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Uganda has raised serious concerns about the German Ambassador in Kampala, Mathias Schauer, accusing him of engaging in illegal and clandestine activities that go against diplomatic norms.
According to a statement issued on May 23 by Acting Director of Defence Public Information, Colonel Chris Magezi, Ugandan intelligence services have identified the ambassador’s actions as undiplomatic and in violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention, which governs diplomatic conduct.
The government is addressing the matter with the German mission through diplomatic channels.
The announcement comes amid ongoing operations by Ugandan security and intelligence services to disrupt what they describe as organised armed rebellion, planned bomb attacks on public places, and economic sabotage through widespread vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
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Colonel Magezi said the worst-hit areas include Wakiso, Mukono, Kayunga, Luweero, Nakaseke, Kiboga, Nakasongola, Mityana, Mubende, Mpigi, and the greater Masaka region.
“Some of the arrested suspects had previously posed as members of opposition political parties, especially the National Unity Platform,” he added. “Many have been charged and are currently on remand awaiting trial.”
The Inter-Agency Security Committee, chaired by the Chief of Defence Forces and comprising the Uganda Police Force, Prisons Services, and Intelligence Organisations, is leading the counter-terrorism effort. It is actively working to dismantle rebel cells in Kampala’s ghetto communities and across central Uganda.
In its latest meeting, the committee resolved to take strong action against the leaders, organisers, and funders of these groups, which it believes are working to disrupt the general elections scheduled for early next year.
“There is strong evidence that some European diplomatic missions in Kampala are funding and supporting these negative and traitorous groups opposed to the NRM government,” Magezi said.
The security agencies have advised Ugandan youths to avoid being misled by such actors and instead take part in government-backed development programmes aimed at improving their livelihoods.
“The local traitors and foreign agents involved in destabilising Uganda will continue to be identified and dealt with according to the law,” Magezi warned.
Below is Col. Magezi's full post:
The 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 the vandalism of electricity infrastructure power lines in some parts of the country especially in central Uganda.
In the case of extensive vandalization of electricity infrastructure, some of the most affected districts are Wakiso, Mukono, Kayunga, Luweero, Nakaseke, Kiboga, Nakasongola, Mityana, Mubende, Mpigi, and the greater Masaka region.
Some of the arrested suspects previously passed off as opposition political party activists especially of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party.
Many have accordingly been charged in courts of law and remanded in custody pending court hearing of their cases.
The Inter-Agency Security Committee chaired by the UPDF Chief of Defence Forces and composed of the Uganda Police Force, Prisons Services, and Intelligence Organisations are coordinating closely to infiltrate and burst terrorist and subversive cells that are actively luring unsuspecting youths into rebel activities in and around the greater Kampala metropolitan ghetto communities.
The security committee in its most recent seating resolved to take firm action against the ring leaders, the organisers and the funders of rebel activities which are in part designed to disrupt the upcoming general elections early next year.
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.
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, and which 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 condemns 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.