Museveni on Israel has emerged as a firm voice for diplomatic balance amid escalating Middle East tensions. On June 22, 2025, President Yoweri Museveni called out Israel for rejecting Palestinian rights and urged Iran to recognize Israel’s existence, grounding his message in history, scripture, and principle. As the current chair of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Museveni’s appeal carries the weight of neutral diplomacy and regional wisdom.
He began by criticizing Israel’s opposition to a two-state solution, likening it to Uganda’s own historical mistakes under Idi Amin, who expelled Asians in 1972. Drawing on global migration patterns, Museveni questioned why Palestinians are denied land rights when other populations have resettled globally. “You cannot say that [the Palestinians] do not belong there,” he stated pointedly.
This strong commentary followed a formal protest from the Iranian ambassador in Kampala about Uganda’s perceived silence amid renewed violence in the Middle East. The current conflict, sparked by U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, saw Israel respond with targeted attacks and Iran firing missiles at American bases in Iraq and Qatar. Thousands have died, including civilians in Gaza.
Museveni on Israel and Biblical Legitimacy
Museveni, well-known for his deep knowledge of history and regional politics, reminded both Iran and Israel of the biblical and historical legitimacy of Jewish claims to Palestine. He revisited conversations with Iran’s former President Ahmadinejad and interactions with Israeli leaders, including the elder Benzion Netanyahu. “We told the Iranians that according to the Bible, Israel is part of that area,” Museveni affirmed.
He dismissed the idea floated in the Balfour project to offer Uganda as a Jewish homeland, calling it absurd. “The Jews wisely refused the ridiculous offer and insisted on Palestine where they had a historical, legitimate claim,” he said, reinforcing that partitioning Palestine for both peoples was the United Nations’ correct decision.
However, Museveni criticized Israel’s marginalization of Palestinians. “Why have they refused the implementation of the two States solution?” he asked, urging Israelis to reckon with history and ethics. He explained that populations now living in Gaza cannot simply be erased from political calculations, as they are descendants of people displaced in ancient and modern times.
Western Interference and Iranian Radicalism
Turning to Iran, Museveni called for an end to inflammatory rhetoric. He held Western countries, particularly the U.S. and Britain, responsible for sowing the seeds of extremism by orchestrating the 1953 coup in Iran. “It is them that created that huge resentment that produced these clerics,” he said.
In a sharp observation, Museveni recalled asking Iranian leaders about their own pre-Islamic history, such as the Medians, and discovering that even senior figures lacked this knowledge. “Neither Ahmadinejad nor anybody around knew about the Medians,” he remarked.
Museveni warned against external military interventions, labeling them ineffective. “To believe that the use of force, especially from outside the concerned country, is a mistake,” he cautioned. History, he argued, shows how empires that relied on force often fell. “Where is the Austro-Hungarian Empire?” he asked rhetorically.
Uganda’s Diplomatic Record and Call for Prayer
Uganda’s record at the United Nations shows strong support for Palestinian rights and an end to violence. Between 2023 and 2024, Uganda consistently voted in favor of ceasefire resolutions, condemning the Israeli occupation and advocating for Palestine’s recognition as a UN observer state. These positions contrast with the dissenting vote cast by Ugandan judge Julia Sebutinde at the International Court of Justice—a stance later disowned by Uganda’s government.
Museveni wrapped up his message with a spiritual call for unity. “Perhaps it’s time that we all agree to pray together and consult that Creator that cares for all of us without preference,” he said, emphasizing faith-based diplomacy as a powerful tool for peace.
His remarks come at a time when the Non-Aligned Movement remains pivotal to multilateral diplomacy. Museveni’s intervention may sway countries seeking a balanced resolution in the Middle East.
Uganda’s engagement in global peace aligns with broader efforts like the temporary ceasefire declared by Russia in Ukraine and China’s recent push for tariff removal to de-escalate its trade war with the U.S..
For deeper context on Uganda’s positioning within international diplomacy, see this overview of the Non-Aligned Movement at NATO.
