After a turbulent few weeks, the German ambassador to Uganda, Matthias Schauer, had a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni on 13 June 2025. This discussion took place at the State House Lodge located in Nakasero.
The details of the meeting have not been made public, but it is thought to relate to the ambassador’s recent engagement with the National Unity Platform (NUP) and subsequent events. As part of a European Union delegation, Schauer met NUP leaders, including Bobi Wine, at the party’s headquarters in Makerere Kavule a few weeks prior.
Following that meeting, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) released a stern statement expressing their concerns over a perceived increase in rebel activities throughout Uganda. They attributed this rise to foreign influence, particularly implicating the German ambassador.
“We have significant concerns regarding the illegal and covert activities of the German Ambassador in Uganda, His Excellency Mathias Schauer,” stated Col. Magezi.
The statement went on to allege that the ambassador was involved in inappropriate actions such as mobilizing and funding operations intended to destabilize the country. It also mentioned that some individuals had been arrested and were linked to the NUP.
Additionally, Magezi indicated that intelligence services had been observing what they labeled as “clearly undiplomatic behaviors” by Ambassador Schauer across various regions of the country, which he claimed breached the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
In the weeks that followed, Matthias Schauer was called to Gulu to meet with Operation Wealth Creation coordinator Gen. Salim Saleh for further discussions. Throughout this period, supporters of the PLU, NRM, and regime advocates rallied on social media, criticizing the ambassador for allegedly interfering in Uganda’s domestic governance.
On the same day that Schauer met with President Museveni, the police prevented PLU supporters from marching to the German embassy to protest against what they described as Schauer’s ‘undiplomatic conduct.’
