Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has described the reported arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States as a stark warning to Africa, urging the continent to urgently strengthen its strategic security across land, sea, air, and space.
Speaking during an interaction with youth at State Lodge Nakasero in Kampala, Museveni said the dramatic operation, in which U.S. forces allegedly captured Maduro and flew him to the United States, exposes dangerous vulnerabilities faced by states that lack comprehensive strategic power.
Maduro is reported to be facing charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, accusations that form part of a long-running U.S. campaign against his government.
According to reports, his wife, Cilia Flores, was also detained following U.S. strikes on key targets in Caracas, an operation that has sparked global debate over sovereignty, legality, and the limits of foreign intervention.
Museveni said he was not fully aware of the exact reasons behind the arrest but stressed that the broader lesson was unmistakable.
“I don’t know what they are fighting for because Americans are saying that some of the Latin Americans are sending drugs to the U.S., but we shall learn more,” Museveni said. “But whatever the case, you can see the gaps I am telling you about.”
The Ugandan leader used the incident to illustrate what he described as modern, multi-dimensional warfare, an arena in which powerful nations dominate domains that many developing regions have neglected.
“Americans are operating from four dimensions: the sea, and Latin Americans don’t have a navy; the air; space; and now they are trying to come on land. In space, you are at an advantage, you see me, I don’t. In the ocean, I am not there,” Museveni said.
He warned that without serious investment in strategic capacity, African nations risk being overwhelmed despite appearing stable within their own regions.
“You can remain a big fish in a small pond, but when trouble comes, you may not survive. The strategic security of Africa is very crucial,” he noted.
Museveni praised ongoing regional cooperation efforts, particularly in East Africa, noting attempts to pool land and maritime resources to build collective strength.
“I am happy leaders of East Africa have never given up on this matter. We are able to unite our land and sea space, have more resources to build capacity on land, sea, in air and in space,” he said.
He cautioned against complacency as global powers advance rapidly in space and military technology.
“We can’t remain here when other people are in space and say we are clever,” Museveni said. “You should wake up.”
The president also highlighted what he described as Africa’s fragmented defense posture, contrasting it with smaller nations that rely on powerful allies.
“You can have small countries like Denmark with a center of gravity, but when they are in trouble, a big boy like the U.S. defends them. But the entire African continent doesn’t have one, and it is very risky,” he said.
