SubSaharan Africa 457
MID#2141
Dispute Number: 2141
Date(s): October 9, 1978 to June 3, 1979
Participants: 500 Uganda, 620 Libya/510 Tanzania
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Imposed)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: The Ugandan-Tanzanian War of 1978–1979 ousted Idi Amin from his
position as head of the Ugandan state. Amin had been a thorn in Tanzania’s side
since he came to power via coup in 1971. Tanzania did not trust Amin and undertook
several measures through the 1970s to influence his removal as Ugandan dictator.
Meanwhile, Uganda had ambitions to annex the Kagera area in northwest Tanzania.
Uganda made the first move, initiating the war with an October 1978 invasion of Tan-
zania. Libyan head of state Muammar al-Qaddafi came to the assistance of Idi Amin in
this war, sending Libyan troops to fight alongside Ugandan troops in Tanzania. They
were not successful. Tanzania, with assistance from Ugandan rebels who had become
enemies of Amin through the course of the 1970s, captured the Ugandan capital of
Kampala. Amin fled, ultimately taking sanctuary in Libya. Tanzania installed the for-
mer Ugandan head of state, Milton Obote, to his position.
500 Uganda/517 Rwanda
MID#3979
Dispute Number: 3979
Date(s): January 24, 1991 to December 28, 1991
Participants: 500 Uganda/517 Rwanda
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: The Rwandan Patriotic Front rebels and the Rwandan government forces
fought for over a year. The rebel forces were based in Uganda, and on January 24,
1991, Rwandan soldiers went into Uganda and opened fire on the village of Rwene.
The Rwandan president stated that the Ugandan army was passively and actively
involved in the attacks on Rwanda, and asked the Organization of African Unity to
stop what they called Ugandan aggression on June 5. Rwanda finally chased the rebels
out of Rwandan territory on December 28, after five days of fighting.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from January 27, 1991. Fatalities changed from
Missing.
MID#4252
Dispute Number: 4252
Date(s): August 14, 1999 to August 18, 1999
Participants: 500 Uganda/517 Rwanda
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)