Africa-Press – Uganda. The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Muwadda Nkunyingi, has urged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to advise the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to retract a controversial press release that appeared to accuse the German Ambassador, Matthias Schauer, of sponsoring rebel activities.
Nkunyingi warned that the military’s public rebuke of a senior diplomat could damage Uganda’s international standing and put the safety of its envoys abroad at risk.
“The UPDF’s press release castigating the German Ambassador threatens diplomatic space, sovereignty, independence, and the safety of foreign diplomats in Uganda,” Nkunyingi told journalists at Parliament on Monday.
He cautioned that such statements, if left unchecked, may provoke retaliation against Ugandan diplomats stationed in foreign missions.
“It may also trigger reciprocal treatment of Ugandan diplomats abroad,” Nkunyingi added, urging restraint and respect for international diplomatic norms.
The UPDF’s statement, accused Ambassador Schauer of sponsoring “a new rebel group” — an assertion that has not been publicly substantiated with evidence and has sparked concern among diplomatic observers.
At the weekend, the UPDF severed ties with Germany.
The German Embassy in Kampala has not issued a formal response, but sources within the diplomatic community described the allegation as “deeply troubling.”
Nkunyingi emphasised that any misunderstandings between state institutions and foreign missions should be handled through established diplomatic channels, rather than through public confrontation.
“Diplomatic avenues must be used in addressing misunderstandings,” he said, calling on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation and reassure Uganda’s international partners.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) legislator’s remarks come amid growing scrutiny of Uganda’s relations with key Western allies.
The country’s security agencies have in recent months accused several international actors of meddling in domestic affairs, a charge that critics say lacks transparency and risks isolating Uganda on the global stage.
Nkunyingi’s statement serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between national security concerns and international diplomacy.
As tensions simmer, attention now turns to how the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UPDF will respond to his appeal for withdrawal and dialogue.
No official from the UPDF or the Foreign Affairs Ministry has commented on the matter at the time of writing.
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