The initiative was presented by the Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, The Honorable Jacob Oboth-Oboth and Kiryowa Kiwanuka, and received support at Thursday's plenary session, which was chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa. According to the Constitution and the UPDF Act, separate parliamentary approval was required to send Ugandan military personnel to help restore peace and provide humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.
Defending the proposal, Kiwanuka said the deployment was fully consistent with both Uganda's constitutional provisions and international obligations. «The deployment is consistent with our national goals and public policy principles, in particular Goal XIII, which commits Uganda to promoting regional and international peace, security, and cooperation», he said.
The Minister stressed that the mission will be carried out on the basis of strict humanitarian standards. «The UPDF contingent will remain neutral, comply with international humanitarian law, protect civilians without taking sides in political disputes, and act solely within the framework of the Stabilization Mission's mandate», he added.
Uganda's participation will help strengthen peace and stability in the Middle East through the multinational force established in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2788 (2025), as well as strengthen the country's authority in the field of international peacekeeping.
At the same time, despite the generally favorable attitude towards Uganda's peacekeeping role, a number of parliamentarians expressed dissatisfaction with the way the issue was introduced, stating that they did not have enough time to fully study it.
The main organizer of the opposition, Paul Mviru, speaking on behalf of the opposition leader, suggested postponing the discussion so that the deputies could carefully analyze the document.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa admitted that the Minister of Defense had submitted a proposal even earlier, but it was not included in the agenda due to his own shortcomings. He also noted that the issue requires urgent consideration, as international decisions on the proposed mission are expected as early as the weekend.
John Baptist Nambeshe, MP from Manjiya district, supported Uganda's continued participation in international peacekeeping operations, but called on Parliament to strengthen oversight of existing missions before approving a new deployment. «We, as a legislative body, should be aware of the effectiveness of our peacekeeping mission in these countries», he said, referring to the UPDF units operating in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Sudan. At the same time, he warned that the Gaza Strip is a particularly difficult environment for military operations. «This is an urban war, and it's becoming very difficult to distinguish combatants from civilians», Nambeshe said.
On the other hand, representatives of the Government and UPDF defended the initiative, citing Uganda's long-standing reputation in international peacekeeping operations. UPDF spokesman Major General Henry Masiko said that the Ugandan military continues to earn the trust of the international community due to their professionalism.
John Bosco Tumushima, a deputy from Kashari Southern District, noted that participation in foreign missions contributes to the growth of professionalism and operational experience of military personnel.
UPDF spokesman Major General David Gonyi added that Uganda has both a humanitarian and diplomatic responsibility to help restore peace.
Lidia Wanyoto, the Minister of State for Public Service, also expressed support for the proposal. According to her, Uganda has long earned a reputation as a reliable participant in global efforts to strengthen peace and security, and participation in the new mission is consistent with the country's foreign policy and its commitments in the field of peacekeeping.
The parliamentary approval thus opens the way for Uganda to participate in the proposed multinational stabilization mission in the Gaza Strip. It is assumed that UPDF will perform humanitarian tasks and ensure the protection of civilians within the framework of the mission's mandate.
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