Uganda has moved to ease mounting diplomatic concern following a series of strongly worded social media posts by army chief Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba targeting Turkey, with senior officials insisting relations remain stable and under control.
Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, struck a conciliatory tone, describing the posts as an expression of dissatisfaction rather than a shift in official policy.
“Tweets by @mkainerugaba on Türkiye are a reflection of dissatisfaction with the way Uganda’s serious concerns have been handled,” Ayebare said.
“Uganda values its partnerships with our Turkish friends but not at the expense of our sovereignty.”
He emphasized that Kampala remains committed to dialogue: “Uganda looks forward to good faith talks aimed at resolving our concerns… There should be no cause for alarm.”
Gen. Muhoozi’s posts had raised eyebrows after he described Turkey as “the real problem” and warned that Uganda could sever diplomatic relations within 30 days. He further suggested measures such as blocking Turkish airlines and issued ultimatum-style demands.
While some of the posts were later deleted, they triggered widespread debate about the future of bilateral ties.
Ayebare’s statement seem to be a deliberate effort by Uganda to reassure both domestic and international audiences that the situation remains firmly within diplomatic bounds.
Diplomatic engagement between the two countries has also remained active despite the recent rhetoric. The Turkish Embassy in Kampala said Ambassador Fikret Kerem Alp held talks with Uganda’s State Minister for International Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, showing continued open channels of communication.
During the meeting, the ambassador also briefed the Ugandan side on upcoming international engagements, including the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and COP31 events to be hosted in Antalya, underlining Turkey’s interest in sustained cooperation and Uganda’s participation in global diplomatic and climate platforms.
Deep rooted ties
Despite the heated rhetoric, Uganda and Turkey maintain longstanding diplomatic relations spanning over 50 years, with cooperation cutting across military, education, economic, cultural, and technological fields.
Over the years, Turkey’s government and private sector have played a visible role in Uganda’s development, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and service industries.
Bilateral trade agreements have formalized commercial exchanges, while high-level engagements — including the visit of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Uganda — have led to expanded cooperation frameworks.
These agreements have supported joint projects in education, agro-processing and value addition, infrastructure development, and ICT, reinforcing economic ties between the two countries.
Security and shared interestsUganda continues to position itself as a country committed to peace, stability, and respect for sovereignty, both regionally and globally.
Its foreign policy emphasizes peaceful resolution of conflicts and rejects terrorism in all forms, aligning with broader international security cooperation.
On the Turkish side, Fikret Kerem Alp has consistently highlighted Ankara’s commitment to strengthening ties with Uganda, reflecting mutual interest in sustaining the partnership.
Beyond diplomacy, the relationship has expanded through trade, defence cooperation, infrastructure projects, and aviation links, including direct flights connecting Entebbe to Istanbul.
These deep economic and strategic linkages suggest that, despite the sharp tone of recent remarks, both countries have strong incentives to maintain stable relations.