Uganda’s military chief warns of joining the Iran war on Israel’s side | The Jerusalem Post Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has warned that the country will participate in the war between Iran and Israel “on the side of Israel” if the conflict does not end soon. In a series of posts on X/Twitter, Kainerugaba expressed strong support for Israel, stating that the nation has a right to exist and that attacks against it must cease. He emphasized that Uganda’s military would intervene if the war continued, framing the conflict as a matter of defending Israel’s sovereignty. Kainerugaba’s posts included a claim that Uganda’s armed forces, the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF), would join the war effort on Israel’s behalf. He also stated that he had offered the assistance of Ugandan defense forces to both the United States and Israel. In one post, he suggested that Uganda could have “captured Tehran in 72 hours without any bombing,” though he criticized the lack of attention to his warnings. The military chief’s statements were accompanied by references to historical ties between Uganda and Israel. Last month, Kainerugaba announced plans to erect a statue of Lt.-Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu at Entebbe International Airport, commemorating the 1976 hijacking of an Air France flight that led to the abduction of Israelis. The statue would be placed at the site where Netanyahu was killed during the subsequent rescue operation. Kainerugaba described the monument as a symbol of the growing relationship between the two nations, though no formal government announcement confirmed the project. Netanyahu’s 2016 visit to Uganda marked the 40th anniversary of Operation Jonathan, the mission to rescue hostages during the Entebbe crisis.#iran #israel #uganda_people_defense_force #general_muhoozi_kainerugaba #entebbe_international_airport
Uganda’s military chief vows to join the Iran-Israel war on Israel’s side Uganda’s military chief, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has warned that the country’s armed forces could enter the Iran-Israel conflict on Israel’s side, following a series of social media posts that gained widespread attention. Kainerugaba, who is considered a potential successor to President Yoweri Museveni, has been vocal in his support for Israel, framing Uganda as a “David” standing against a “Goliath” in the Middle East. His statements, which have gone viral, include claims that Uganda stands with Israel due to shared Christian values and a historical bond. In one post, Kainerugaba declared, “We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it. But any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war. On the side of Israel!” He also referenced Uganda’s economic growth, stating, “Israel stood with us when we were nobodies in the 1980s and 1990s. Why wouldn’t we defend her now that our GDP is $100 billion, one of the largest in Africa?” Uganda’s military, the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF), is estimated to have 45,000 active personnel and 35,000 reserves, along with approximately 240 tanks and over 1,000 armored fighting vehicles. The country has a history of military involvement in regional conflicts, including operations against Islamist groups in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While Iran is not known to have direct interests in Uganda, it has been accused of covert activities in neighboring Kenya and Tanzania, such as smuggling networks and diplomatic outreach. Kainerugaba’s stance is rooted in historical ties with Israel.#iran_israel_war #uganda_people_defense_force #general_muhoozi_kainerugaba #president_yoweri_museveni #operation_yonatan
