Accra: The Ugandan parliament has approved the deployment of troops to the Gaza Strip as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF). At a sitting on Thursday, lawmakers endorsed a government motion to send a contingent of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) to the region.
According to Ghana News Agency, the ISF aims to ensure security in the Gaza Strip and is part of a broader initiative led by US President Donald Trump to resolve the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Countries such as Morocco, Indonesia, and Albania have also agreed to participate in this mission. However, the exact timeline for the force's deployment remains unclear.
At the end of July, the Israeli Security Cabinet granted approval for portions of the ISF, along with representatives of the Palestinian Interim Administration, to commence operations shortly in a limited area in Rafah, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. Despite a ceasefire in place since October 2025, sporadic deadly attacks continue to pose challenges in the region. The decision to deploy Ugandan troops has stirred criticism from the country's opposition.
Joseph Ssewungu, the opposition's defense spokesman, expressed concerns that lawmakers were not provided adequate time to scrutinize the details of the deployment. Uganda is known for being a significant contributor of troops to peacekeeping missions across Africa, with its most notable overseas deployment currently taking place in Somalia. There, Ugandan soldiers participate in an African Union mission aimed at combating the Islamist Al-Shabaab militia and safeguarding critical infrastructure.