The Ugandan leader argued that U.S. military strength lies in its ability to operate simultaneously across four domains, namely sea, air, space and land, unlike many countries it confronts.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said that while the United States possesses overwhelming military superiority, including dominance at sea, in the air and in space, it could still be harmed in a ground confrontation.
Museveni linked it to lessons from U.S. actions in Venezuela.
Museveni made the remarks while responding to a journalist’s question on Pan-Africanism and what Africa can learn from Washington’s recent military intervention in Venezuela.
Saying he was still studying developments in the South American country, Museveni noted that the situation nonetheless exposed critical gaps in the global security balance.
“I’m still watching, studying it. We shall learn more. But whatever the case is, you can see the gaps,” he said.
‘Even Uganda Can Harm You’
Museveni: “Americans’ actions in Venezuela are still unclear; we have yet to learn what is really happening. Although the Americans are powerful in the air, and navy,but if they come within close range on land, we can defeat them.” pic.twitter.com/EeMBR4ydOG
— UBC UGANDA (@ubctvuganda) January 4, 2026
The Ugandan leader argued that U.S. military strength lies in its ability to operate simultaneously across four domains, namely sea, air, space and land, unlike many countries it confronts.
“The Americans are operating from four dimensions. They are in the sea. The Latin Americans are not there; they don’t have a navy,” Museveni said.
He added that the United States also dominates the air and space domains, giving it a decisive advantage long before any direct contact.
However, Museveni said ground operations reduce that advantage and expose even powerful militaries to harm.
“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.”
Strategic Imbalance
Museveni explained that even on land, the imbalance remains because of U.S. surveillance and technological superiority.
“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, underscoring how weaker states are exposed across multiple fronts.
He said this strategic asymmetry was at the heart of Africa’s vulnerability and a key argument for continental unity.
Museveni traced the problem back to the failure of early Pan-African leaders to pursue collective security after independence.
“That was our target in 1963,” he said, referring to the push for African unity.
According to him, the vision faltered because of political self-interest.
“Mwalimu (Julius Nyerere) was ready to move, but (Jomo) Kenyatta and (Apollo Milton) Obote decided to remain big fishes in small ponds,” Museveni said.
He concluded that the crisis in Venezuela illustrates why Africa must revive Pan-African cooperation, particularly in security, to avoid remaining strategically exposed in an increasingly militarised global order.