Battle of Mutukula

Battle of Mutukula
Part of the Uganda–Tanzania War
Battle of Mutukula is located in Uganda
Mutukula
Mutukula
Battle of Mutukula (Uganda)
Date21–22 January 1979
Location
Mutukula, Uganda
0°59′51″S 31°24′54″E / 0.99750°S 31.41500°E / -0.99750; 31.41500
Result Tanzanian victory
Territorial
changes
Mutukula captured by Tanzanian forces
Belligerents
 Tanzania  Uganda
Commanders and leaders
Mwita Marwa
Salim Hassan Boma
Yefusa Bananuka
Bernard Rwehururu
Abdulatif Tiyua
Units involved
208th Brigade Gondo Battalion
Suicide Battalion
Strength
1 brigade unknown
Casualties and losses
3 killed
dozens wounded
14 killed
2 captured
1 tank destroyed
1 tank damaged
1 tank captured
3 APCs destroyed

The Battle of Mutukula (Kiswahili: Mapigano ya Mutukula) took place from 21 to 22 January 1979 near and in the town of Mutukula, Uganda, during the Uganda–Tanzania War. After repulsing a Ugandan invasion of the Kagera Salient in 1978, Tanzanian commanders feared that Ugandan forces stationed upon the high ground in Mutukula, a town located along the Tanzania–Uganda border, still posed a threat to their territory. On the night of 21 January 1979 the Tanzanian 208th Brigade crossed the border and surrounded the town. The following morning it attacked, and the Ugandan garrison—including the Gondo and Suicide Battalions—fled. Afterwards the Tanzanians razed the locale in revenge for the damage wrought by the Ugandans in Kagera.