Uganda Military Chief Says He Would Join Iran War on Israel’s Side

Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba expressed support for Israel on Thursday, saying his country would be ready to assist as the war with Iran continues to intensify.

The remarks, made in a series of posts on X, mark one of the clearest public statements of support for Israel from an African military leader during the conflict, though no formal Ugandan government position has been announced.

“We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it,” Kainerugaba wrote. He added that “Israel has a right to exist and attacks against her must stop,” and warned that “any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war. On the side of Israel!”

Kainerugaba also said Uganda had offered assistance to both Israel and the United States, writing, “If Israel needs help, it only need ask. Their Ugandan brothers are ready to assist.” The statement signaled a willingness to support Israel if requested, framing Uganda’s position as one of alignment rather than active involvement in the fighting.

In additional posts, he issued a warning tied to potential escalation, writing: “If Tehran dares hit us with missiles. We shall retaliate with our own missiles.” The comment appeared to reinforce his broader message of deterrence in support of Israel.

In a since-deleted post, Kainerugaba suggested that Uganda’s military could join the conflict if it did not end soon. He also claimed, “We could have captured Tehran in 72 hours without any bombing,” a remark that underscored his often outspoken tone on social media.

Despite the strong language, there was no immediate official statement from the Ugandan government endorsing military involvement. President Yoweri Museveni has previously taken a more balanced approach, urging Iran to accept Israel’s existence while also expressing support for a two-state solution.

Kainerugaba’s comments come against the backdrop of longstanding ties between Uganda and Israel, particularly in the security sphere. The relationship is often traced to the 1976 Entebbe rescue operation, in which Israeli forces freed hostages from a hijacked Air France flight at Entebbe Airport.

During a 2016 visit marking the fortieth anniversary of the operation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Forty years ago, they landed in the dead of night in a country led by a brutal dictator who gave refuge to terrorists. Today we landed in broad daylight in a friendly country led by a president who fights terrorists.”

In recent months, Kainerugaba has taken additional steps to highlight those ties. In February, he announced plans to erect a statue honoring Yoni Netanyahu at Entebbe International Airport, describing the move as a way to strengthen “close blood relations with Israel.” He also met with Israel’s ambassador to Uganda and described bilateral ties as “rock solid.”

The general, who is the son of President Museveni and a prominent figure within Uganda’s security establishment, is known for his active and sometimes controversial use of social media, which has previously drawn diplomatic attention.