Uganda Investigates German Diplomat Amid Allegations of Funding Pre-Election Regime Change
Kampala, October 2025 – Ugandan security agencies have launched an investigation into German diplomat Tassilo von Droste and a network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) over allegations of illicit foreign funding and political interference aimed at overthrowing President Yoweri Museveni’s government through the upcoming 2026 general elections .
Authorities have moved to block several foreign funding channels linked to von Droste, whom they accuse of using development programs as a cover to funnel resources to opposition groups and coordinate “anti-state” activities .
🕵️♂️ The Allegations and the Official Response
Intelligence reports claim that under the guise of the Civil Society in Uganda Support Programme (CUSP), von Droste coordinated a “shadow financing network” . The alleged goal was to build a “regime-change infrastructure,” coordinate digital propaganda, and engineer pre-election disruption ahead of the January 2026 polls .
· A Rebranded Initiative? Officials further allege that von Droste helped revive the Advancing Governance and Accountability (AGA) initiative, which investigators describe as a rebranded version of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF). The DGF was shut down by President Museveni in 2021 over similar accusations of funding parallel political structures and election unrest .
· Government Action: A source at the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that Uganda has “expanded surveillance on NGOs and individuals suspected of coordinating with foreign backers” . A coordinated crackdown has reportedly led to the disruption of funding inflows, the freezing of NGO accounts, and tighter scrutiny of foreign-funded civil society operations .
The German Embassy, however, officially describes CUSP as an initiative co-funded by the European Union and Germany and implemented by the German development agency GIZ. Its stated aim is to strengthen Ugandan civil society through “capacity development, organizational support, and promoting cooperation between civil society and governmental actors” .
🗳️ The High-Stakes Political Context
This incident occurs against a tense pre-election backdrop, with Uganda’s Electoral Commission having cleared eight presidential contenders, including long-serving President Museveni and main opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine .
President Museveni has long been vocal about his stance against foreign influence. During last year’s State of the Nation Address, he declared, “Uganda will not allow external forces to manipulate our internal political processes,” warning that such interference threatens the country’s sovereignty and stability .
The following table contrasts the government’s allegations with the program’s official description:
Aspect Ugandan Government Allegations Official German Embassy Description
Primary Objective Incubate “regime-change infrastructure” and engineer pre-election disruption Strengthen civil society through capacity development and policy engagement
Methods Covert funding, digital propaganda, mobilizing anti-government networks Organizational support, promoting state-CSO cooperation
Perceived Outcome Threat to national sovereignty and electoral integrity Contributions to governance and development initiatives
The future of civil society operations in Uganda is a live topic, as evidenced by the recent National CSO Convention 2025, held in late September. The convention’s themes, including “The Law, The Money, The Politics,” and discussions on “navigating the complex landscape” of regulation and “adapting to a shrinking resource landscape,” directly reflect the current challenging environment for NGOs in the country .
As the investigation continues, these events underscore the escalating tensions between the Ugandan government and foreign-backed civil society groups, setting the stage for a highly contested electoral process in 2026.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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