The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has suspended all defence and military cooperation with Germany following what it calls, ‘credible intelligence linking the German Ambassador to subversive activities in Uganda.’

Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, made the announcement in an official statement issued on Sunday May 25 2025.

“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has with immediate effect suspended all ongoing defence and military cooperation activities with the Federal Republic of Germany,” Col Magezi stated.

He explained that the decision was based on intelligence implicating German Ambassador Mathias Schauer in activities considered hostile to Uganda’s national security.

“The decision is 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.

However, he clarified that the suspension will remain in place until the matter is fully resolved.

“The suspension will remain in force until the full resolution of the matter of the Ambassador’s involvement with hostile pseudo political-military forces operating in the country against the Ugandan government,” the statement noted.

The announcement follows Friday’s warning by security agencies about growing threats from rebel groups in central Uganda.

In that earlier statement, Magezi said, “Security and intelligence services have over the past few months arrested and interrogated several suspects with links to organised armed rebellion, plot to bomb populated public places, and economic sabotage through vandalism of electricity infrastructure.”

He also pointed to growing concerns over foreign influence.

“There is strong evidence tracing some of the funding and mobilisation for the negative and traitorous groups opposed to the NRM government to some accredited European diplomatic missions in Kampala,” he said.

Specifically mentioning Ambassador Schauer, he added, “We are particularly concerned about the illegal and clandestine activities of the German Ambassador in Uganda. The intelligence services are aware about his clearly undiplomatic practices… which go against the spirit of the 1961 Vienna Diplomatic Conventions.”

The UPDF called on Ugandan youth to stay away from rebel influences, urging them instead to focus on government empowerment programmes.

“The youths of Uganda are advised to avoid falling in the trap set by enemy political actors who seek to exploit their vulnerability for political ends,” Magezi advised.

The German government is yet to comment on the accusations.