Uganda’s military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has said he is willing to send thousands of troops to support Israel, in a statement that has drawn attention but has not been confirmed as official government policy.
In a post on X on Friday, Kainerugaba said he was ready to deploy up to 100,000 Ugandan soldiers to Israel, describing the country as “the Holy Land” and saying he would personally lead the mission.
Gen Kainerugaba, who is also the son of Uganda’s president, Yoweri Museveni, has previously expressed strong support for Israel, often linking his position to religious beliefs and historical ties.
His latest comments come amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, although there has been no official request from Israel for such support.
Uganda’s government has not issued any statement confirming the offer, and any overseas military deployment would typically require approval from the president and formal state processes.
The size of the proposed force has also raised questions. Uganda’s military, the Uganda People’s Defence Force, is estimated to have around 45,000 active personnel, meaning the figure mentioned would represent a significant mobilisation, including reserves.
Israeli authorities have not publicly responded to the remarks.
Gen Kainerugaba is known for his frequent and sometimes controversial posts on social media, earning him the nickname “the tweeting general” in Uganda. He is also widely seen as a potential successor to President Museveni.
