Da Dona
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
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On November 2, 1978, Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere declared war on the regime of Ugandan President Idi Amin, setting in motion a military campaign that would eventually bring an end to Amin’s eight-year rule in April 1979.
The declaration followed Uganda’s invasion of the Kagera Salient in northwestern Tanzania in October 1978. Ugandan troops crossed the border, occupied the territory and were accused of widespread looting, destruction and displacement of civilians. Amin subsequently announced that the territory had been annexed to Uganda.
Relations between the two countries had been strained since January 1971, when Amin seized power from President Milton Obote in a military coup. Nyerere, who maintained close political ties with Obote, granted the former Ugandan president asylum in Tanzania, a decision that further worsened relations between the neighbouring countries.
On November 2, 1978, Nyerere addressed Tanzanians in a radio broadcast, declaring that the country had the reason, determination and capability to defeat Amin. His message was captured in the famous Swahili statement:
“Tuna sababu za kumpiga Amin, nia tunayo, na uwezo tunao.”
This translates to: “We have reasons to fight Amin, we have the determination, and we have the capability.”
Nyerere rejected calls for mediation and called on Tanzanians to support the country's armed forces. The declaration marked the beginning of a nationwide military mobilisation, with the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) preparing for a counter-offensive.
The Tanzanian forces eventually drove Ugandan troops out of the Kagera region and advanced into Uganda, working alongside Ugandan exile groups opposed to Amin's government. The campaign developed into a broader military offensive aimed at removing Amin from power.
On April 11, 1979, Tanzanian forces and Ugandan liberation fighters captured Kampala, bringing Amin's eight-year rule to an end. Amin fled the country and eventually settled in Saudi Arabia, where he lived until his death on August 16, 2003.
The Uganda–Tanzania War remains a significant chapter in East African history, marking the end of Amin's government and reshaping Uganda's political landscape.
