problems with Ambassador Mathias Schauer "as a person". "It has to do with him as a person. He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people," Kainerugaba said. The spokesperson for Uganda's ministry of foreign affairs could not be reached for comment. Magezi gave no details of any existing military cooperation between Uganda and Germany. The German spokesperson said there was no formalised military cooperation between the two countries. Uganda has its troops in the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, which is partly funded by the European Union, of which Germany is a member. Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and widely seen as heir apparent, is known for his inflammatory posts on social media which have included threats to Western diplomats in Kampala. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ugandan army accuses German envoy of 'subversive activities'
Uganda's army has announced the suspension of all military cooperation with Germany after accusing its ambassador, Mathias Schauer, of being involved in "subversive activities" and of being "wholly unqualified" to be in the East African state. The army did not back-up its claim but its decision signals a sharp deterioration in relations between the two nations. Rejecting the accusations, a German foreign ministry spokesperson called them "absurd and without any merit", the Reuters news agency reports. The highly unusual attack on Schauer came after he reportedly raised concerns about army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is the president's son, at a meeting last week. On X recently, the general threatened to behead opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. Gen Kainerugaba also boasted about torturing Wine's bodyguard after detaining him. Rights groups have long accused the Ugandan government of targeting the opposition, especially in the run-up to elections. Wine is expected to run against President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for nearly four decades, in an election due next year. Museveni's critics allege that the government is run by a family dynasty - his wife, Janet Museveni is the minister of education, and his brother, Gen Salim Saleh, is the chief coordinator of a government programme known as Operation Wealth Creation. Gen Saleh held a private meeting with European Union (EU) diplomats last week, where Schauer - Germany's ambassador to Uganda since 2020 - raised concerns about the army chief's controversial tweets, and the "reputational damage" it was causing to Uganda, local media reported. Gen Kainerugaba hit back with a post on Sunday, saying he was "having issues" with the German ambassador "that has to do with him as a person". "He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people. Whom I admire a lot," he posted. In a separate statement, army spokesman Col Chris Magezi said Uganda was suspending with immediate effect all defence and military cooperation with Germany because of "credible intelligence reports" that Schauer was involved in "subversive activities". "The suspension will remain in force until the full resolution of the matter of the Ambassador's involvement with pseudo political-military forces operating in the country against the Ugandan government," the statement added, without giving evidence to substantiate its claims. On its website, Germany's embassy in Uganda said that bilateral trade between the two nations was worth around $335m (£247m) in 2024, and their relationship was based on "stability and trust". It did not give details of military cooperation between the two nations. Uganda is heavily involved in peacekeeping operations, including in Somalia where it is helping to fight armed Islamist groups trying to overthrow the government. Anger as Uganda president's son says he's holding opposition bodyguard How a Ugandan opposition leader disappeared in Kenya and ended up in military court Social media ban in Uganda raises questions over regulation in Africa TikToker jailed for 32 months for insulting Uganda's president How an ex-rebel has stayed in power for 35 years Ugandan internet propaganda network exposed by the BBC Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Uganda's military says it has severed ties with Germany over 'subversive activities' by ambassador
NAIROBI (Reuters) -Uganda's military has severed all military cooperation with Germany after it accused Berlin's ambassador to Kampala of involvement in "subversive activities" in the East African country, its spokesperson said. "The Uganda People's Defence Forces has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany," UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi said in a statement posted on X platform on Sunday. The decision was "in response to credible intelligence reports that the current German Ambassador to Uganda His Excellency Mathias Schauer is actively engaged in subversive activities in the country", Magezi said. He did not give details of those activities or details of any existing military cooperation between Uganda and Germany. Germany's embassy in Kampala did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Uganda has its troops in the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, AUSSOM, which is partly funded by the European Union, of which Germany is a member. In a post on the X platform on Sunday, Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the military was having problems with Schauer as a person. "It has to do with him as a person. He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people," said Kainerugaba. The spokesperson for Uganda's ministry of foreign affairs could not be reached for comment as her phone was switched off. Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and widely seen as heir apparent, is widely known for his inflammatory posts on social media which have included threats to Western diplomats in Kampala. This month he warned the EU was "playing with fire" after a group of EU ambassadors met officials from Uganda's largest opposition party including its leader, pop star-turned-politician, Bobi Wine.
The Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Uganda's military says it has severed ties with Germany over 'subversive activities' by ambassador
NAIROBI (Reuters) -Uganda's military has severed all military cooperation with Germany after it accused Berlin's ambassador to Kampala of involvement in "subversive activities" in the East African country, its spokesperson said. "The Uganda People's Defence Forces has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany," UPDF spokesperson Chris Magezi said in a statement posted on X platform on Sunday. The decision was "in response to credible intelligence reports that the current German Ambassador to Uganda His Excellency Mathias Schauer is actively engaged in subversive activities in the country", Magezi said. He did not give details of those activities or details of any existing military cooperation between Uganda and Germany. Germany's embassy in Kampala did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Uganda has its troops in the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia, AUSSOM, which is partly funded by the European Union, of which Germany is a member. In a post on the X platform on Sunday, Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba said the military was having problems with Schauer as a person. "It has to do with him as a person. He is wholly unqualified to be in Uganda. It has nothing to do with the great German people," said Kainerugaba. The spokesperson for Uganda's ministry of foreign affairs could not be reached for comment as her phone was switched off. Kainerugaba, the son of President Yoweri Museveni and widely seen as heir apparent, is widely known for his inflammatory posts on social media which have included threats to Western diplomats in Kampala. This month he warned the EU was "playing with fire" after a group of EU ambassadors met officials from Uganda's largest opposition party including its leader, pop star-turned-politician, Bobi Wine. (Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Editing by George Obulutsa and Michael Perry)
