KAMPALA — Hundreds of Patriotic League of Uganda supporters on Friday marched from Lugogo Cricket Oval to the Turkish Embassy in Kololo as PLU formally pressed its demand for the return of Fred Kajubi Lumbuye to Uganda.
Led by PLU General Secretary Rt. Hon. Twalla Fadil, the procession moved through Kololo to the Turkish diplomatic mission on Elgon Terrace Road, with supporters carrying PLU colours, placards and messages calling for action on the Lumbuye matter. The demonstration followed an earlier directive from PLU Chairman Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
PLU’s position is that Lumbuye should return to Uganda and respond to the criminal allegations against him through the country’s legal system. Ugandan authorities have previously accused him of offences including incitement and cyber-related crimes.
The movement also raised concern over reports that Lumbuye’s lawyers had sought asylum for him in Türkiye, maintaining that the process should not be used to prevent him from answering the allegations before Ugandan authorities.
Addressing supporters outside the embassy, Rt. Hon. Fadil made clear that PLU’s concern was with the handling of the matter and not with the Turkish people. He highlighted the longstanding diplomatic, trade and investment relationship between Uganda and Türkiye and called for reciprocal respect for Uganda’s sovereignty and institutions.
The Turkish Embassy remained closed on the day of the demonstration after announcing the precautionary closure a day earlier because of the planned activity near its premises.
Security personnel accompanied the procession and managed access around the embassy. There were brief confrontations between some demonstrators and police near the mission, but the mobilisation proceeded through Kampala as PLU presented its position on the Lumbuye matter.
Embassy representatives did not accept PLU’s petition at the gate and advised that the matter be pursued through formal diplomatic channels. Rt. Hon. Fadil said PLU would take the matter forward through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The demonstration followed several weeks of mobilisation and planning through PLU structures, including a strategic meeting at the National Secretariat in Naguru earlier in September to coordinate the September 18 activity.
Friday’s march marked the culmination of that mobilisation, as PLU took its demand directly to the Turkish diplomatic mission and placed the Lumbuye issue firmly on the agenda.
