Why did Tanzania raid Uganda in 1972?
SHORTLY after Idi Amin had overthrown Milton Obote in 1971, Ugandan exiles in Tanzania opposed Amin’s regime and organized his overthrow.
By Frederick Womakuyu
SHORTLY after Idi Amin had overthrown Milton Obote in 1971, Ugandan exiles in Tanzania opposed Amin’s regime and organized his overthrow.
Mr Martin Mwendo, a freedom fighter during the Tanzanian invasion of Uganda, said: “Amin’s regime was so murderous that it had to be overthrown.â€
In 1972, the Ugandans who had taken refugee in Tanzania, “had to unite to overthrow the regime, but we needed the help of the Tanzanians,†says Mr Mwendo.
The Tanzanian government offered training, arms and ammunition.
The 1972 invasion
After the training, the Ugandans formed forces, which invaded Uganda in 1972. The invasion was organized by Dr Milton Obote, the then president of Uganda. “Later, FRONASA led by Yoweri Museveni joined the invasion because they had a camp in Bukoba, northern Tanzania.â€
During the invasion, there were two axes, says Prof. Moses Apedunal a historian at Makerere University. “There was the Kyotera-Masaka-Kampala, and the western axis; Mbarara-Fort Portal. FRONASA was given the western axis and Obote’s Kikosa Maalum was given Kyotera-Masaka.’
Prof. Apedunal said the invasion failed because it was ill-planned.
After the invasion
After the invasion, there were attempts to resolve the rift between Uganda and Tanzania.
Two agreements, Addis – Ababa Accord and Mogadishu, were signed between Uganda and tanzania. “These required the Tanzanian government led by Julius Nyerere to stop helping Ugandans fight Amin,†adds Mr Martin Baguma, a history teacher at Busoga College Mwiri.
These agreements halted a further invasion of Uganda.
Amin invading Tanzania
In 1978, when Amin attacked Kagera, the exiles organised meetings under FRONASA and Kikosa Maalum, before the Moshi Conference. “The Moshi Conference led to the formation of Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF), which formed the government after Amin’s ouster,†Mr Baguma adds.
The UNLF, supported by the Tanzanian forces invaded Uganda and overthrew Amin in April 1979, says Mr Mwendo. “However, they failed to provide a stable government.â€
Its disintegration led to the 1981-1986 war that brought President Museveni into power, adds Prof. Apedunal.
SHORTLY after Idi Amin had overthrown Milton Obote in 1971, Ugandan exiles in Tanzania opposed Amin’s regime and organized his overthrow.
Mr Martin Mwendo, a freedom fighter during the Tanzanian invasion of Uganda, said: “Amin’s regime was so murderous that it had to be overthrown.â€
In 1972, the Ugandans who had taken refugee in Tanzania, “had to unite to overthrow the regime, but we needed the help of the Tanzanians,†says Mr Mwendo.
The Tanzanian government offered training, arms and ammunition.
The 1972 invasion
After the training, the Ugandans formed forces, which invaded Uganda in 1972. The invasion was organized by Dr Milton Obote, the then president of Uganda. “Later, FRONASA led by Yoweri Museveni joined the invasion because they had a camp in Bukoba, northern Tanzania.â€
During the invasion, there were two axes, says Prof. Moses Apedunal a historian at Makerere University. “There was the Kyotera-Masaka-Kampala, and the western axis; Mbarara-Fort Portal. FRONASA was given the western axis and Obote’s Kikosa Maalum was given Kyotera-Masaka.’
Prof. Apedunal said the invasion failed because it was ill-planned.
After the invasion
After the invasion, there were attempts to resolve the rift between Uganda and Tanzania.
Two agreements, Addis – Ababa Accord and Mogadishu, were signed between Uganda and tanzania. “These required the Tanzanian government led by Julius Nyerere to stop helping Ugandans fight Amin,†adds Mr Martin Baguma, a history teacher at Busoga College Mwiri.
These agreements halted a further invasion of Uganda.
Amin invading Tanzania
In 1978, when Amin attacked Kagera, the exiles organised meetings under FRONASA and Kikosa Maalum, before the Moshi Conference. “The Moshi Conference led to the formation of Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF), which formed the government after Amin’s ouster,†Mr Baguma adds.
The UNLF, supported by the Tanzanian forces invaded Uganda and overthrew Amin in April 1979, says Mr Mwendo. “However, they failed to provide a stable government.â€
Its disintegration led to the 1981-1986 war that brought President Museveni into power, adds Prof. Apedunal.