UPDF commandos begin preparations ahead of Gaza deployment
EXCLUSIVE: Sections of Uganda’s military commandos have reportedly begun training at the Singu Training School amid reports that the country is preparing for a possible deployment to the Gaza Strip.
Highly placed security sources told this website that a contingent of personnel, including members of the Military Police, this week reported to the training facility for what has been described as pre-deployment preparations.
The exact size of the contingent and the duration of the training could not immediately be established. Officials from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) had not publicly commented on the reported exercise by the time of publication.
The reported training comes weeks after international media reports suggested that Uganda had agreed, in principle, to deploy troops to Gaza as part of a proposed multinational security arrangement backed by the United States.
While the reports generated widespread attention, neither the Ugandan government nor the UPDF has formally announced any deployment or provided details on the proposed mission.
Security analysts say any deployment would likely require specialized training given the complex security environment in Gaza, where efforts to establish post-conflict security arrangements have been the subject of international discussions.
If confirmed, Uganda would join a growing list of countries being considered for peace support or stabilization roles in conflict-affected regions, building on the UPDF’s experience in international operations, including missions in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan.
However, officials familiar with the matter cautioned that reporting for training does not necessarily mean an immediate deployment, noting that military units routinely undergo specialized exercises as part of contingency planning.
This website will continue to monitor the developments and seek official confirmation from the UPDF and relevant government authorities.
