Support for Israel from Uganda’s Military Leader
General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and head of Uganda’s armed forces, declared on Wednesday that his troops are “ready to support” Israel in its ongoing conflict with Iran.
“We want the wars in the Middle East to end now. The world is exhausted by them. However, if discussions lean towards destroying or defeating Israel, we would have to get involved in a war. We stand with Israel!” Kainerugaba stated, sharing his thoughts on social media, a sentiment he continued to elaborate on through Friday afternoon.
He added, “If Israel needs assistance, all they have to do is ask. Their brothers in Uganda are prepared to help.” Kainerugaba, identifying as a Christian, explained that his support for Israel was rooted in faith. He expressed appreciation for Israel’s past aid to Uganda and admired the prowess and resolve of the Israeli military, while he dismissed Iran unfavorably.
“The Israel Defense Forces have been bombarding Iran extensively, which makes us appear weak. Let’s match up in a ground battle. Capturing Tehran wouldn’t take more than two weeks; the Uganda People’s Defense Forces could handle it,” he remarked energetically.
Kainerugaba, referencing General Moshe Dayan as his “biggest hero,” mentioned on Friday, “I hope I don’t let him down.” He also reflected on the source of his confidence, attributing it to Jesus Christ, saying that continuing hostilities against Israel could result in catastrophic consequences for Iran.
He emphasized that should Iran attack Uganda, a strong response would be inevitable. “Like King David said to Goliath, we say to Iran, ‘You come at me with swords and spears, but I come against you in the name of God Almighty, the God of Israel’s armies,'” Kainerugaba noted in a post.
On Thursday, he warned, “If Iran dares to strike us with missiles, we will respond with our own,” although it’s important to note that Uganda does not possess long-range ballistic missiles and its air force is relatively limited, consisting mainly of older Russian fighter jets. It’s believed that Iran’s missile capabilities wouldn’t reach Uganda.
Kainerugaba was quick to counter those questioning Iran’s reasons for targeting Uganda or the feasibility of Uganda’s military response. When challenged about the potential devastation Iran could inflict, he boldly responded, suggesting that if someone attempted to take his phone to silence him, they’d face repercussions.
His pro-Israel sentiments even included fond recollections of a “beautiful IDF soldier” who once tried to teach him about weaponry. In another discussion, he noted the plan to erect a statue of Lt. Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu at Entebbe International Airport, remembering the heroics during the operation to rescue hostages in 1976.
Kainerugaba articulated that during the 1980s and 1990s, Israel stood by Uganda when it was marginalized, prompting his desire to protect its ally now that Uganda has a more stable economy, characterized by a GDP of $100 billion. He credited the improved relations between Uganda and Israel following the overthrow of a brutal regime.
Reflecting on this relationship, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu remarked during a recent visit to Entebbe, “Forty years ago, they landed at night in a country ruled by a tyrant who protected terrorists. Today, we arrive in a friendly country led by a president fighting against terrorism.”
