CONFIRMED: Ugandan troops heading to Gaza for peace mission

What the report says

Uganda’s Parliament on Thursday approved the deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to Gaza after a tense and divided debate, according to The Independent Uganda. The motion was introduced by Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka and passed after Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa allowed the House to proceed despite complaints that the item had not appeared on the Order Paper because of an administrative oversight.

The government said the deployment is meant to support an international stabilisation effort in Gaza, which it linked to post-conflict arrangements following the war that began after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s response. Officials cited a UN Security Council resolution and said planning had already involved UPDF commanders, the U.S. Embassy in Kampala and representatives of the proposed stabilisation force. The minister argued that Uganda’s past participation in peace operations, including in Somalia and South Sudan, shows the army is prepared for such missions.

Opposition lawmakers questioned the pace of approval, saying Parliament did not have enough time to review the legal, military and diplomatic implications. Some MPs also asked for clearer information on troop numbers, welfare, risks and Uganda’s strategic interest. Government legislators and UPDF representative Maj. Gen. Henry Matsiko defended the decision, saying the force has a record of professional peace support work and should help protect civilians and support stability.

The vote gives President Yoweri Museveni authority to send a UPDF contingent under the UPDF Act. The report says this is a significant and politically sensitive deployment, extending Uganda’s overseas military role into a highly volatile conflict area.