Uganda is preparing to send troops to Gaza as part of an international stabilisation force, placing its military at the centre of one of the world’s most politically sensitive post-war missions and extending a foreign deployment record built over decades across Africa.
Ugandan lawmakers approved the deployment after the government said it had received a request for participation in the proposed Gaza force, which is intended to help provide security as part of a broader ceasefire and reconstruction plan.
The exact size, timing and operational details of Uganda’s contribution remain unclear, with questions still surrounding the force’s mandate and rules of engagement.
For the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), the Gaza mission would represent a major step beyond its traditional regional security operations. The army has spent years building a reputation as one of Africa’s most active contributors to multinational deployments, particularly in conflict zones where governments and regional organisations have sought military support.
Ugandan soldiers have been a central part of African Union-led operations in Somalia, where they have fought alongside other forces against militant groups and helped support successive efforts to stabilise the country.
The UPDF continues to maintain troops there under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia.
The force has also been involved in neighbouring South Sudan, where Ugandan troops have carried out security operations during periods of political crisis, including deployments aimed at preventing wider instability.
Uganda has said such missions have been conducted with the approval of national authorities and as part of efforts to protect regional security.
Beyond Somalia and South Sudan, Uganda has participated in regional security efforts linked to instability in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reflecting Kampala’s long-standing policy of projecting military influence beyond its borders.
The planned Gaza deployment, however, carries a different level of international scrutiny.
Unlike Uganda’s previous missions, which have largely focused on neighbouring African conflicts, Gaza places Ugandan troops inside a conflict with deep global diplomatic, religious and political divisions.
Supporters of the move point to Uganda’s experience in peace-support operations and regional interventions, while critics have raised questions about the risks of deploying soldiers into a volatile Middle East theatre and the implications for Uganda’s foreign relations.
As preparations move forward, the mission will test whether Uganda’s decades of experience in African peace and security operations can translate into a new and highly contested international role far beyond the continent.
