The war in the bush (also known as the Luwero War or the Ugandan civil war) refers to the guerilla war waged in Uganda by the National Resistance Army (NRA) against the governments of Milton Obote and Tito Okello between 1981 and 1986. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Resistance Army (NRA) began as a guerilla army of Uganda in the 1980s, led by Yoweri Museveni. ... Yusuf Lule was the original chairman of the UNLF. Godfrey Binaisa was the second leader of the UNLF. The Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of Idi Amin with an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). ... The National Resistance Army (NRA) began as a guerilla army of Uganda in the 1980s, led by Yoweri Museveni. ... Obote pictured at the beginning of his second regime in 1980 Apollo Milton Obote (December 28, 1924, Apac, Uganda – October 10, 2005, Johannesburg, South Africa), Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966 and President of Uganda 1966-1971/1980-1985, was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence in... Oyite Ojok David Oyite Ojok (April 15, 1940 – December 2, 1983) was a Ugandan Major General who held one of the command leadership positions in the coalition between Uganda National Liberation Army and Tanzania Peoples Defence Force that removed Idi Amin in 1979. ... Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929 – January 9, 1990) was a Ugandan Brigadier in the military coalition between Tanzania Peoples Defence Force and Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) during the Uganda-Tanzania War that overthrew Idi Amin in 1979. ... Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born c. ... Caleb Akandwanaho (14 January 1960-), popularly known as Salim Saleh, is a general in the UPDF, the armed forces of Uganda. ... Fred Gisa Rwigema (10 April 1957—2 October 1990), born Emmanuel Gisa (his name sometimes erroneously spelled as Fred Rwigyema (Kinyarwanda can not have a gy combination, as they morph into jy, pronounced as gy)), was a founding member of the Rwandese Patriotic Front and is considered a hero in... The National Resistance Army (NRA) began as a guerilla army of Uganda in the 1980s, led by Yoweri Museveni. ... Obote pictured at the beginning of his second regime in 1980 Apollo Milton Obote (December 28, 1924, Apac, Uganda – October 10, 2005, Johannesburg, South Africa), Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966 and President of Uganda 1966-1971/1980-1985, was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence in... Tito Okello (1914 - June 3, 1996) was the leader of Uganda from July 1985 until January 1986. ...

Events leading to the war

Following the Uganda-Tanzania War that removed Idi Amin in 1979, a period of intense competition and fighting for power between different groups that had helped the Tanzanian Army against Idi Amin's army, followed. These groups, who had united as the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and its political wing, the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF), formed a quasi-parliamentary organ known the National Consultative Commission (NCC) after the Uganda-Tanzania War. NCC removed the interim government of Yusuf Lule and installed Godfrey Binaisa as president. Binaisa was himself removed from power by the Military Commission, a powerful organ within the UNLF headed by Paulo Muwanga, and whose deputy was Yoweri Museveni (then leader of Uganda Patriotic Movement). The country was then led by the Presidential Commission of Uganda with among others Paulo Muwanga, Yoweri Museveni, Oyite Ojok and Tito Okello. The Presidential Commission ruled Uganda until the December 1980 general elections which were won by Milton Obote's Uganda Peoples Congress. Combatants Uganda Libya Tanzania Peoples Defence Force & Uganda National Liberation Army Commanders Idi Amin Tanzanian army: Julius Nyerere UNLF: Tito Okello, Yoweri Museveni, David Oyite-Ojok Strength 3,000 Libyans, unknown number of Ugandan Army troops 100,000 Tanzanians, unknown number of Ugandan resistance troops, unknown number of Rwandan... Idi Amin Dada (c. ... The Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF) (swahili: Jeshi la Wananchi la Tanzania - JWTZ) was created in September 1964. ... UNLA (Uganda National Liberation Army) is the military arm of the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF). ... Yusuf Lule was the original chairman of the UNLF. Godfrey Binaisa was the second leader of the UNLF. The Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) was a political group formed by exiled Ugandans opposed to the rule of Idi Amin with an accompanying military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA). ... Yusuf Lule (1912 - 1985) was a Ugandan political figure. ... Godfrey Binaisa Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa QC (b. ... Paulo Muwanga was, as the chairman of the governing Military Commission, the de-facto President of Uganda for a few days in May 1980 until the establishment of the Presidential Commission of Uganda. ... Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born c. ... The Uganda Patriotic Movement is a political party in Uganda. ... The Presidential Commission of Uganda, composed of Saulo Musoke, Polycarp Nyamuchoncho and Yoweri Hunter Wacha-Olwol, jointly held the office of President of Uganda between 22 May and 15 December 1980. ... Oyite Ojok David Oyite Ojok (April 15, 1940 – December 2, 1983) was a Ugandan Major General who held one of the command leadership positions in the coalition between Uganda National Liberation Army and Tanzania Peoples Defence Force that removed Idi Amin in 1979. ... Tito Okello (1914 - June 3, 1996) was the leader of Uganda from July 1985 until January 1986. ... Uganda provides national elections for a president and a legislature. ... Obote pictured at the beginning of his second regime in 1980 Apollo Milton Obote (December 28, 1924, Apac, Uganda – October 10, 2005, Johannesburg, South Africa), Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966 and President of Uganda 1966-1971/1980-1985, was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence in... UPC flag The Uganda Peoples Congress is a political party in Uganda. ...

Following the bitterly disputed elections, which Museveni's Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) party lost, Museveni alleged electoral fraud and declared an armed rebellion against the UNLA (which was now Uganda's national army) and the government of Milton Obote. The Uganda Patriotic Movement is a political party in Uganda. ... Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. ... Obote pictured at the beginning of his second regime in 1980 Apollo Milton Obote (December 28, 1924, Apac, Uganda – October 10, 2005, Johannesburg, South Africa), Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966 and President of Uganda 1966-1971/1980-1985, was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence in...

Bush war begins

Museveni and his supporters retreated to the southwest of the country and formed the Popular Resistance Army (PRA). The PRA later merged with former president Lule's group, the Uganda Freedom Fighters (UFF), to create the National Resistance Army (NRA) and its political wing, the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Concurrently, two other rebel groups, the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) and Former Uganda National Army (FUNA), formed in West Nile from the remnants of Amin's supporters and engaged Obote's forces.^[1] The Popular Resistance Army was a rebel group formed in 1980 by Yoweri Museveni to fight against the regime of Milton Obote. ... The Uganda Freedom Fighters (UFF) were a Ugandan rebel group led by former president Yusufu Lule. ... The National Resistance Army (NRA) began as a guerilla army of Uganda in the 1980s, led by Yoweri Museveni. ... The National Resistance Movement is a political organization in Uganda. ... The Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF), refers to two former armed rebel groups in Ugandas West Nile sub-region that first opposed, then became incorporated into the Ugandan government. ... West Nile sub-region (previously known as West Nile District) is a region in north-eastern Uganda that consists of the districts of Koboko, Moyo, Yumbe and Arua. ...

NRA's bush war began with an attack on an army installation in the central Mubende District on 6 February 1981. Museveni, who had guerrilla war experience with the Mozambican Liberation Front (FRELIMO) in Mozambique, and his own Front for National Salvation (FRONASA) formed in Tanzania to fight Idi Amin, campaigned in rural areas hostile to Obote's government, especially central and western Buganda and in the regions of Ankole and Bunyoro in western Uganda.^[2] Mubende is a district in central Uganda. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Liberation Front of Mozambique (better known under its abbreveration FRELIMO, pronounced fray-LEE-moo; Portuguese: Frente de Libertação de Moçambique) is a political party that has ruled Mozambique since independence in 1975. ... The Front for National Salvation (FRONSA) was a Ugandan rebel group formed by Yoweri Museveni in 1973. ... The flag of Buganda Buganda is the kingdom of the 52 clans of the Baganda people, the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda. ... Ankole, originally known as Nkore, is one of the four traditional kingdoms of Uganda. ... Bunyoro flag The current Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara and its districts Bunyoro is a region of Uganda, and from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century one of the most powerful kingdoms of East Africa. ...

Most of the battles were conducted by small mobile units which were designated as "A" Coy commanded by Steven Kashaka, "B" Coy under Joram Mugume, and "C" Coy under Pecos Kuteesa. The commander of these forces was Fred Rwigyema, assisted by Salim Saleh. There were three small zonal forces – Lutta Unit in the areas of Kapeeka, Kabalega Unit in the areas near Kiwoko, and Nkrumah Unit in the areas of Ssingo.^[3] This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Caleb Akandwanaho (14 January 1960-), popularly known as Salim Saleh, is a general in the UPDF, the armed forces of Uganda. ...

Civil rights abuses

Obotes UNLA forces retorted in an effort to destroy the NRA, resulting in great loss of civilian life in the affected areas. UNLA soldiers consisted of many ethnic Acholi and Lango, and although the Acholi and Lango themselves were survivors of Amin's genocidal purges in northern Uganda, the soldiers conducted actions reminiscent of Amin's. In early 1983, to eliminate rural support for Museveni's guerrillas, the area of Luwero District was targeted for a massive population removal affecting almost 750,000 people. The resultant refugee camps were subject to military control, and in many cases human rights abuses. Many civilians outside the camps, in what came to be known as the "Luwero triangle," were blamed for being guerrilla sympathizers and were treated accordingly. Acholiland, Uganda Acholi (also Acoli) are the people of the districts of Gulu, Kitgum Pader (known as Acholiland) in northern Uganda, and Magwe County in southern Sudan. ... The Lango (plural Langi) people live in the central area of Uganda, north of Lake Kyoga. ... Luwero is a district in central Uganda. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ...

NRA likewise committed atrocities, including the use of land mines specifically against civilians. Child soldiers were widely used by the NRA as guerillas, and also subsequently when NRA became the regular army.^[4] “Minefield” redirects here. ... April 20, 1945. ...

UNLA infighting

In the deteriorating military and economic situation, Obote subordinated other matters to a military victory over NRA. North Korean military advisers were invited to take part against the NRA rebels. But the army was war-weary, and after the death of the highly capable army Chief of Staff, General Oyite Ojok, in a helicopter crash at the end of 1983, UNLA began to split along ethnic lines. Acholi soldiers complained that they were given too much frontline action and too few rewards for their services. Obote further alienated much of the Acholi-dominated officer corps, including the military leaders Lieutenant General Bazilio Olara-Okello and General Tito Okello, by appointing his fellow ethnic Lango, Brigadier Smith Opon Acak, as Chief of Staff, and by giving more prominence to the Lango dominated Special Force Units. On July 27, 1985, an army brigade of the UNLA commanded by Olara-Okello, and composed mostly of Acholi troops, staged a coup d'état against Milton Obote's government and seized power. Obote fled to exile. North Korea, officially the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK; Korean: Chosŏn Minjujuŭi Inmin Konghwaguk; Hangul: 조선민주주의인민공화국; Hanja: 朝鮮民主主義人民共和國), is a country in eastern Asia... The chief of staff is the chief aide to the commander of larger military formations and units. ... Oyite Ojok David Oyite Ojok (April 15, 1940 – December 2, 1983) was a Ugandan Major General who held one of the command leadership positions in the coalition between Uganda National Liberation Army and Tanzania Peoples Defence Force that removed Idi Amin in 1979. ... Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929 – January 9, 1990) was a Ugandan Brigadier in the military coalition between Tanzania Peoples Defence Force and Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) during the Uganda-Tanzania War that overthrew Idi Amin in 1979. ... Tito Okello (1914 - June 3, 1996) was the leader of Uganda from July 1985 until January 1986. ... A coup détat (pronounced ), or simply coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government through unconstitutional means by a part of the state establishment — mostly replacing just the high-level figures. ...

NRA takes power

Prior to Oyite Ojok's death the NRA was nearly defeated, with Museveni living in exile in Sweden. Following UNLA infighting and the coup against Obote, the NRA's guerilla war gained momentum. In December 1985, Tito Okello's government signed a peace deal, the Nairobi Agreement, with the NRA. However, the ceasefire broke down almost immediately, and in January 1986, Museveni's brother Salim Saleh, commanded NRA's assault on Kampala, which eventually led to the demise of Tito Okello's regime, and Museveni becoming president. NRA became the national army, and was renamed Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF). Yoweri Museveni and Tito Okello signing the fated peace deal. ... Caleb Akandwanaho (14 January 1960-), popularly known as Salim Saleh, is a general in the UPDF, the armed forces of Uganda. ... Tito Okello (1914 - June 3, 1996) was the leader of Uganda from July 1985 until January 1986. ... The President of Uganda is the head of state in Uganda. ... The Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF), previously the National Resistance Army, constitutes the armed forces of Uganda. ...

References

1. ^ "Causes and consequences of the war in Acholiland", Ogenga Otunnu, from Lucima et al, 2002
2. ^ "A Country Study: The Second Obote Regime: 1981-85", Library of Congress Country Studies
3. ^ Dr Kizza besigye, "We fought for what was right", The Monitor, July 1, 2004
4. ^ Uganda, Landmine Monitor Report

• This article contains material from the Library of Congress Country Studies, which are United States government publications in the public domain. - Uganda