Uganda’s military chief has stated that his country would intervene militarily alongside Israel if the country’s sovereignty is threatened.
Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who leads the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), said any effort to destroy Israel would draw Uganda into the conflict. He made the remarks in a post on social media, confirming a shift in regional diplomatic alignment.
“If Israel needs help, it only needs to ask,” the general wrote.
The comments come as tensions remain high in the Middle East following recent exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran-aligned groups. Gen. Kainerugaba did not specify a trigger for Uganda’s involvement but framed the commitment as absolute. He said any talk of “destroying or defeating Israel” would result in Uganda entering the war on Israel’s side.
The statement represents a firm stance from a major East African military power. Uganda has historically maintained close ties with Israel, dating back to a 2016 agreement on defense cooperation. The two countries have since held joint military training exercises and increased intelligence sharing.
Gen. Kainerugaba is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, who has led Uganda since 1986. The general holds significant influence over the country’s security apparatus and has often voiced foreign policy positions independently of the foreign ministry. His statements are widely seen as reflecting the government’s strategic direction.
Regional analysts note that Uganda’s military is one of the most active on the continent. The UPDF has deployed troops to Somalia under the African Union mission and maintains a presence in eastern Congo. A direct commitment to a conflict in the Middle East would mark a significant expansion of its operational reach.
There has been no immediate response from Israel’s government or military to the offer. Israeli officials have previously acknowledged Uganda as a strategic partner in Africa, particularly in areas of agriculture, cybersecurity, and defense training.
Uganda’s government has not issued a formal statement clarifying whether Gen. Kainerugaba’s remarks represent official policy. In past instances, presidential spokespersons have aligned with the general’s security-related statements, though they have also occasionally described them as personal views.
The timing of the announcement coincides with increasing diplomatic activity between Israel and African nations. Several countries on the continent have restored or upgraded ties with Israel in recent years under the framework of the Abraham Accords and related normalization agreements. Uganda has not signed an Abraham Accord but has expanded bilateral cooperation with Israel since 2021.
Gen. Kainerugaba did not outline the scale or nature of support Uganda might provide. His wording suggested a defensive posture, stating Uganda would join a war only if the stated aim was the destruction of Israel.
The general has previously made statements regarding global conflicts that drew international attention. In 2022, he offered to send Ugandan soldiers to protect Moscow during a period of internal unrest in Russia, though no deployment materialized.
Defense officials in Kampala have not provided additional details on operational plans or troop readiness tied to the offer. The UPDF’s current deployments are focused on counter-insurgency operations within Uganda’s borders and peacekeeping missions under African Union mandates.