Uganda’s Parliament Approves UPDF Deployment to Gaza for Peace Mission
Uganda’s parliament has approved the deployment of Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) troops to Gaza for a peace mission, according to reporting by The Independent newspaper in Kampala, as distributed via AllAfrica. The decision followed a heated debate among lawmakers in the chamber.
The parliamentary vote authorises the armed forces to contribute personnel to the coastal enclave, though the available reporting does not specify the size of the contingent, the legal framework under which the troops would operate, or the timeline for their arrival. The Independent’s account characterised the floor debate as heated, underscoring the sensitivity of sending Ugandan soldiers into one of the world’s most closely watched conflict zones.
A long peacekeeping record
Uganda has built one of the most active track records in Africa for contributing troops to international and regional peacekeeping operations. The UPDF has been a leading contributor to the African Union missions in Somalia, first under AMISOM and later under the transitional ATMIS framework, and has also deployed personnel under United Nations auspices in countries including South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kampala’s willingness to commit soldiers to multilateral missions has, in turn, drawn financial and logistical support from Western partners.
Uganda and Israel
The prospective deployment also sits within the broader context of Uganda’s diplomatic relationship with Israel, which has deepened in recent years. In 2023, Uganda became one of a small number of countries to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem, a move that drew attention across Africa and the Middle East. Bilateral ties have historically spanned agricultural cooperation, military training and trade.
The mission’s practical details — including the size of the Ugandan contingent, the command structure it would fall under, and the legal basis for its presence in Gaza — remain to be clarified as the deployment moves from parliamentary approval to operational planning.
Sources
This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.
