Gulu, Uganda – The German Ambassador to Uganda, H.E. Matthias Schauer alongside other envoys is at the center of a storm following a high-stakes meeting with Gen. Salim Saleh in Gulu earlier this week.
According to opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu widely known as Bobi Wine, the meeting was held to address rising concerns over Uganda’s deteriorating human rights record concerns which have dominated headlines and international reports for months.
However, what followed has left political observers stunned and human rights advocates alarmed.
In a statement released via his official social media channels, Bobi Wine claims that ambassadors, particularly Ambassador Schauer expressed strong concern over inflammatory and threatening social media posts made by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, President Museveni’s son and the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
These posts, often seen as reckless and aggressive have allegedly led to real-world consequences including threats directed at visiting EU diplomats who had previously engaged with Uganda’s opposition.
Just hours after the Gulu meeting, Bobi Wine reveals that the regime retaliated by accusing Ambassador Schauer of funding unnamed rebel factions supposedly working to overthrow the government.
According to him, the regime has reportedly linked these alleged rebel groups to supporters of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Uganda’s leading opposition movement led by Bobi Wine himself.
“This is a tired script,” Bobi Wine declared. “They manufacture threats to cover up state abuse and intimidate dissenting voices. Today it’s Ambassador Schauer; tomorrow, it’s anyone who speaks truth to power.”
The allegations against Ambassador Schauer strike a disturbing resemblance to previous state narratives where the government has often labeled dissenting citizens, journalists and activists as security threats.
Political analysts argue that this tactic serves as a two fold purpose which is to sideline international pressure and to justify internal crackdowns on opposition voices.
Already, reports of abductions, enforced disappearances, and torture of NUP supporters continue to surface, fueling outrage among Ugandans and drawing condemnation from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The public accusation against a sitting German ambassador is highly unusual in diplomatic circles and threatens to strain relations between Kampala and Berlin possibly extending to Brussels and the broader European Union.
Diplomatic observers warn that this move could lead to economic and political consequences, especially given the EU’s role as one of Uganda’s largest development partners.
The EU Delegation has not yet issued an official response to the new accusations, but sources close to the diplomatic community suggest that a statement is expected in the coming days.
As the regime continues its suppression of protests, Bobi Wine insists that the NUP and its supporters will not be intimidated.
“The well-meaning people of Uganda will not be cowed into silence,” he said. “We shall continue to pursue lawful, peaceful, and democratic means to end this regime of blood and shame.”
Also Read: Uganda’s Defence Ministry Accuses European Diplomats of Fueling Rebellion
