| Western Uganda campaign | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Uganda–Tanzania War | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
|
 Rwenzururu movement |
 Uganda Libya (alleged) Palestine Liberation Organisation (alleged) | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Silas Mayunga Roland Makunda Ahmed Kitete Muhiddin Kimario (from April) Yoweri Museveni |
Yorokamu Tizihwayo  Bernard Rwehururu Abdu Kisuule (defected) | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
205th Brigade (from April) FRONASA Kikosi Maalum |
| ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
Three brigades FRONASA: 2,000+ | Unknown | ||||||||
The Western Uganda campaign of 1979 was a military operation by Tanzanian forces and allied Ugandan rebels, mainly the Front for National Salvation (FRONASA), against Uganda Army (UA) troops loyal to Ugandan President Idi Amin during the Uganda–Tanzania War. The operation was launched by the Tanzania People's Defence Force's (TPDF) "Task Force", consisting of two brigades, in February 1979 to cover the Tanzanians' western axis of advance into Uganda. After securing the important city of Mbarara against Uganda Army counter-attacks, the TPDF Task Force captured several cities as well as the Kilembe Mines in the Rwenzori Mountains. These operations coincided with an expansion of the separatist Rwenzururu movement, a rebel group that exploited the collapse of the Uganda Army along the Uganda-Zaire border to secure territory and weaponry for itself. From the Rwenzori Mountains, the Task Force advanced to Hoima; there, it combined forces with another Tanzanian force, the 205th Brigade. Together, the TPDF formations advanced to Masindi, capturing it after a battle south of the city. With western Uganda largely under Tanzanian control, the Task Force and 205th Brigade subsequently split up again to capture northwestern and north-central Uganda.