Uganda Approves 1,200 Troops for Gaza Role

Uganda has approved the deployment of about 1,200 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) personnel to an international stabilisation force in Gaza, placing an African military in the spotlight of a US plan for Gaza’s post-war security. The Ugandan Parliament approved the troops’ deployment on August 6 after the government revealed that the United States had asked President Yoweri Museveni to participate.

This mission will allow Uganda to play a major role internationally but will raise some concerns about the possible danger that African soldiers will be exposed to and the politics behind the decision of countries sending troops.

What Would the International Force Be Doing in Gaza?

The International Stabilization Force (ISF) mission will cover those regions of Gaza not controlled directly by Israel. These missions will involve ceasefire monitoring, delivery of humanitarian aid, and training of Palestinian police and security forces in the region.

The force is supposed to eventually have 20,000 members, with the force commanded by US Major General Jasper Jeffers. The current level of commitment is far less than that number.

Uganda has committed approximately 1,200 troops, and Morocco has promised up to 500. Others that have offered include Kosovo, Kazakhstan, and Albania. Burundi is currently considering participating in the mission after its military officers met with Israeli officials.

Why Does Uganda Want to Send Its Troops to Gaza?

Uganda claims that this is part of its long tradition of being a peacekeeper.

The UPDF has a lot of experience with various missions locally and internationally.

This includes Somalia, South Sudan and other conflicts in Africa. It is claimed that their experience will help the military to participate in the international stabilisation force.

Participation in this force is also claimed by the Ugandan officials to be helpful in efforts to prevent further conflict and protect civilians without getting into political arguments.

The participation has been requested directly by the United States. Defense Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka informed Parliament that President Donald Trump approached Museveni through envoys in July to ask for Uganda’s participation.

What Might This Gaza Mission Mean For African Soldiers?

For Uganda and possibly other African participants, it could mean strengthening military ties with the US and other nations.

African military forces have already played key roles in peacekeeping missions in Africa. Participation in the Gaza operation means taking this experience to what is perhaps one of the most politically volatile conflict zones in the world.

This could also mean more experience in operations and increased security cooperation with the global superpowers.

However, the stakes here are much higher.

While conventional peacekeeping mission areas do not have similar stakes, Gaza has remained both politically and militarily volatile. The proposed force requires a political agreement on Israeli withdrawal and Hamas disarmament.

This is despite disagreements over the conditions having stalled the implementation of this plan.

The Deployment Has Created Political Concerns At Home

The deployment has created concern in Uganda.

Members of the opposition questioned the way decisions were made by the government regarding this mission and its mandate.

But the parliament eventually gave its approval of the deployment within the framework of the laws of Uganda concerning the deployment of troops beyond its borders. It has been stated that the status of forces agreement would be completed as part of the rest of the arrangements.

In the case of Uganda, then, it is not simply about the deployment of its troops. It may also have repercussions on Uganda’s relations with the US, Israel and other international parties as well as on its established approach to foreign policy.

What Comes Next?

It should be made clear at this stage that the approval of Uganda’s parliament does not automatically imply the deployment of 1,200 Ugandan troops into Gaza.

The formation of the larger international peacekeeping mission is still being arranged, as some of the arrangements related to the cessation of hostilities and transition are yet to be completed. Delegations from Uganda and Burundi had actually traveled to Israel to discuss the deployments.