West Nile campaign (October 1980)

West Nile campaign
Part of the Ugandan Bush War
DateOctober 1980
Location
Mostly West Nile Region, Uganda, with spillovers into surrounding areas
Result

Ugandan government victory

  • Massacres and mass displacement in West Nile Region
Belligerents

Uganda Army
Alleged support by:
 Zaire
 Sudan
 Saudi Arabia


Armed Madi civilians
 Uganda
 Tanzania
Commanders and leaders
Elly Aseni  Ojul[1]
Units involved
Several groups

Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA)
Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF)
Acholi and Langi militants

Strength

c. 7,100 (total Uganda Army)

  • c. 500 (initial attack)
Unknown UNLA
Thousands of militia
Casualties and losses
Low 200+ killed
1,000–30,000 civilians killed, 250,000 displaced

In October 1980, Uganda's West Nile Region was the site of a major military campaign, as Uganda Army (UA) remnants invaded from Zaire as well as Sudan and seized several major settlements, followed by a counteroffensive by the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) supported by militias and Tanzanian forces. The campaign resulted in large-scale destruction and massacres of civilians, mostly perpetrated by the UNLA and allied militants, with 1,000 to 30,000 civilians killed and 250,000 displaced. The clashes mark the beginning of the Ugandan Bush War.

  1. ^ Meynell 1984, p. 9.