Ugandan authorities secured parliamentary approval on Thursday to deploy military personnel to Gaza as part of the international force suggested by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, intended to secure the territory following the intense Israel-Hamas conflict.
The successful motion, introduced by the defense minister, marks Uganda's initial public signal regarding its readiness to participate in the International Stabilization Force for Gaza; Morocco has also committed troops to the mission.
Reasons for Uganda's agreement to deploy in Gaza were not immediately clear, and some opposition lawmakers promptly questioned the nation’s motivation behind the decision, suggesting a potential quid pro quo. Lawmaker Hassan Kirumira stated that the deployment would generate "diplomatic concerns" for a country belonging to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
He pressed during parliament regarding the central issue: "On which side is our army going to fight?" he asked.
Defense Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka, in an effort to gain lawmaker support, referenced Uganda's military capacities derived from its peacekeeping missions in nations such as Somalia.
The force, initially proposed by Trump’s Board of Peace in February, would be commanded by American Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, who stated in May that the 20,000-member force aimed to guarantee "future prosperity and enduring peace."
Last week, Trump announced an arrangement for Hamas to disarm and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza. Under this agreement, the International Stabilization Force would be deployed to Gaza subsequent to the completion of a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops.
This accord, which is part of a wider ceasefire deal established last year, requires Israel to halt military operations while demanding that Hamas and its allies in Gaza cease all militant activities. The agreement also outlined the decommissioning process in general terms.
Following the release of the agreement's text, Israel communicated having "serious security concerns" and shared these with the U.S.
Israeli attacks have resulted in 1,250 fatalities since the ceasefire deal was implemented in October, an accord that concluded major fighting in the two-year Israel-Hamas war.