Uganda is preparing to join proposed international security arrangements in the Gaza Strip, with reports indicating that it has committed around 1,200 troops to participate in an international stabilisation force that could eventually number up to 20,000 soldiers.
The move would place the East African country at the centre of one of the Middle East’s most complex political and security issues.
On 6 August 2026, Uganda’s parliament approved the deployment of army personnel as part of the proposed International Stabilisation Force in Gaza, conceived under arrangements put forward by US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” to support the ceasefire in the Strip.
Parliamentary approval came after Uganda’s defence minister told lawmakers that Trump, through envoys sent in July, had asked President Yoweri Museveni for Uganda to contribute forces to the international mission.
The Ugandan government has not yet officially announced the final number of troops it would send or the timing of their deployment. Reports, however, indicate that Kampala committed around 1,200 soldiers following parliamentary approval.
Why Uganda?
Kampala has justified its potential participation by pointing to its extensive record of deploying troops beyond its borders, particularly in peacekeeping and security operations in Somalia, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Ugandan authorities argue that this experience qualifies their forces for another international mission, particularly one requiring personnel accustomed to operating in complex security environments.
Ugandan military representative in parliament Henry Matsiko said the Uganda People’s Defence Forces are regarded as a “pillar of stability” amid regional and international turmoil.
The proposed Gaza mission, however, differs from many operations in which Ugandan troops have previously participated.
The international force would be operating in an area marked by open conflict and unresolved disputes over Gaza’s future and its security arrangements.
What Would the International Force Do in Gaza?
Under the proposed framework, the international force could include around 20,000 troops and would be commanded by US Major General Jasper Jeffers.
Its proposed responsibilities include monitoring the ceasefire, securing the delivery of humanitarian aid, training Palestinian police forces and supporting security arrangements inside the Gaza Strip.
Implementing those tasks, however, would be directly connected to highly sensitive issues, particularly the disarmament of Hamas, the timetable for an Israeli withdrawal and the identity of the body that would ultimately control security in Gaza.
These unresolved issues have raised concerns that the international force could move beyond ceasefire monitoring and become directly involved in military confrontation if the agreement collapses or coordination between the parties fails.
Concerns Inside Uganda’s Parliament
Debate within Uganda’s parliament has reflected some of those concerns.
Several lawmakers demanded clarification regarding the mission’s mandate and the risks Ugandan troops could face in Gaza.
MP Hassan Kirumira said the conflict between Palestinians and Israel has continued for years, warning that deploying Ugandan forces would not necessarily mean the war had ended or that the roots of the conflict had been resolved.
Those reservations raise a fundamental question about the limits of the Ugandan contingent’s mandate.
Would its role remain restricted to maintaining security and monitoring the ceasefire, or could Ugandan troops find themselves required to use force if they, or the parties they are tasked with protecting, come under threat?
Uganda’s Security and Defence Ties With Israel
Uganda’s potential role in Gaza does not emerge in a political vacuum.
Kampala and Israel have developed political and security relations over several years.
In July 2016, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Uganda. He returned in February 2020 and met President Museveni to discuss strengthening bilateral relations.
During the 2020 visit, Netanyahu proposed that Uganda open an embassy in Jerusalem in exchange for Israel opening an embassy in Kampala.
Cooperation between the two sides later expanded beyond diplomacy.
On 19 September 2022, Uganda and Israel signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation covering training, equipment, technology transfer and intelligence sharing.
As Uganda considers participation in the Gaza stabilisation force, these security ties have acquired greater significance, particularly after Ugandan and Burundian military officials visited Israel in August 2026 to discuss the possible deployment of forces to the Gaza Strip.
A Test of Ugandan Neutrality
The situation places Uganda in a delicate position.
On one hand, Kampala presents its prospective deployment as part of an international stabilisation mission designed to support the ceasefire, drawing on its long record in peacekeeping operations.
On the other hand, its defence and security relationship with Israel raises questions about whether Uganda could maintain the appearance of neutrality while operating inside Gaza.
The issue becomes even more sensitive because disputes remain unresolved over the disarmament of Hamas, the Israeli withdrawal and the future administration and security of the Strip.
Uganda’s participation, if it proceeds, would therefore amount to more than another overseas military deployment.
It would become a political and security test of whether a state with close defence ties to Israel can perform a role that is expected to be neutral in one of the world’s most politically and militarily contested areas.
