General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni, has shocked regional and international observers by publicly aligning himself with Israel amid the escalating Middle East conflict, suggesting that Uganda could take military action against Iran if threats to Israel persist.
- General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of the president, expressed strong public support for Israel during the Middle East conflict.
- Kainerugaba suggested Uganda might take military action against Iran if Israel remains threatened, causing surprise among regional and international observers.
- Kainerugaba announced plans to construct a statue honoring Yonatan Netanyahu at Entebbe Airport, symbolizing Uganda-Israel friendship.
- He referenced the 1976 Entebbe raid as a pivotal moment in Uganda-Israel ties, emphasizing Israel’s past support for Uganda and justifying his pro-Israel stance.
Uganda’s Chief of Defense Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has expressed strong support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
His remarks, despite being personal, are often interpreted as reflecting state policy due to his influential position and his status as the son of President Yoweri Museveni.
Support for Israel and Calls for War’s End
In his posts, Gen. Kainerugaba emphasized, “Israel has a right to exist and attacks against her must stop.” He called for an immediate cessation of the conflict, stating, “We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it.”
He further warned that any efforts to defeat Israel would prompt Uganda’s involvement, stating, “On the side of Israel!”
In a deleted post, cited by The Jerusalem Post, Kainerugaba suggested that Uganda’s military, the Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF), might join the war on Israel’s side if it continued.
He claimed, “We could have captured Tehran in 72 hours without any bombing,” adding, “But of course, they never listen to a black man. Why bomb people who support you?”
Strengthening Uganda-Israel Ties
Kainerugaba’s remarks come as Uganda continues to strengthen its relationship with Israel.
Last month, he announced plans to build a statue of Lt.-Col. Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, the brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at Entebbe International Airport.
Yoni Netanyahu was killed during Operation Thunderbolt, a 1976 Israeli rescue mission at Entebbe Airport in which 102 hostages were freed from a hijacked Air France plane.
Kainerugaba described the statue as a symbol of the strong bond between Uganda and Israel.
No formal government announcement has been made regarding the statue, but Kainerugaba highlighted the importance of the tribute, linking it to Israel’s historic support of Uganda during its early post-independence years.
![US President Donald Trump (C) greets Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni (R) before a luncheon with US and African leaders at the Palace Hotel during the 72nd United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2017, in New York. [Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/d21f57da99457cec225b489dcbb0ff89.jpg)
Historical Context: The Entebbe Rescue
The 1976 Entebbe hijacking remains a key moment in the historical relationship between Uganda and Israel.
The Israeli raid, led by Yonatan Netanyahu, resulted in the successful rescue of hostages held by militants at Entebbe Airport.
The operation, which involved a daring assault by Israeli commandos, ended with the death of Netanyahu and the elimination of all seven hijackers.
The bond between the two nations has been further solidified by this event, with Kainerugaba referencing the role Israel played in Uganda’s development.
“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?” he said.
