The Uganda People’s Defence Force is accusing the German ambassador in the country of sponsoring what the UPDF describes to be some ‘traitorous’ groups.
Among the parties that Germany is being accused of supporting is the National Unity Platform (NUP) led by Robert Kyagulanyi.
In a strongly worded statement issued by Colonel Chris Magezi, the Acting Director of Defence Public Information, the UPDF said Uganda’s intelligence services have for some time been closely monitoring the conduct of the envoy.
But for some observers, the statement could have been written by President Yoweri Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba and forced upon Colonel Magezi.
For most Ugandans, an army official cannot simply issue a statement as if he was the government spokesperson.
The statement claims that there is strong evidence tracing some of the funding and mobilisation for the negative and traitorous groups opposed to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government, to some accredited European diplomatic missions in Kampala.
“We are particularly concerned about the illegal and clandestine activities of the German Ambassador in Uganda, His Excellency Mathias Schauer. The intelligence services are aware about his clearly undiplomatic practices that have been taking place in different parts of the country for some time now,” the army dispatch claims.
The letter demands that the acts go against ‘the spirit of the 1961 Vienna Diplomatic Conventions that regulate cordial relations between states!’
“The government of Uganda is following up the matter with the concerned foreign mission through the relevant diplomatic channels to address the disturbing development.”
“The Uganda People’s Defence Forces and the Inter-Agency Security Committee strongly condemn foreign influence meddling in Uganda’s internal affairs and will take decisive action against those who seek to destabilise the country.”
“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. They are further advised to embrace government wealth creation initiatives and youth development programmes for their long term wellbeing.”
“The local treacherous lot and agents of foreign manipulation in the politics and security of our country will continue to be identified, isolated, and dealt with firmly in accordance with the laws of the land,” the statement concludes.