Whatever demons made Amin attack Tanzania!

BLAST FROM THE PAST

When Idi Amin attacked Tanzania early October 1978, he sealed his own fate as he would get expelled from Uganda barely six months later and stay away forever till his death and burial in exile.

His provocative annexation of Kagera province to Uganda and continued killing and plunder by his troops pushed Tanzania's president Mwalimu Julius Nyerere to declare war to repulse the enemy at the end of October.

Tanzania made it clear that they were not fighting Uganda, but Idi Amin.

Amin displaying arms purpoted to have been brought in Uganda from Tanzania found in Aroma's place 1978

 
Tanzania's government that had been host to many Ugandan exiles including ex-president Milton Obote put diplomacy aside and offered direct support to the Uganda exiles to fight and topple Idi Amin. The mighty Tanzania Peoples Defence Forces (TPDF) was mobilised and sent to war in Uganda.

Binaisa saying farewell to Tanzania officers after the war on 11.07.79

  

At first Tanzania intended to remove Idi Amin and replace him with the man he had overthrown in 1971, Milton Obote. But the commander of the significant Ugandan fighting group called FRONASA, Yoweri Museveni, convinced top commanders of TPDF who in turn convinced the national leadership under Mwalimu Nyerere and the Ugandan exiles were allowed to choose the post-Amin leadership, while still enjoying full backing of TPDF.

Monument in memory of Tanzania's servicemen in Kabuwoko

 

The war gathered momentum and the invading forces soon took Mbarara and then Masaka. Yoweri Museveni, who later became president of Uganda, makes a disturbing observation in his autobiography that that the Tanzanians deliberately destroyed Mbarara and Masaka after Amin's army had been driven out of the towns. The reason given for the senseless destruction was apparently a precautionary insurance that should Amin successfully drive the invaders back, the people of Uganda would at least blame him for provoking a war that destroyed their major town, and continue hating him.

Soldiers at Kagera during the 1978 Uganda - Tanzania war

 

 
The war was won on April 11, 1979 when Kampala fell to the Tanzanian army and the Ugandan exile fighting groups. Out of the war came a popular signature tune 'Victory' that for many years was used to begin the national broadcaster's Radio and TV news bulletins.

Uganda-Tanzania war frontline at Kyaka

Uganda-Tanzania war frontline at Kyaka, 30.10.1978