Kampala, Uganda: Parliament has approved the deployment of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to the Gaza Strip under an international peace support mission, following a heated plenary session marked by sharp disagreements over procedure, timing and the risks facing Ugandan troops.
The decision authorises President Museveni to deploy a UPDF contingent under Section 38 of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces Act, Cap. 330, which empowers the President to deploy troops outside Uganda for peacekeeping or peace enforcement operations, subject to parliamentary approval for peacekeeping missions.
The motion was tabled by Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Hon Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who said Uganda had been invited to contribute troops to an International Stabilisation Force established under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025).
According to the minister, the mission is intended to support ceasefire implementation, civilian protection, disarmament and post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent conflict.
Kiwanuka told Parliament that Uganda’s participation reflects the country’s long-standing contribution to regional and international peacekeeping missions.
“Uganda has built a strong professional force that has successfully served in Somalia, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and several United Nations peacekeeping missions. Our participation will support ceasefire implementation, protect civilians, facilitate disarmament and contribute to long-term peace and stability,” he said.
He assured legislators that the troops would operate under clearly defined rules of engagement, remain politically neutral and fully comply with international humanitarian law.
Opposition protests procedure
The motion triggered immediate protests from opposition legislators, who argued that Parliament had been ambushed after the proposal failed to appear on the day’s Order Paper.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa acknowledged that although the minister had submitted the motion in time, it had been omitted from the Order Paper due to an administrative error.
However, he ruled that debate should proceed, citing Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, which accord priority to government business.
“The Minister did his part by submitting the motion in time. The omission was on my side. Parliament’s duty now is to debate and decide, either approve or reject it,” Tayebwa ruled.
Opposition Chief Whip Paul Mwiru criticised the handling of the matter, arguing that Members of Parliament had been denied sufficient time to study the proposal.
“This is not an ordinary motion. We are committing Ugandan soldiers to an active war zone. Parliament deserves adequate time to consult technical officers, examine previous deployments and fully appreciate the implications before making such a decision,” he said.
Manjiya County MP John Baptist Nambeshe urged Parliament to first assess Uganda’s ongoing military engagements in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic before approving another deployment.
“This is not like the other theatres. Gaza is an active war zone where distinguishing between combatants and civilians is extremely difficult. Urban warfare and constant attacks make the risks much higher,” Nambeshe warned.
Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu also questioned the urgency of the motion, saying Parliament has a constitutional obligation to scrutinise decisions that place Ugandan soldiers in harm’s way.
“When you are sending our sons and daughters into conflict, Parliament must know why they are going, how they will be protected and what national interest Uganda is pursuing,” he said.
Several legislators proposed referring the motion to the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs for detailed scrutiny before debate.
Tayebwa rejected the request, maintaining that neither the Constitution nor Parliament’s Rules require such motions to first be considered by a committee.
“If the Rules intended such motions to first go before a committee, they would expressly say so. My responsibility is to apply the Rules as they exist,” he ruled.
Government defends deployment
Government ministers defended the decision, arguing that Uganda has consistently honoured international peacekeeping obligations.
Health Minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi said Parliament regularly considers urgent national matters and should not shy away from debating critical issues. “We routinely respond to urgent national matters. There is no justification for fearing debate,” he said.
Representing the UPDF, Major General Henry Masiko Ndarubweine described Uganda’s military as a respected regional peacekeeping force whose professionalism has been demonstrated in previous international missions.
“Uganda should be proud that its army is regarded as an anchor of stability in a region of turbulence. The UPDF is trained to confront threats, protect humanity and restore peace, not to avoid difficult missions,” he said.
Following debate, the motion was put to a vote and passed by a majority of Members of Parliament, formally authorising the deployment.
The approval paves the way for Uganda to join the multinational stabilisation force expected to oversee implementation of the post-conflict arrangements in Gaza under the supervision of the internationally backed Board of Peace.
The deployment represents one of Uganda’s most politically significant international military commitments in recent years, extending the country’s peacekeeping footprint beyond Africa into one of the world’s most volatile conflict zones.
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