Uganda Today: Of Diplomacy, Demos and Dissonance: Museveni Meets German Envoy Amid PLU Protests
By Uganda Today News Team
[www.ugandatoday.co.ug | June 15, 2025]
KAMPALA – In a week where the lines between diplomacy and domestic politics blurred more than ever, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held a high-profile meeting with the German Ambassador to Uganda at State Lodge Nakasero—ironically timed with a dramatic demonstration outside the German Embassy in Kololo, led by the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), a movement spearheaded by his own son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
The contradiction was almost poetic.
As Ambassador Matthias Schauer exchanged pleasantries with Uganda’s longest-serving president, his diplomatic residence in Kampala was encircled by dozens of placard-waving PLU youths. The demonstrators, visibly guarded by police, accused the ambassador of “meddling in Uganda’s internal affairs”—an allegation arising from the envoy’s recent meeting with opposition leader and National Unity Platform (NUP) president, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, aka Bobi Wine.
Whether it was coincidence or calculated choreography, few Ugandans missed the irony: the father was in courteous conversation while the son’s camp was in confrontation.
A Paradox of Protocol
The optics raise serious questions: How does a government host a diplomat for bilateral talks even as its security forces guard a protest targeting the very same envoy? Why would the president’s own son—also the country’s Chief of Defence Forces—lead or inspire a movement that publicly castigates a foreign diplomat while State House rolls out the red carpet for him?
Neither the President nor the Ambassador directly addressed the protest in their official communication, focusing instead on “enhanced cooperation in investment, security, and mutual interests.” But for many observers, the silence was louder than the official statements.
PLU’s Growing Swagger
The Patriotic League of Uganda, still seen by many as Muhoozi’s unofficial political vehicle, has lately shifted gears—from hosting glossy dinners and patriotic parades to staging direct political action. The Kololo demonstration was their most provocative move yet.
Their grievance? That Germany’s top diplomat dared to meet with a man they see as unpatriotic and divisive. But to others, Ambassador Schauer was simply doing his job—meeting actors across the political spectrum in a country where democracy is often promised but rarely practised.
A Diplomatic Balancing Act
Diplomats walk a tightrope in Uganda, where the political temperature fluctuates with every presidential tweet or military reshuffle. To some insiders, the Germany-Kyagulanyi meeting was standard diplomatic practice. To others, it was a red flag.
Political analyst Sarah Nantongo notes:
“Foreign diplomats are expected to engage with all shades of the political spectrum. Targeting them for doing so sets a dangerous precedent. It risks turning Uganda into a diplomatic minefield.”
The Parable of the Bull, the Horse, and the Fool
In Uganda’s tense political theatre, perhaps the old proverb offers sage advice:
“Never confront an angry bull from the front, a horse from behind, or a fool from any direction.”
Could this fool in the video below the one Museveni is talking about?
Who played which role this week is left for the public to judge. Was the bull the youthful PLU, charging in with indignation? Was the horse the seasoned diplomat, surprised from behind by public attacks despite quiet diplomacy? And the fool? Perhaps only history will tell.
What Lies Ahead?
The spectacle has reignited debates on Uganda’s democratic space, foreign relations, and Muhoozi’s political ambitions. Critics fear a gradual militarisation of civil discourse, while others believe PLU is giving voice to a silenced majority. Either way, the country seems caught in a political paradox: the same government that preaches foreign cooperation also permits protests against foreign engagement—depending on the personalities involved.
Whether Museveni sanctioned both ends of this script or not, the stage is undeniably his.
For continued coverage of Uganda’s political developments and diplomatic engagements, stay with www.ugandatoday.co.ug.
Published by www.ugandatoday.co.ug, your trusted source for news and analysis
Website: https://www.ugandatoday.co.ug/about-cmk
Website: https://www.ugandatoday.co.ug
WhatsApp: +256 702 239 337
X (formerly Twitter): @uganda43443 | @ugtodaynews
Email: ugandatodayedition@gmail.com
Let’s help you grow your brand and keep your audience informed. Partner with Uganda Today—