Uganda’s Military Chief Suggests Support for Israel in Conflict

This week, Uganda’s military leader made headlines on social media, indicating that the country’s army might join Israel in the ongoing war involving Iran. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, shared a series of pro-Israel posts on X, expressing strong sentiments about Uganda’s support for Israel.

“We support Israel because we are Christians,” he tweeted, further asserting, “Uganda is the world’s forgotten and ignored David. We will defeat the giant Goliath.”

Kainerugaba began his online commentary by stating, “We want the Middle East wars to end now. The world is tired of it. But if you talk about destroying or defeating Israel, you’re drawing us into a war. On Israel’s side!”

The Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) reports that the country has around 45,000 active duty soldiers and about 35,000 in reserve. They’re equipped with approximately 240 tanks and more than 1,000 armored vehicles.

Additionally, Uganda actively participates in international military efforts. Its troops are involved in combatting Islamist militants, particularly al-Shabaab in Somalia, and are also engaged against the ADF, a group linked to the Islamic State, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Interestingly, Iran, which has no direct interests in Uganda, has been implicated in covert activities in nearby Kenya and Tanzania. Reports suggest these include smuggling operations and dubious diplomatic ventures throughout the area. Despite being landlocked, Uganda seems cautious of Iran’s ambitions to extend its influence in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

In a follow-up post, Kainerugaba reflected on Israel’s past assistance during Uganda’s difficult times in the ’80s and ’90s, questioning why the nation shouldn’t now offer protection, especially considering Uganda’s growing economy.

Historically, Israel has trained Ugandan forces, and their partnership is understood to include strong security and intelligence collaborations.

Historically, relations were much more complex. Back in 1976, under the regime of dictator Idi Amin, Uganda was hostile towards Israel. During that time, a group of terrorists hijacked a flight and diverted it to Entebbe. The Israel Defense Forces later executed a dramatic rescue operation, named Operation Thunderbolt, to free the hostages. Though the mission was successful, it incurred casualties on both sides, including the loss of Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, the brother of Israel’s current Prime Minister.

As a gesture of goodwill towards Israel, Kainerugaba announced plans to erect a statue of Jonathan Netanyahu at the Entebbe airport, sharing a glimpse of it on social media this week.