Another Blow To Erdoğan: Uganda General Says Turkish Rail Deal Is Canceled

Another economic blow to Erdoğan emerged after Uganda’s army commander, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, said Uganda canceled a major Turkish railway contract.

Kainerugaba is the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. He announced the move on X.

He said Uganda canceled the railway contract with Turkish construction company Yapi Merkezi and would seek another company. Turkish media put the contract at $3.2 billion.

Reuters previously reported that Uganda signed a 2.7 billion euro rail construction agreement with Yapi Merkezi in 2024. That figure equals about $3 billion.

Turkish Deal Canceled

“We canceled the contract with the Turkish company to build the railway. We will get another company, one more worthy of our country!” Kainerugaba wrote.

He also said Uganda would change its approach in Kampala. From now on, he said, the Ugandan army’s engineering brigade will handle all road construction contracts in the capital.

However, Türkiye Today reported that Uganda had not issued an official government statement confirming the cancellation. Yapi Merkezi had also not publicly confirmed the claim.

Pressure On Turkey

The rail project aimed to build a 272-kilometer section from Kampala to Malaba. The route would link Uganda to Kenya’s rail network and the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa.

Reuters reported that Uganda expected the project to reduce transport costs and boost regional trade.

The move also comes after public clashes with Erdoğan. It joins other recent setbacks for Turkey.

Reuters reported that Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD has paused work on its planned $1 billion plant in Turkey. The company is focusing instead on production in Europe.

A Strategic Lesson

For Israel and the United States, Turkey’s setbacks matter. Erdoğan has repeatedly positioned himself against Israel and against the pro-Western order in the region.

Psalm 33:10 captures the larger lesson: “The Lord frustrates the counsel of nations; He thwarts the plans of peoples.”

In modern terms, power does not come from speeches, threats, or political theater. It gets tested by results.

Turkey’s regional ambitions now face real pressure. Meanwhile, countries watching Erdoğan’s anti-Israel posture may see that aggressive rhetoric does not guarantee strength.

For Israel and its allies, the message is clear: moral clarity, strong partnerships, and national sovereignty still matter.