Eastern Uganda campaign of 1979

Eastern Uganda campaign
Part of the Uganda–Tanzania War
Date15 April – c. May 1979
Location
Eastern Uganda
Result Tanzanian-led victory
Territorial
changes
Belligerents
 Tanzania
Uganda National Liberation Front
Uganda Army renegades
Karamojong groups
 Uganda
Commanders and leaders
Tanzania Mwita Marwa
Tanzania Salim Hassan Boma
Tanzania Ben Msuya
Tanzania L.G. Sandys
Tanzania Dick Mwandetelle (WIA)
Malinga
Unknown
Units involved

Tanzania 208th Brigade

  • 7th Battalion
  • 17th Battalion
  • 18th Battalion
  • 19th Battalion
  • 24th Battalion
Eagle Colonel Gaddafi Battalion
Eastern Brigade
Strength
Tanzania 4,000
UNLA: 1,000
Mbale defectors: 250
Unknown

The Eastern Uganda campaign of 1979 was a military operation by Tanzanian forces and allied Ugandan rebels, most importantly the Uganda National Liberation Army, against Uganda Army (UA) troops loyal to Idi Amin during the Uganda–Tanzania War. The operation was launched by the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) on 15 April 1979 to secure eastern Uganda and oust UA remnants which were still active in the area. The TPDF mainly targeted the important towns of Jinja, Mbale, Tororo, Soroti, and Moroto. It encountered only sporadic resistance, as most UA soldiers focused on fleeing with loot instead of resisting, and successfully secured most of eastern Uganda. In the northeast, the collapse of the Uganda Army resulted in local Karamojong groups seizing much weaponry which would result in long-lasting security issues.