Battle of Lira

Battle of Lira
Part of the Uganda–Tanzania War
Battle of Lira is located in Uganda
Lira
Lira
Battle of Lira (Uganda)
Date15 May 1979
Location
Lira and surroundings, Uganda
Result Tanzanian-UNLF victory
Territorial
changes
Lira occupied by Tanzanian-UNLF forces
Belligerents
 Tanzania
UNLF
 Uganda
Commanders and leaders
Imran Kombe
Roland Chacha
David Oyite-Ojok
Unknown
Units involved
201st Brigade
Kikosi Maalum
Unknown
Strength
5,000 ~300
Casualties and losses
4 Tanzanians killed
4 Tanzanians wounded
70+ killed
18 captured

The Battle of Lira was one of the last battles in the Uganda–Tanzania War, fought by Tanzania and its Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) allies, against Uganda Army troops loyal to Idi Amin on 15 May 1979. The Tanzanian-led forces easily routed Lira's garrison of Amin loyalists, and then intercepted and destroyed one retreating column of Uganda Army soldiers near the town.

Idi Amin had seized power in Uganda in 1971 and established a brutal dictatorship. Seven years later he attempted to invade neighbouring Tanzania to the south. The attack was repulsed, and the Tanzanians launched a counter-attack into Ugandan territory. After a number of battles, Amin's regime and military largely collapsed, whereupon Tanzania and its Ugandan allies of the UNLF began to mop up the last pro-Amin holdouts in Uganda's east and north. One of these was the town of Lira, whose capture was entrusted to a force consisting of the Tanzanian 201st Brigade and the UNLF's Kikosi Maalum force.

While approaching Lira, the Tanzanian-UNLF force divided into two groups, with the main force attacking the town from the south. The other force was ordered to set up an ambush along the western approach in order to destroy Uganda Army troops who attempted to flee the town. The Tanzanian-led troops began their assault on Lira on 15 May 1979, and the garrison began to retreat. One column of retreating soldiers ran into the advancing Tanzanian-UNLF troops west of the town, and was almost completely destroyed. Lira was consequently occupied by the Tanzanians and UNLF fighters without further resistance.