Museveni Warns Against Foreign Interference in Farewell to German Ambassador

President Yoweri Museveni met with outgoing German Ambassador Matthias Schauer at State House Entebbe to bid him farewell, concluding nearly six years of diplomatic service in Uganda. Museveni thanked the ambassador for his contributions and wished him well in his future endeavors.

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There are foreigners trying to interfere in our politics. It has been going on for a long time and some of the suffering was because of that. For example, the coup by Iddi Amin was supported and encouraged by the British and the Israelites.

During the meeting, Museveni addressed concerns raised by Schauer regarding Uganda's sovereignty law. The president firmly reiterated the nation's right to manage its internal affairs without external interference, drawing parallels to historical instances where foreign intervention, such as the alleged support for Idi Amin's coup by the British and Israelis, had detrimental long-term consequences for countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"Leave us alone, let us make our own mistakes and we shall learn from our own mistakes," Museveni stated, underscoring the necessity for countries to chart their own course. He emphasized that the sovereignty law was not hypothetical but a present need to protect Uganda's autonomy.

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Leave us alone, let us make our own mistakes and we shall learn from our own mistakes.

Ambassador Schauer congratulated President Museveni on his recent re-election, expressing optimism for Uganda's future progress. He highlighted the Ugandan people as the country's greatest asset and commended the nation's welcoming spirit. Schauer also shared a personal experience of donating blood at Nakasero Hospital, suggesting Germany could learn from Uganda's practices. He further praised Uganda's preparedness in responding to Ebola outbreaks.

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I congratulate you on your re-election as President. We are hopeful that many things will move faster than in the past. The biggest asset that this country has is its people. It's striking how welcoming this country is; the Ugandan spirit has rubbed off on the Bazungu.

Schauer, who is 66 years old, announced his retirement following his tenure in Uganda. His wife, Katharina Schauer, expressed that Uganda would hold a special place in their hearts, promising continued prayers for the country. The ambassador's service officially began on July 25, 2020.

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One personal experience is that I am a blood donor. Last week I made my blood donation at Nakasero Hospital, and I think Germany can learn from Uganda on this. That's something that will remain with me.