Today in History: Uganda Invades Tanzania’s Kagera Salient

What the report says

Nile Post reports that on October 30, 1978, the Uganda Army launched a full-scale invasion of Tanzania’s Kagera Salient, crossing the border into the northern part of the territory. The article says the attack came after years of worsening relations between Ugandan President Idi Amin and Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, including Tanzania’s refusal to recognise Amin’s government and its support for Ugandan dissidents and exiled former president Milton Obote.

According to the report, the offensive involved thousands of Ugandan troops backed by armour, artillery and air power. Tanzanian forces were initially overwhelmed, and the invasion caused major destruction in the area, including damaged infrastructure and the killing of civilians. The article also notes the demolition of the Kyaka Bridge, which further disrupted movement and communication along the border region.

Nile Post says Amin later declared the Kagera Salient annexed, a move that helped prompt Tanzania to declare war and mobilise its forces. With support from Ugandan anti-Amin groups, Tanzanian troops pushed Ugandan forces out of Kagera by January 1979 and then advanced into Uganda. The campaign continued into April 1979, when Tanzanian forces captured Entebbe and Kampala, leading to Amin’s flight into exile and the collapse of his rule.

The piece places the invasion in the broader context of the Uganda-Tanzania conflict and its role in ending Amin’s presidency.