Uganda Parliament Approves Troop Deployment to Gaza

Uganda's parliament approved the deployment of its troops to the Gaza Strip on Thursday, August 6, 2026, marking the country's first public commitment to join a proposed multinational security force for the territory. The decision follows a request from the Ugandan government and an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump, who contacted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in July seeking Kampala's contribution.

The force, known as the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, is a component of a broader peace initiative proposed by Trump's Board of Peace in February. It is envisioned to support security, stability, and reconstruction efforts in Gaza following the devastating Israel-Hamas war that began in October 2023. The conflict, which raged for two years, caused widespread destruction across the Palestinian territory before a fragile ceasefire was reached in October of last year.

Defense Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who brought the motion before parliament, cited Uganda's extensive experience in international peacekeeping, including long-running deployments in Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as evidence of its capability to contribute. He told...