Uganda’s International policy posture is outdated; we must reflect

What the report says

The Observer published an opinion piece arguing that Uganda’s foreign policy is out of step with a changing global order. The author points to January 2024, when 120 countries met in Kampala under Uganda’s chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, and says the summit’s declaration strongly backed Palestine and condemned violence in Gaza. The article contrasts that position with Uganda’s later decision, described as being made at Donald Trump’s request, to allow Ugandan soldiers to join a proposed international force in Gaza. Parliament’s approval of the deployment is cited as part of the concern.

The piece says the move is uncomfortable because the United States is not a neutral actor in the Israel-Palestine conflict and because Washington’s global priorities are shifting toward competition with China and the Indo-Pacific. It argues that Uganda may be overestimating how much strategic value it offers the US in the Middle East and warns against relying too heavily on one partner.

The author also links foreign policy to Uganda’s domestic standing, noting the US Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory and arguing that concerns about insecurity, governance, and investor confidence weaken Uganda’s appeal abroad. More broadly, the commentary says the world is becoming more multipolar, with China, Europe, Russia, the Gulf states and other Global South powers gaining influence, and calls for Uganda to return to a more balanced, non-aligned posture.