Unverified reports circulating following the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Kampala have claimed that the Turkish government may have taken a number of measures in response to the protest, although the allegations have not been independently confirmed.

The reports emerged after hundreds of PLU supporters marched to the Turkish Embassy in Kampala on September 18, demanding that Turkey return Ugandan blogger and activist Fred Kajubi Lumbuye to Uganda. The demonstration was led by PLU Secretary General Fadil Twalla following a directive from Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Security forces restricted access to the diplomatic mission as the protesters gathered outside. Reports and photographs from the demonstration showed police managing the crowd, with clashes briefly reported as some protesters attempted to move towards the embassy.

The reports now circulating claim that Turkish authorities have responded to what is described as an undiplomatic approach by Ugandan officials and political activists. One of the allegations is that Turkey has withdrawn a visa exemption previously enjoyed by holders of Ugandan diplomatic passports.

The claim further alleges that Ugandan diplomats would instead be required to pay about $800 for a single-entry visa valid for 90 days. However, this particular allegation has not been independently verified. Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently states that Ugandan diplomatic passport holders are exempt from visas for travel of up to 90 days.

Another unverified claim circulating on social media alleges that Turkey has blocked the use of Uganda’s international telephone code, +256, for direct money remittances to mobile-money accounts. No authoritative Turkish government or Ugandan government source confirming such a measure was identified in the reporting reviewed.

The third allegation claims that Turkish authorities have submitted a diplomatic proposal concerning Uganda’s embassy in Ankara, allegedly seeking to change its accreditation from an embassy to a consulate, with a similar move supposedly being considered for Turkey’s mission in Kampala. This claim has also not been independently confirmed.

The allegations follow a tense period in Uganda-Turkey relations, with PLU publicly demanding that Turkish authorities facilitate Lumbuye’s return to Uganda. PLU has accused Lumbuye of using Turkish territory to conduct activities against Uganda, while the precise legal status of any asylum or extradition proceedings in Turkey has not been publicly clarified.

During the September 18 demonstration, Twalla said the protest was directed at the handling of Lumbuye’s case rather than at the Turkish people. He called on Turkey to respect Uganda’s sovereignty and legal institutions, while warning that PLU could consider further action if its demands were not addressed.

The Turkish Embassy had announced before the demonstration that it would close on September 18 because of the planned protest. Available reporting also indicated that embassy representatives advised that the matter should be handled through formal diplomatic channels.

For now, the alleged visa changes, restrictions on remittances and proposed diplomatic downgrades should therefore be treated as unverified reports rather than confirmed Turkish government actions. Any official statement from Ankara or Kampala would be needed to establish whether the measures have actually been introduced.

The controversy nevertheless highlights the growing tension surrounding Lumbuye’s presence in Turkey and the demands being made by PLU. As the dispute continues, developments between the two countries are likely to remain under close attention, particularly regarding diplomatic relations, the status of Lumbuye and the wider interests shared by Uganda and Turkey.