Uganda joins risky military mission in Gaza as it eyes UN top seat
Uganda is deploying troops to Gaza as part of an international stabilization force to bolster its diplomatic standing. The government hopes this military contribution will secure international support for its candidate in the upcoming UN Secretary-General election.
Why it matters
This move highlights how smaller nations use military participation in global conflicts as a strategic tool to gain leverage in international political appointments.
Uganda is once again turning to one of its most used foreign policy tools, military deployments abroad, as it joins a US-backed stabilisation mission in Gaza.
It is a move that could bolster Kampala’s standing with global powers but also expose it to new diplomatic and security risks. The goal, however, is to stay close to influential powers, hoping to persuade them to back its candidate for the UN Secretary-General’s seat.
Uganda’s Parliament, on August 6, approved a government motion tabled by Defence Minister Kiryowa Kiwanuka to deploy a Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) contingent to the Gaza Strip as part of the proposed International Stabilisation Force (ISF).
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