Uganda Could Challenge U.S. in Ground War Amid Venezuela Crisis, Museveni Says
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said that despite the United States’ overwhelming military superiority, it remains vulnerable in ground warfare, arguing that even smaller countries could inflict harm in a land-based confrontation.
Museveni made the remarks while responding to a journalist’s question on Pan-Africanism and lessons Africa could draw from recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela. He said the situation in the South American country highlighted significant imbalances in the global security system.
“I’m still watching, studying it. We shall learn more. But whatever the case is, you can see the gaps,” Museveni said.
The Ugandan leader noted that U.S. military strength lies in its ability to operate simultaneously across four domains—sea, air, space and land—an advantage most countries it confronts do not possess.
“The Americans are operating from four dimensions. They are in the sea. The Latin Americans are not there; they don’t have a navy,” he said. He added that U.S. dominance in air and space provides a decisive edge long before any direct engagement occurs.
However, Museveni argued that ground operations reduce that advantage and expose even powerful militaries to significant risk.
“Now they are trying to come on land, which of course is very risky also for the Americans,” he said. “There you come near, because even me, who has got a short range, I can harm you.”
Museveni acknowledged that strategic imbalances persist even on land due to U.S. surveillance and technological capabilities.
“You are seeing me in space, I’m not seeing you. You are in the ocean, I’m not there, I’m here,” he said, describing how weaker states remain exposed across multiple fronts.
He linked this imbalance to Africa’s continued vulnerability and renewed his call for continental unity, particularly in security matters. Museveni said the failure of Africa’s early leaders to pursue collective security after independence weakened the continent.
“That was our target in 1963,” he said, referring to early Pan-African efforts.
According to Museveni, political self-interest derailed the vision of unity.
“Mwalimu (Julius Nyerere) was ready to move, but (Jomo) Kenyatta and (Apollo Milton) Obote decided to remain big fishes in small ponds,” he said.
He concluded that the developments in Venezuela underscore the need for Africa to revive Pan-African cooperation, warning that without it, the continent would remain strategically exposed in an increasingly militarised global order.
