The Uganda- Tanzania (Kagera) War

The Uganda–Tanzania War, known in Tanzania as the Kagera War and in Uganda as the 1979 Liberation War, was fought between Uganda and Tanzania from October 1978 until June 1979, and led to the overthrow of Idi Amin‘s regime.

As the saying goes, those who forget their history are bound to repeat it. It is a sad state in the history of Africa when brother turned against brother. The dispute was the result of the overthrow of Obote the former President of Uganda; overthrown by Idi Amin. President Obote was a personal friend of Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere. Tanzania under Nyerere gave Obote refuge after his ouster from Uganda. However, Nyerere sought to avenge his friend’s disposal

More than 20,000 people went into exile following Amin’s ascension to power through a coup. With Nyerere’s backing factions close to and sympathetic, Obote invaded Uganda from Tanzania in September, 1972. The rebellion was quickly stamped out by Amin a general in the armed forces with military training. Amin’s strategy won the battle when his military struck Bukoba, Tanzania.

In 1978, without warning Amin attacked Kagera, Northern Tanzania. The issue was just a border issue in the beginning with Amin annexing Tanzanian land. He claimed that the land actually belonged to Uganda. The current borders were imposed under colonialism and arbitrarily divided African villages.

Amin took over the political power and had to face an economy which was not growing. The issue was that economic activity was not growing fast enough. Ugandans had relied on foreign investors to drive their economy and when they were chased out by Amin. The economic woes caused a decline in the Ugandan economy coupled with excessive imports of luxury goods which had enriched the army.

Tanzania retaliated and marched on Kampala and took over the city forcing Amin into exile. Amin had already begun to purge the inner circle and many lived in fear. There was little loyalty to Amin left so the army deserted him and joined the Tanzanian army.

The Ugandans living in exile in Tanzania and other defectors in Uganda joined the Tanzanian army in the rebellion to oust Amin from power. The Organization of African Unity was unable to stop the invasion of Uganda by Tanzania. It proved that the organization was a toothless bulldog which could not uphold African unity.