Kololo, Kampala – Uganda’s diplomatic quarter turned into a political flashpoint this morning after Police blocked members of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) from accessing the German Embassy in Kololo, where they had intended to stage what they called a peaceful protest.
The demonstrators, waving Ugandan flags and holding placards with messages like “Respect Uganda’s Sovereignty” and “Germany Hands Off Our Politics”, accused the German ambassador of allegedly engaging in subversive activities and interfering in Uganda’s internal affairs.
“We are here to defend our country’s independence from foreign manipulation. The German ambassador has crossed the line,” said PLU coordinator David Ssekandi.
The incident began around 10:30 AM, when a small group of PLU members arrived outside the heavily-guarded German Embassy on Acacia Avenue. Within minutes, Anti-Riot Police and military police personnel were deployed, forming a human shield to prevent the protesters from getting close to the compound.
Despite no reports of violence, the protest was swiftly shut down on grounds of lacking prior clearance, according to police spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, who said the gathering was illegal.
The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) is a fast-growing socio-political movement widely seen as sympathetic to the CDF Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Pan-Africanist vision. While the group has not been formally registered as a political party, its influence particularly online has raised eyebrows both at home and abroad.
Today’s protest, however, marked an unusual shift targeting a foreign diplomat, and more specifically, a European power with historical and economic ties to Uganda.
PLU accuses the German envoy of covertly funding civil society groups and opposition-aligned political parties like National Unity Platform, claims that have not been independently verified and which the German Embassy has yet to respond to publicly.
The incident comes amid increasing scrutiny of Western diplomatic missions in Uganda, with some government insiders accusing certain embassies of crossing diplomatic boundaries under the guise of democracy promotion.
“If any diplomat is involved in influencing politics, that is espionage, not diplomacy.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the matter, but insiders say they are closely monitoring the situation to prevent a diplomatic incident.
On social media, reactions have been polarizing. Some Ugandans praised PLU for standing up for national sovereignty while others accused the group of manufacturing paranoia to deflect from internal governance failures.
“Let’s not pretend that shouting at embassies solves our real issues. Focus on service delivery, not scapegoating diplomats.”
Meanwhile, opposition figures remained largely silent, likely avoiding direct engagement in a controversy involving foreign missions.
With the protest disbanded, PLU leaders have vowed to resubmit their petition through formal diplomatic channels, while also calling on Parliament to investigate foreign funding of civil society actors in Uganda.
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