The liberation war in Uganda
Idi
Amin took over state power through an army coup in 1971. He overthrew
Milton Obote who had gone to attend a commonwealth conference in
Singapore. Ugandans welcomed him because he appeared to be a saviour
from the dictatorship of Obote. People also had very high expectations.
Amin's regime was characterized by agony, bloodshed and destruction
which was perpetuated by the president himself, the notorious army, the
public Safety unit, the military police as well as Anti corruption
under Bob Astles. On April 11,1979 the man who had decreed himself to
rule Uganda until death was ousted from power.
The ease and speed of Life president's fall was surprising. During his
rule set up a well armed and trained army that he claimed that it was
easy to fight South Africa, Israel and Tanzania.
The immediate cause of his fall came in 1978 when his soldiers attacked
the Kagera Salient of Tanzania. The immediate cause of this invasion
was that in July 1978, there were border clashes between Bahima
herdsmen across the Uganda-Tanzania border with lot destruction on both
sides. Lt. Col Yusuf Adek, the commanding officer of Simba Battalion
reported the matter to Amin who immediately ordered an APC unit to the
disturbed area.
Amin' soldiers entered deep in Tanzania, leaving a trail of rapes,
murders and looting after occupying the area for several days. Amin
praised his soldiers and declared to the world that the Uganda Tanzania
border had shifted to become the Kagera river and also that the area
had become an extra district for Uganda. He went on to say,
"Nyerere is a liar and a coward who collects his family around to clap for him as if he were a madman".
A triumphant Colonel Oyite Ojok at parliament after the fall of Amin in April 1979.
Tanzanians backed by Ugandans in exile fought until Amin was finally defeated in April 1979. Ugandans organized the Moshi conference to get a suitable leader to replace Amin. When the war started, Amin asked for assistance from his friend Gadaffi of Libya. Military hardware as well a force of 500 fighters was sent to Uganda. Many of them were killed and others were arrested without fighting for two days
"Nyerere is a liar and a coward who collects his family around to clap for him as if he were a madman".
A triumphant Colonel Oyite Ojok at parliament after the fall of Amin in April 1979.
Tanzanians backed by Ugandans in exile fought until Amin was finally defeated in April 1979. Ugandans organized the Moshi conference to get a suitable leader to replace Amin. When the war started, Amin asked for assistance from his friend Gadaffi of Libya. Military hardware as well a force of 500 fighters was sent to Uganda. Many of them were killed and others were arrested without fighting for two days
National Movements and New States in Africa