The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Türkiye, citing unresolved issues between the two countries.
The suspension took immediate effect, according to a statement issued by the UPDF on 19 September 2026.
Col Chris Magezi, the acting director of Defence Public Information, said the suspension would remain in place until the outstanding issues affecting defence and military cooperation between Uganda and Türkiye are resolved.
The UPDF did not disclose the nature of the issues behind the decision or say when military cooperation could resume.
The announcement came a day after members of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) protested outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala over the continued stay in Türkiye of government critic Fred Lumbuye.
The protesters demanded that Türkiye extradite Lumbuye to Uganda, where they said he should face criminal charges.
PLU Secretary General Fadil Twalla said the Turkish Embassy declined to receive their petition and advised the group to pursue the matter through diplomatic channels. Twalla said the group would instead submit the petition through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
PLU maintains that Lumbuye should be returned to Uganda to face the charges against him.
