General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the commander of Uganda’s army and the son of President Yoweri Museveni, has said his country could support Israel if it escalates its conflict in the Middle East.
In a series of posts on social media this week, he expressed Uganda’s support for Israel, saying that “Uganda stands with Israel,” and warned anyone who tries to “destroy” Israel.
Although the comments are personal and have not yet been officially made by the Ugandan government, they have sparked widespread international concern, amid fears that they could further inflame regional tensions.
Uganda has one of the most active militaries in Africa, with its Uganda People’s Defence Force operating in several conflict-ridden countries, including Somalia.
Ugandan troops are part of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, where they are battling the Al-Shabaab militant group.
Security experts say that if Uganda were to become formally involved in a war outside Africa, it could affect its military operations in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Meanwhile, Uganda and Israel have long-standing security and intelligence ties, although those ties have previously been strained, particularly during the Idi Amin regime.
There has been no official response from the Ugandan government to the leader’s remarks, and it is not known whether they reflect official policy in the country.
