Uganda has given Turkish citizens 30 days to leave the country, according to a statement issued on Saturday, June 28, by Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
In the statement shared on his X account, Muhoozi announced that Turkish nationals should leave Uganda within 30 days.
The statement did not provide reasons for the directive, and as of the time of reporting, there was no indication in the post that it represented an official policy or government announcement.
“There are no pacts between lions and men! All Turks must be outside of our country in 30 days,” Muhoozi announced.
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How Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s Dispute With Turkey Escalated
The dispute between Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, and Turkey began in early April 2026 after he published a series of posts on X criticizing the country’s relationship with Uganda.
Kainerugaba demanded that Turkey pay Uganda $1 billion, arguing that Uganda deserved compensation for its security role in the region, particularly through its military operations against al-Shabaab in Somalia. He claimed Uganda had shouldered security responsibilities while other countries benefited economically.
He later escalated the matter by threatening to sever diplomatic ties with Turkey, close the Turkish Embassy in Kampala, and prevent Turkish Airlines from operating in Uganda.
The dispute attracted wider attention after Kainerugaba made comments asking Turkey to send him “the most beautiful woman” in the country as a wife. The remarks generated criticism on social media and were widely reported by international media.
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Turkey responded cautiously to the statements. Speaking on behalf of the ruling AK Party, Ömer Çelik said the remarks had no diplomatic or political basis and maintained that relations between Turkey and Uganda should continue to be guided by friendship and cooperation.
The exchange did not end there. Kainerugaba later made additional statements linked to the case of Ugandan activist Fred Lumbuye, further escalating tensions.
These repeated social media posts have kept attention on the diplomatic relationship between Uganda and Turkey and have continued to generate public debate.
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