How Tanzania Took a Stand During the Ugandan-Tanzanian War
Who? The Tanzanian Army and the leader Julius Nyerere.
Against what? The Tanzanians and the Ugandans fought bravely against Idi Amin's troops, which included thousands from the leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi.
What did they do? The Tanzanians chose to stand up for the Ugandans by helping them overthrow the leader, Idi Amin. They stood up for themselves because they knew they had to show the Ugandans that they were strong enough to stand and fight with them. Idi Amin first gained power in 1971, and Tanzania kindly offered the ousted president, Milton Obote and 20,000 refugees fleeing from Amin sanctuary. Continuously, a group of exiles attempted to overthrow Amin but was unsuccessful. Amin and Tanzania's relationship was extremely strained.
Additionally, in October 1978, Tanzanian troops were able to ambush Amin, however, he escaped in a helicopter. With Amin's troops failing and shrinking to a extremely dangerous amount, Amin's vice president, Mustafa Adrisi, was injured in a car accident that made his loyal troops fight back against Amin. The troops successfully fled into Tanzania when Amin sent troops against Adrisi's troops. In revenge, Amin attempted to invade and conquer part of the Kagera region, a place in the northwestern part of Tanzania, which Amin was claiming to be part of Uganda. Despite the threat, Julius Nyerere brought together the Tanzania People's Defense Force and used them to counterattack. Tanzania's troops had more than doubled in size with original amount of 40,000, was increased to over 100,000.
Using a Russian rocket launcher on multiple targets in Uganda, The Tanzanian Army made the Ugandan Army retreat slowly. Unfortunately for the Tanzanians, that was the time when Muammar Gaddafi sent 2,500 troops to aid Amin, all equipped with armour and weapons. Despite that, Amin used the Libyan troops in the front line while the Ugandan Army were stealing the Libyan's equipment and taking it the other way.
Tanzanian Troops attempted to made north all the way to the capital city of Uganda, however, they stopped north Lukaya, a city in Central Uganda at a swamp. The plan was to send two Brigades: One was to be sent directly across the causeway of the swamp. The other was a backup that would be sent around the western edge of the swamp in case the causeway was blocked or damaged. The Tanzanians forces collided with the Libyan forces that were heading to Masaka which resulted in confusion and disorganization. Despite that, the Tanzanian Army were able to counter-attack the next two nights from two different directions which was successful and left tons of Libyan troops retreating.
Tanzanians and the exiled Ugandans kept invading other cities after that battle. They overcame the Entebbe airfield and finally took down Kampala. After that final battle, the Tanzanian troops stayed in Uganda to help maintain peace while the Ugandans helped to elect a new government.
What was the result? The Tanzanians were able to fix the Ugandan government by helping the exiled Ugandans take away Idi Amin. They made the right decision in helping another country stand up for themselves to take down Amin.
Against what? The Tanzanians and the Ugandans fought bravely against Idi Amin's troops, which included thousands from the leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi.
What did they do? The Tanzanians chose to stand up for the Ugandans by helping them overthrow the leader, Idi Amin. They stood up for themselves because they knew they had to show the Ugandans that they were strong enough to stand and fight with them. Idi Amin first gained power in 1971, and Tanzania kindly offered the ousted president, Milton Obote and 20,000 refugees fleeing from Amin sanctuary. Continuously, a group of exiles attempted to overthrow Amin but was unsuccessful. Amin and Tanzania's relationship was extremely strained.
Additionally, in October 1978, Tanzanian troops were able to ambush Amin, however, he escaped in a helicopter. With Amin's troops failing and shrinking to a extremely dangerous amount, Amin's vice president, Mustafa Adrisi, was injured in a car accident that made his loyal troops fight back against Amin. The troops successfully fled into Tanzania when Amin sent troops against Adrisi's troops. In revenge, Amin attempted to invade and conquer part of the Kagera region, a place in the northwestern part of Tanzania, which Amin was claiming to be part of Uganda. Despite the threat, Julius Nyerere brought together the Tanzania People's Defense Force and used them to counterattack. Tanzania's troops had more than doubled in size with original amount of 40,000, was increased to over 100,000.
Using a Russian rocket launcher on multiple targets in Uganda, The Tanzanian Army made the Ugandan Army retreat slowly. Unfortunately for the Tanzanians, that was the time when Muammar Gaddafi sent 2,500 troops to aid Amin, all equipped with armour and weapons. Despite that, Amin used the Libyan troops in the front line while the Ugandan Army were stealing the Libyan's equipment and taking it the other way.
Tanzanian Troops attempted to made north all the way to the capital city of Uganda, however, they stopped north Lukaya, a city in Central Uganda at a swamp. The plan was to send two Brigades: One was to be sent directly across the causeway of the swamp. The other was a backup that would be sent around the western edge of the swamp in case the causeway was blocked or damaged. The Tanzanians forces collided with the Libyan forces that were heading to Masaka which resulted in confusion and disorganization. Despite that, the Tanzanian Army were able to counter-attack the next two nights from two different directions which was successful and left tons of Libyan troops retreating.
Tanzanians and the exiled Ugandans kept invading other cities after that battle. They overcame the Entebbe airfield and finally took down Kampala. After that final battle, the Tanzanian troops stayed in Uganda to help maintain peace while the Ugandans helped to elect a new government.
What was the result? The Tanzanians were able to fix the Ugandan government by helping the exiled Ugandans take away Idi Amin. They made the right decision in helping another country stand up for themselves to take down Amin.