By Aggrey Baba
Governance and security consultant Simon Mulongo has warned that Uganda must urgently rethink its national defence approach following the recent Israel-Iran conflict, which revealed that future wars may not be fought only with bombs and bullets, but also through information, technology, and public opinion.
The short but intense conflict, which occurred between June 13 and June 24, saw Israel launch airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, supported by the U.S. But more than the missiles, bombs and gunshots, the confrontation became a war of strategy, messaging, and perception, an area where Uganda remains largely unprepared, according to Mulongo.
He said Uganda’s current security systems are outdated, built for traditional threats rather than the complex and modern challenges now shaping global warfare.
In his analysis, Mulongo warned that the country remains ” linear, kinetic, and reactionary (terms describing a security posture focused on visible, physical threats rather than digital, psychological, or hybrid ones).
Israel’s attacks were precise and backed by the latest military technology, targeting uranium facilities in places like Fordow and Natanz. But Iran’s most striking response was not military, but political.
On June 25, the Iranian parliament voted unanimously to cut ties with international nuclear inspectors, using legislation as a weapon to assert sovereignty and reject outside pressure.
Mulongo said this bold move should serve as a warning for countries like Uganda that heavily rely on foreign cooperation for their security, economic stability, and international relations.
He questioned how long such dependence can last without threatening national independence. “It’s no longer about who has the most weapons, but who can take the hit and still control the story,” the consultant said.
Even with one of the most advanced air defence systems in the world, Israel was not able to fully protect its cities. Despite intercepting the biggest percentage of incoming missiles and drones, industrial areas in Tel Aviv and Haifa were damaged, roads were bombed, and parts of the country suffered blackouts.
Mulongo said this proves that strong defences do not equal total safety, and what matters now is how a country responds, recovers, and communicates in the face of attack.
He urged Uganda’s security agencies to invest in modern systems that can protect not only infrastructure but also information, public confidence, and national identity during crises, saying “We can’t continue to depend on roadblocks and police visibility alone.”
One of the most dangerous parts of the Israel-Iran war was the battle for hearts and minds. Both countries used social media and digital content to push their own versions of the story, with Iran presenting itself as a victim of Western aggression, while Israel defended its actions as necessary for survival,.and the US attempted to sanctify itself but ended up facing criticism from both sides.
Mulongo said these digital tactics (fake news, AI-generated videos, and psychological messaging) are now part of modern warfare. He warned that Uganda is already vulnerable to these methods, as seen during elections and political unrest where online misinformation has spread quickly and widely.
He pointed out that even though the conflict was far away, it caused fuel prices to rise and global political alliances to shift, and for a country like Uganda, which imports most of its fuel and relies on international partners, the secondary effects of such wars are significant and unavoidable.
Mulongo advised that Uganda must stop preparing for yesterday’s wars and start thinking about future threats that will come in new forms, calling for urgent investment in cyber security, public information systems, and national resilience strategies.
He said the biggest threat may no longer be soldiers crossing a border, but false narratives spreading through the media, adding that victory today belongs to those who survive and explain their survival best, which brings to life a Lusoga proverb that you don’t sharpen your spear in the face of a charging lion.
