Uganda’s dispute with Turkey over political blogger and government critic Fred Kajubi Lumbuye has escalated into a diplomatic standoff, with Kampala suspending defence and military cooperation with Ankara, as pressure mounts for his extradition.
Lumbuye, who has lived in Turkey for several years, has used social media to mount sustained criticism of President Yoweri Museveni’s government and senior officials, including the president’s son and army chief, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba. Ugandan authorities accuse Fred of using his online platforms to spread harmful propaganda, incite public unrest and commit cyber-related offences. Police said in 2021, 15 cases had been filed against him, with allegations including spreading harmful propaganda, incitement to violence and offensive communication.
Among the allegations against Lumbuye, are claims that he circulated false reports about President Museveni’s death and used his large online following to promote messages that are critical to the Ugandan government. Ugandan authorities have persistently been seeking his extradition to Uganda from Turkey, to face the charges. Meanwhile, Lumbuye is still in Turkey, where his legal status has become a central issue to the diplomatic relation between Kampala and Ankara.
The dispute intensified this month when supporters of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), chaired by Kainerugaba, demonstrated outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala on the 18th of September, 2026, demanding Lumbuye’s extradition. The protesters accused Turkey of allowing a Ugandan, wanted on criminal charges to operate from its territory and called on Ankara to respect Uganda’s judicial process.
Lumbuye’s case is the immediate source of tension, but the disagreement has expanded into wide-range diplomatic and security issues. Kainerugaba has repeatedly criticised Turkey over its refusal to hand over the blogger. He has also raised separate complaints about Turkey’s growing influence in Somalia, where Ugandan forces have played a longstanding role in supporting the Somali government against al-Shabab. Moreso, Turkey’s role as one of the security partners in Somalia, has also added another phase to the disagreement.
Thus, the two countries that have been maintaining close military defence relationship for nearly a decade, including military training, arms and surveillance equipment, technology transfers and counterterrorism cooperation, are now battling a nervously-strained relationship, because of a Ugandan social media activist.
On September 19, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) announced that it had immediately suspended all defence and military cooperation with Turkey. The army spokesman, Col. Chris Magezi said, the suspension would remain until outstanding issues concerning mutual defence and military cooperation were resolved. The statement did not explicitly name Lumbuye or provided a detailed explanation of why they are backing off their almost a decade military cooperation, or what the unresolved issues.
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