Amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East, Uganda’s military leader Muhoozi Kainerugaba expressed unwavering support for Israel. He stated that any remarks about destroying Israel would prompt Uganda to join the war. Kainerugaba also assured Israel that if military support is needed in the war against Iran, they should just ask.
Kainerugaba posted a series of messages on the social media platform X this week, affirming Uganda’s steadfast support for Israel in the war with Iran. These posts quickly spread across the internet.
As the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Kainerugaba is considered a potential successor to the presidency in Uganda, where Museveni has held office for 40 years.
In one of his posts, Kainerugaba stated, “Uganda desires an immediate end to the conflict in the Middle East, but any comments about destroying or defeating Israel will lead us to join the war. We stand with Israel!”
“We support Israel because we are Christians,” he wrote, adding in another post, “Uganda is the forgotten and neglected David. We will defeat the giant Goliath.”
“If Israel needs assistance, just ask. Their Ugandan brothers are always ready to provide support,” he said.
Iran has long been calling for the destruction of Israel and is considered an archenemy of Israel.
According to the Ugandan Ministry of Defense, the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) have 45,000 active-duty personnel and approximately 35,000 reservists. The military is estimated to have around 240 tanks and over a thousand armored vehicles.
Fox News reported that Uganda is deeply involved in military operations in conflict-affected countries. Its soldiers operate as part of the African Union forces in combat against the Islamic terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia. The Ugandan military is also engaged in fighting the ADF terrorist organization linked to the Islamic State in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Although Iran does not have known interests in Uganda, it has been accused of conducting secretive operations in neighboring countries like Kenya and Tanzania, including running smuggling networks, as well as engaging in controversial diplomatic and economic activities in the region, raising questions about its motives. Despite being a landlocked country, Uganda reportedly maintains a cautious attitude towards Iran’s strategic intentions in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea regions.
Kainerugaba expressed in a post, “When we were penniless in the 1980s and 1990s, Israel stood with us. Now that our GDP has reached $100 billion – one of the largest economies in Africa – why wouldn’t we defend her now?”
The relationship between Uganda and Israel dates back decades. The late Yonatan Netanyahu, brother of current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was the only Israeli soldier killed during the 1976 raid by Israeli commandos at the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. The raid rescued over a hundred hostages taken by Palestinian and German militants on an Air France plane.
Kainerugaba declared his plans to erect a statue of Yonatan at the exact spot of his sacrifice at Entebbe International Airport. He shared a photo of the Yonatan statue on social media platform X this week.