Ugandan military chief floats rapid Tehran seizure scenario

The commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has claimed that his troops would be capable of capturing Iran’s capital within a matter of weeks, in a series of posts that have drawn attention to Kampala’s rhetoric on the escalating Middle East crisis.

In a message published on his account on the social media platform X, Kainerugaba wrote: “It can't take us more than 2 weeks to capture Tehran. A UPDF Brigade is enough for that job.”

The remarks followed earlier statements in which the Ugandan military chief signalled political and military alignment with Israel amid the ongoing confrontation involving Iran. In a series of posts, he suggested that Uganda could enter the conflict “on the side of Israel.”

“We want the war in the Middle East to end now. The world is tired of it,” Kainerugaba wrote on Wednesday. “But any talk of destroying or defeating Israel will bring us into the war. On the side of Israel!”

Kainerugaba, who serves as the head of Uganda’s armed forces and is the son of President Yoweri Museveni, further emphasised readiness to support Israel militarily.

“If Israel needs help, it need only ask. Their Ugandan brothers are ready to assist,” he said.

He also issued a direct warning to Tehran, stating that “if Tehran hits us with missiles. We shall retaliate with our own missiles”.

In a separate post that was later deleted, Kainerugaba again played down Iran’s military capabilities while suggesting potential direct involvement by Uganda’s forces.

“I hear our friends in Israel are looking for a division to capture Tehran. Personally, I think a division is too much. A UPDF Brigade would do the job quickly,” he wrote.

The comments come against the backdrop of heightened regional tensions, as US President Donald Trump has deployed thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, fueling speculation over a possible ground invasion of Iran.

By Tamilla Hasanova