Parliament on Thursday approved a government motion authorising the deployment of a Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) contingent to the Gaza Strip as part of the International Stabilisation Force (ISF), marking Uganda's first official commitment to the multinational mission envisioned under the Gaza peace framework.
The motion was tabled by the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, during the 14th sitting of the First Meeting of the First Session of the 12th Parliament, chaired by Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa.
Presenting the motion, Kiwanuka invoked Section 38 of the UPDF Act and Rule 61(1)(k) of Parliament's Rules of Procedure, explaining that Uganda's Constitution empowers Parliament to regulate the deployment of UPDF personnel outside the country.
He reminded legislators that while the President may deploy troops abroad for peacekeeping or peace enforcement missions, parliamentary approval is required before such deployments can proceed.
The minister traced the proposal to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on southern Israel, which left about 1,200 people dead and more than 250 others taken hostage. He said Israel's military response has devastated much of Gaza, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has drawn international efforts to establish a long-term stabilisation mechanism.
Kiwanuka further told Parliament that the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2803 (2025), which established a transitional Board of Peace to oversee Gaza's redevelopment and authorised the creation of an International Stabilisation Force to help secure the territory, protect civilians and support reconstruction efforts.
According to the minister, President Donald Trump, through several emissaries, contacted President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in July 2026 requesting Uganda's participation in the mission.
He said Ugandan officials subsequently held consultations with senior UPDF leadership, representatives of the US Embassy in Kampala and officials coordinating the International Stabilisation Force before President Museveni indicated his readiness to deploy the requested contingent in accordance with the UPDF Act.
Kiwanuka defended the deployment by citing Uganda's long-standing contribution to regional and international peace support operations, including missions in Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and other multinational operations.
He argued that Uganda's participation would help prevent renewed conflict, strengthen regional and international security, protect civilians and reduce opportunities for extremist groups to exploit instability in Gaza.
The parliamentary debate, however, also drew questions from some opposition legislators, who sought clarity on Uganda's role in the mission, the legal framework governing the deployment and the potential diplomatic implications of sending troops to the Middle East. The Defence Minister responded that the necessary Status of Forces Agreement would be concluded following Parliament's approval.
Uganda now joins Morocco among the countries that have publicly committed troops to the proposed force. Although Parliament has approved the deployment, officials have not announced when UPDF personnel would be sent, as the broader implementation of the Gaza stabilisation plan remains dependent on conditions on the ground and the phased rollout of the international mission.