Vita vya Kagera 1979: Kwanini Jeshi letu lilipitia mipaka ya Sudan badala ya kukatiza hapo kati kufika Kampala?

[Ndumbayeye]

Mshenzi kuliko Nyerere?

nna shemeji yangu alikuwa askari biharamuro kabla vita aliacha jeshi, kukimbia vitendo vya uchokozi tulivokuwa tunamfanyia Amin alijua Amin alikuwa chizi angelipiza siku moja

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[Blackcornshman]

Hapana mzee; nilikuwa niko COMMs ya Brigade ya Magharibi , na nilikuwa kati ya vijana tuliokuwa tunakusanya habari za kupeleka ofisi ya Brigade Coommander kila siku kabla hajaandika oda yake ya siku; wenzagu walioendelea na jeshi walifikaia kuwa majenerali na makanali. Nilikuwa napata habari nyingi sana kuliko hata maluteni kanaili wakati huo; sivyo unavyodhani. Nliachana na mambo ya kijeshi takriban miaka 35 iliyopita, na niliondoka Tanzania zaidi ya miaka 25 iliyopita, kwa hiyo sina cha kuficha wala cha propaganda. Ninaandika yale ninayojua kikamilifu, mengine ambayo huenda bado ni classified kuhusu njia tulizopitia kuingia Uganda.

Shukrani.

 

[Missile of the Nation]

Pamoja na kwamba Amini aliingia kichwa kichwa katika ule mgogoro lakini ukweli ni kwamba hata sisi mara kadhaa tulikuwa wachokozi.
Miaka ya 1972 tulishasaidia kikosi cha waasi kutoka nchini ardhini kwetu kwenda Uganda kufanya jaribio la kumuondoa Amini, jaribio lilifeli, tukasuruhishwa na rais wa Somalia wakati huo Siad Barre.

Lakini pamoja na hayo tuliendelea kumhifadhi Obote na wapiganaji wanaoumuunga mkono, na pia kulikuwa na Kikosi cha Museveni nchini.

Sasa hebu fikiria wewe ni rais wa Tanzania halafu Kenya iwe inatunza waasi, je utakuwa na hali gani?, hutaimarisha ulinzi mpakani?, utakuwa rafiki wa Kenya?, Nani mchokozi hapo?

Kwa kuingiza majeshi Kagera, Amini aliingia kwenye Mitego ya Nyerere ambaye toka day 1 siku Amin alipoingia madarakani kwa kumpindua rafiki yake yaani Obote, alikuwa anawaza angemrudishaje rafiki yake Obote madarakani?.

 

[nkumbison]

kwa nilivyoelewa kuhusiana na suala la kusaidiwa na msumbiji, ni kwamba kabla ya vita palikua na wanajeshi wa tanzania nchini msumbiji so vita ilipoanza ikabidi warudi... sasa basi wenda kitenfo cha wao kurudi wengine wakadhani ni wanajeshi wa msumbiji wanakuja kutupa msaada.

tujiulize inspotokea majeshi yetu yanaenda kulinda amani huwa wanaenda wanajeshi tupu makamanda watawakuta huko huko au uwa wanaonfoka na makamanda wao?

Mwl Kichuguu ajibiwe Majina ya makamanda waliokuja na wanajeshi wa msumbiji kama hizo source hazijawaandika basi, mwlm yupo sahihi!

 

[Kyalow]

Vita ilikuwa ya ulazima kwani Amin alijua Tanzania awamuwezi kwakuwa alikuwa na vifaa vya kivita kuliko sisi!nakwakuwa alidhamilia kuchukua kagera yote vita ilikuwa aihepukiki!

Wewe Mzee ungekua mganda pure!!

 

[Volatility]

Hii ni mentality ya kutokujiamini tu, kudhani kuwa sisi ni inferior kwa kila kitu. Vile vile ni kutokuelewa historia halisi

Elewa kuwa jeshi la Uganda wakati huo lilikuwa chini ya Amini, siyo kuwa Jeshi lilikuwa limegawanyika. Chanzo kikubwa cha kuelekea Amin kumpindua Obote ni kwa vile alikuwa anasuka jeshi kuwa lake na kuwa ana-sideline wasiokuwa wafuasi wake kwa kutumia hela za serikali, na Obote alipomtaka aeleze matumizi ya hela za jeshi ndipo akaamua kumpindua. Ni kikundi kidogo kilichokuwa kimebaki upande wa Obote ambacho ndicho kilikimbilia Tanzania kikiongozwa na akina Oyite Ojok na Tito Okello ambacho kiliitegemea sana Tanzania kwa miaka yote minane ya utawala wa Amini; kilikuwa hakifiki hata batallion moja. Baada ya kuangushwa kwa Amini na jeshi lote la Uganda kuvunjwa na TPDF, ndipo UPDF ilipoanzishwa na kufundishwa na TPDF, unaweza kuona hata jina lenyewe. Mvutano wa madaraka uliotokea ndani ya Uganda baada ya Amini kuwa amsheaangushwa na jeshi letu kuwa limesharudi nyumbani ndio uliosababisha Museveni aanzishe jeshi lake la msituni NRA ikiwa ni mwaka 1983. Museveni mwenyewe alipandikizwa kutokea Tanzania; wengine ni kama Dani Wadada Nabudere ambaye alikuwa anafundisha UDSM kabla ya vita.

Hata kama unaidharau Tanzania, kubali kuwa TPDF ilikuwa jeshi imara sana wakati huo. Kumbuka lilikuwa limeshapitia mapigano mabalimbali kusini mwa Afrika kwa hivyo lilikuwa na experience kubwa sana kuliko jeshi lolote Afrika ya Mashariki.

TPDF limekuwa ni jeshi bora toka tumepata uhuru mpaka hivi karibuni alipoingia madarakani JIWE. toka wanajeshi wetu wanaolinda amani wauwawe wakiwa kambini katika kazi ya kulinda amani nchini congo na halijawahi kujibu mapigo mpaka leo huku amiri jeshi mkuu akivaa magwanda ya kijeshi na kuzunguka mitaani kupiga kampeni za kisiasa, binafsi nimekuwa muoga sana na mashambulizi kutoka nje ya nchi.

 

[Blackcornshman]

kwa nilivyoelewa kuhusiana na suala la kusaidiwa na msumbiji, ni kwamba kabla ya vita palikua na wanajeshi wa tanzania nchini msumbiji so vita ilipoanza ikabidi warudi... sasa basi wenda kitenfo cha wao kurudi wengine wakadhani ni wanajeshi wa msumbiji wanakuja kutupa msaada.

tujiulize inspotokea majeshi yetu yanaenda kulinda amani huwa wanaenda wanajeshi tupu makamanda watawakuta huko huko au uwa wanaonfoka na makamanda wao?

Mwl Kichuguu ajibiwe Majina ya makamanda waliokuja na wanajeshi wa msumbiji kama hizo source hazijawaandika basi, mwlm yupo sahihi!

 

[Missile of the Nation]

View attachment 1500359

Asante sana kwa kuweka sehemu hii ya kitabu (Kitabu kilichochapwa Dar es salaam na kampuni ya uchapaji ya serikali yetu hii hii, Tanzania Publishing house).

Cha ajabu watu hawataki kulisikia hili.

Kiufupi tunaposema Msumbiji alileta askari kupigana upande wetu hatuna maana ya kuidunisha JWTZ, bali tunaweka rekodi sawa.

Alliances za kijeshi wakati wa vita ni jambo la kawaida, hata marekani anafanya!

 

[KakaKiiza]

Sivyo Msumbiji peke yao...hata Namibia walileta askari

Asante sana kwa kuweka sehemu hii ya kitabu (Kitabu kilichochapwa Dar es salaam na kampuni ya uchapaji ya serikali yetu hii hii, Tanzania Publishing house).

Cha ajabu watu hawataki kulisikia hili.

Kiufupi tunaposema Msumbiji alileta askari kupigana upande wetu hatuna maana ya kuidunisha JWTZ, bali tunaweka rekodi sawa.

Alliances za kijeshi wakati wa vita ni jambo la kawaida, hata marekani anafanya!

 

[Kichuguu]

Asante sana kwa kuweka sehemu hii ya kitabu (Kitabu kilichochapwa Dar es salaam na kampuni ya uchapaji ya serikali yetu hii hii, Tanzania Publishing house).

Cha ajabu watu hawataki kulisikia hili.

Kiufupi tunaposema Msumbiji alileta askari kupigana upande wetu hatuna maana ya kuidunisha JWTZ, bali tunaweka rekodi sawa.

Alliances za kijeshi wakati wa vita ni jambo la kawaida, hata marekani anafanya!

Kitabu hicho hakikuandikwa na serikali na hata ukisoma mwandishi wake naye hajui kama kweli kulikuwa na wanajeshi wa msumbiji; ndiyo hiyo ya hearsay tu. Yeye mwenyewe anasema kuwa mchango wa msumbiji kama upo ni wa mashaka; wote wanaosema hivyo ni kwasababu kulikuwa na wanajeshi wa Tanzania ambao walikuwa msumbiji kutokea Brigade ya tembo walirudishwa nyumbani na kuungana na brigade yao ambayo ilikuwa inaelekea mapambanoni ikiwa inaongozwa na Msuguri ambaye ndiye aliyekuwa brigade commander wa tembo wakati huo kama sikosei. Kama walikuja na magazeti ya msumbiji isiwe nongwa. Jeshi haliingii vitani bila kuwa na kamanda; tuambieni nani alikuwa kamanda wa jeshi la msumbiji lililotusaidia.

 

[Luggy]

Kumbe unakubaliana na maelezo yangu kuwa mchele wa Tailendi umeanza kuingia Bongo baada ya vita ya Uganda.

Halafu, weka jazba pembeni. Kuweka record ni kuwa IDD Amin alivamia mpakani mwa Uganda na TZ (akaingia maeneo ya Kagera)

Unakubali kuwa vita haikua na ulazima?

Kwamba ilikua inatosha kumwondoa adui mpakani arudi kwake, tubaki tukilinda mipaka yetu.

Kulikua na haja gani kwenda mpaka Kampala hadi Sudani huko na kuyaacha majeshi yakilinda usalama huku yakiendelea kutumia rasilimali za Tanzania?

Kwanini baada ya kumkimbiza Amini pale Kagera wasingerudi na kubaki kulinda mipaka tu na kuwaacha Waganda wapambane na uongozi wao?

Ulikuwa na undugu na Idd ?,maana inakuuma sana yy kushindwa ile vita...kwa hiyo angekinbizwa tu halaui arudi tena,ni sawa na unaunwa Malaria halfu unatumia dawa za kutuliza maumivu...

 

[Missile of the Nation]

Kitabu hicho hakikuandikwa na serikali na hata ukisoma mwandishi wake naye hajui kama kweli kulikuwa na wanajeshi wa msumbiji; ndiyo hiyo ya hearsay tu. Yeye mwenyewe anasema kuwa mchango wa msumbiji kama upo ni wa mashaka; wote wanaosema hivyo ni kwasababu kulikuwa na wanajeshi wa Tanzania ambao walikuwa msumbiji kutokea Brigade ya tembo walirudishwa nyumbani na kuungana na brigade yao ambayo ilikuwa inaelekea mapambanoni ikiwa inaongozwa na Msuguri ambaye ndiye aliyekuwa brigade commander wa tembo wakati huo kama sikosei. Kama walikuja na magazeti ya msumbiji isiwe nongwa. Jeshi haliingii vitani bila kuwa na kamanda; tuambieni nani alikuwa kamanda wa jeshi la msumbiji lililotusaidia.

Kichunguu hiyo sentensi ya mchango wa msumbiji ilikuwa ni ya mashaka umeipata wapi katika hiyo page aliyoweka mdau hapo juu?

Naona hutaki kukubali ukweli tu kuwa Wanajeshi wa msumbiji walishiriki hivyo vita.

Nakuelewa unajaribu kulinda Ujiko wa JWTZ, hatukatai, JWTZ ilifanya kazi nzuri na ndiyo kimsingi iliyomg'oa Amin, lakini ukweli ni ukweli tu, vilikuwepo vikosi vya waasi wa uganda vikipagana upande wetu, pia walikuwepo wanajeshi wa Msumbiji.

Hicho kitabu kimeandikwa na waandishi waliokuwa msitari wa mbele vitani, na Kimechapwa na Mchapa vitabu wa serikali (Tanzania Publishing house mwaka 1983). Kama hao waandishi wangekuwa wamezusha au wamedanganya basi mchapa vitabu wa serikali asingechapa muswada wao ili uwe kitabu mpaka warekebishe!

Mwandishi anasema
"The Mozambicans were dispatched to Tanzania in matter of days and were immediately sent to Kagera"

Hiyo sentensi mzee Kichuguu hujaiona?

 

[Kichuguu]

Kichunguu hiyo sentensi ya mchango wa msumbiji ilikuwa ni ya mashaka umeipata wapi katika hiyo page aliyoweka mdau hapo juu?

Naona hutaki kukubali ukweli tu kuwa Wanajeshi wa msumbiji walishiriki hivyo vita.

Nakuelewa unajaribu kulinda Ujiko wa JWTZ, hatukatai, JWTZ ilifanya kazi nzuri na ndiyo kimsingi iliyomg'oa Amin, lakini ukweli ni ukweli tu, vilikuwepo vikosi vya waasi wa uganda vikipagana upande wetu, pia walikuwepo wanajeshi wa Msumbiji.

Hicho kitabu kimeandikwa na waandishi waliokuwa msitari wa mbele vitani, na Kimechapwa na Mchapa vitabu wa serikali (Tanzania Publishing house mwaka 1983). Kama hao waandishi wangekuwa wamezusha au wamedanganya basi mchapa vitabu wa serikali asingechapa muswada wao ili uwe kitabu mpaka warekebishe!

Mwandishi anasema
"The Mozambicans were dispatched to Tanzania in matter of days and were immediately sent to Kagera"

Hiyo sentensi mzee Kichuguu hujaiona?

Soma niliyopigia red line, usisome kwa confirmation bias. Hiyo ya "Mozambicans were dispatched" ndiyo hiyo ya kuhisi tu kwa vile waliorudi walikuwa ni JWTZ waliokuwa wakifundisha jeshi la msumbiji, na walikuwa ni sehemu Brigade ya Tembo. Yeye anatumia reference ya kuonekana kwa gazeti la msumbiji pale airport ya mwanza, na mwisho anasema tu kwa hajui walifanya nini

 

[xng hua]

nna shemeji yangu alikuwa askari biharamuro kabla vita aliacha jeshi, kukimbia vitendo vya uchokozi tulivokuwa tunamfanyia Amin alijua Amin alikuwa chizi angelipiza siku moja

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😂😂😂😂alikusimulia tulkua tunamchokozaje?
nyie vijana nyie....

 

[xng hua]

Pamoja na kwamba Amini aliingia kichwa kichwa katika ule mgogoro lakini ukweli ni kwamba hata sisi mara kadhaa tulikuwa wachokozi.
Miaka ya 1972 tulishasaidia kikosi cha waasi kutoka nchini ardhini kwetu kwenda Uganda kufanya jaribio la kumuondoa Amini, jaribio lilifeli, tukasuruhishwa na rais wa Somalia wakati huo Siad Barre.

Lakini pamoja na hayo tuliendelea kumhifadhi Obote na wapiganaji wanaoumuunga mkono, na pia kulikuwa na Kikosi cha Museveni nchini.

Sasa hebu fikiria wewe ni rais wa Tanzania halafu Kenya iwe inatunza waasi, je utakuwa na hali gani?, hutaimarisha ulinzi mpakani?, utakuwa rafiki wa Kenya?, Nani mchokozi hapo?

Kwa kuingiza majeshi Kagera, Amini aliingia kwenye Mitego ya Nyerere ambaye toka day 1 siku Amin alipoingia madarakani kwa kumpindua rafiki yake yaani Obote, alikuwa anawaza angemrudishaje rafiki yake Obote madarakani?.

pumba hizi👆

 

[xng hua]

TPDF limekuwa ni jeshi bora toka tumepata uhuru mpaka hivi karibuni alipoingia madarakani JIWE. toka wanajeshi wetu wanaolinda amani wauwawe wakiwa kambini katika kazi ya kulinda amani nchini congo na halijawahi kujibu mapigo mpaka leo huku amiri jeshi mkuu akivaa magwanda ya kijeshi na kuzunguka mitaani kupiga kampeni za kisiasa, binafsi nimekuwa muoga sana na mashambulizi kutoka nje ya nchi.

unauakika hatukulipiza?
congo tupo chini ya monusco kuna taratibu zake
sasa je hao waasi ni tishio hadi leo? je kitisho kimebaki kiasi gani leo?
kama sio kitisho unafkiri ni kwa sababu gani?

 

[xng hua]

Asante sana kwa kuweka sehemu hii ya kitabu (Kitabu kilichochapwa Dar es salaam na kampuni ya uchapaji ya serikali yetu hii hii, Tanzania Publishing house).

Cha ajabu watu hawataki kulisikia hili.

Kiufupi tunaposema Msumbiji alileta askari kupigana upande wetu hatuna maana ya kuidunisha JWTZ, bali tunaweka rekodi sawa.

Alliances za kijeshi wakati wa vita ni jambo la kawaida, hata marekani anafanya!

hao wanajeshi walipigana sehemu gani uganda? walkua chini ya commander yupi?

 

[Missile of the Nation]

View attachment 1500708

Soma niliyopigia red line, usisome kwa confirmation bias. Hiyo ya "Mozambicans were dispatched" ndiyo hiyo ya kuhisi tu kwa vile waliorudi walikuwa ni JWTZ waliokuwa wakifundisha jeshi la msumbiji, na walikuwa ni sehemu Brigade ya Tembo. Yeye anatumia reference ya kuonekana kwa gazeti la msumbiji pale airport ya mwanza, na mwisho anasema tu kwa hajui walifanya nini

Hapo hasemi eti hana uhakika kuwa askari wa Msumbiji walikwenda vitani, hilo hana shaka nalo maana keshaelezea jinsi walivyokuwa dispatched kwenda kwenye uwanja wa mapambano.
Alichokieleza ni kuwa kulikuwa na usiri mkubwa juu ya uwepo wao na kwamba evidence moja ya uwepo wao ni gazeti hilo la msumbiji waliloliacha nyuma hapo nwanza.
Waandishi hawana shaka hata kidogo juu ya uwepo wa askari wa msumbiji, isipokuwa hawakujua ni role gani ndani ya jeshi waliplay, maana Jeshini kuna role nyingi, kuna mafundi mitambo, kuba washauri, kuna wasoma ramani, kuna wapiga mizinga, kuna wale infantry wa kusonga mbele na kuengage kwenye battles.

Sasa kujua role ya mtu inaweza kuwa ngumu kuliko kujua uwepo wake, katika muktadha huo inabidi ucollaborate na sources nyingine.
Nimekueleza kuna askari wa Tanzania walipigana hiyo vita wanakiri uwepo wa hao askari wa Msumbiji maana walipigana wote begakwa bega, na role aliyoniambia juu ya askari hao waliokuwa kwenye unit yao ni Kupiga BM. Huenda hii ni extrainformation ambayo waandishi wa hicho kitabu walikuwa hawana.

Hebu nijibu swali hili
Kama hicho kitabu kulidanganya kuhusu uwepo wa askari wa Msumbiji, kwa nini Mchapaji wa vitabu wa serikali yetu aliruhusu hizo sentensi za uwepo wa askari wa msumbiji ziwemo ndani ya hicho kutabu?. Kumbuka kitabu kinechapishwa Dar es salaam mwaka 1983, rais akiwa Nyerere, na kampuni ya uchapaji ikiwa ni ya serikali!

 

[Kichuguu]

Hapo hasemi eti hana uhakika kuwa askari wa Msumbiji walikwenda vitani, hilo hana shaka nalo maana keshaelezea jinsi walivyokuwa dispatched kwenda kwenye uwanja wa mapambano.
Alichokieleza ni kuwa kulikuwa na usiri mkubwa juu ya uwepo wao na kwamba evidence moja ya uwepo wao ni gazeti hilo la msumbiji waliloliacha nyuma hapo nwanza.
Waandishi hawana shaka hata kidogo juu ya uwepo wa askari wa msumbiji, isipokuwa hawakujua ni role gani ndani ya jeshi waliplay, maana Jeshini kuna role nyingi, kuna mafundi mitambo, kuba washauri, kuna wasoma ramani, kuna wapiga mizinga, kuna wale infantry wa kusonga mbele na kuengage kwenye battles.

Sasa kujua role ya mtu inaweza kuwa ngumu kuliko kujua uwepo wake, katika muktadha huo inabidi ucollaborate na sources nyingine.
Nimekueleza kuna askari wa Tanzania walipigana hiyo vita wanakiri uwepo wa hao askari wa Msumbiji maana walipigana wote begakwa bega, na role aliyoniambia juu ya askari hao waliokuwa kwenye unit yao ni Kupiga BM. Huenda hii ni extrainformation ambayo waandishi wa hicho kitabu walikuwa hawana.

Hebu nijibu swali hili
Kama hicho kitabu kulidanganya kuhusu uwepo wa askari wa Msumbiji, kwa nini Mchapaji wa vitabu wa serikali yetu aliruhusu hizo sentensi za uwepo wa askari wa msumbiji ziwemo ndani ya hicho kutabu?. Kumbuka kitabu kinechapishwa Dar es salaam mwaka 1983, rais akiwa Nyerere, na kampuni ya uchapaji ikiwa ni ya serikali!

Yaani ndugu yangu bado huamani kuwa hata mimi nilikuwa askari tena nikiwa katikati ya mawasiliano kwa hiyo hao wengine waliokuambia ndio unawaamini tu? Pamoja na kukueleza kuwa kikosi kilichokuja kutoka msumbiji kilikuwa ni cha askari wa Tanzania ambacho kilikuwa ni sehemu ya Brigade ta Tembo; kabla ya vita kilikuwa kinafundisha jeshi jipya la msumbiji kikalazimika kurudi nyumbani kuungana na wenzao.

Elewa kuwa Tanzania tulikuwa na BM-21 launchers chache sana zisizofikia 10 na huenda zilikuwa hazizidi tano, halafu nawe unaamini kuwa tuliletewa battalion nzima kutoka msumbiji kuja kutusaidia kuoperate hizo BM-21 launchers ambazo kila moja inakuwa operated na askari watatu tu? Vile vile hata hujui kuwa Kanali Kotta alikuwa ni mtaalamu wa silaha hizo au naye utasema alikuwa wa katoka Msumbiji?

Waandishi hawakuwapo vitani; mwandishi pekee aliyekuwa vitani ni Ben Kiko ambaye naye alirudishwa nyuma baada ya vita ya Maska au Mbarara kwa sababu alianza kuwa anatangaza mambo ambayo yalikuwa yanaingiliana na tactics za jeshi. Hao wengine wote unaosoma habari zao ni za kusimuliwa na za kuhisisi tu, na hasa kama waandishi wenyewe walikuwa na wa kutoka nje ya nchi. Hata huyo uliyekwoti unasoma wazi kuwa naye hayuko definitive kwa hilo. Ni vivyo hivyo hata wewe ukiandika kitabu chako leo, nawe utasema hivyo hivyo kwa sababu ya kusikia tu. Nilikupa hint kuwa jaribu kumwuliza Gen Msuya ambaye ndiye aliyeteka jji la Kampala kwa sababu bado yuko hai umwulize swali hilo.

Ingawa ni kweli kuwa tulipata support kutoka Msumbiji na nchi nyingine za Adfrika kama Algeria, Zambia na Ethiopia kama sign ya gesture; walitusaidia silaha na fedha za kununulia silaha lakini lakini siyo wanajeshi hata kidogo. Halafu hao askari wa Uganda waliokuwa against Amin kwanza walikuwa wakimbizi wakiishi Tanzania, baada ya vita kuanza ndipo nao wakashirikishwa kama sehemu ya jitihadi za kukomboa nchi yao chini ya umbrella ya SUM (Save Uganda Movement) na tuliwaruhusu kwa lengo la kisiasa tu, siyo kwa sababu za kijeshi. Ilitakiwa ijulikane kuwa Amin aliangushwa na Waganda wenyewe, na ndiyo maana ya kuitisha mkutano wa Moshi.

Kitabu kuchapishwa Tanzania sioni kuwa ni kuhalisha kuwa kinasema ukweli; inategema na editorial oversight ya publisher. Kuna kitabu kilichowahi kuchapishwa Tanzania na mtu mmoja alikuwa akiitwa Candid Scope aliandika kitabu kikiwa kinakashifu serikali ya Nyerere wakati wa utawala wa Nyerere na kilitoka. Kuna vitabu vingi vya kama Kaptula la Marx vyote vilitoka na siyo kuwa vilikuwa vinakubaliwa na serikali. Kuchapishwa na TPH hakuna significance yoyote hapa

 

[Kichuguu]

Kuna huyu mwandishi wa wa Daily Monitor Uganda alimhoji General Msuya kusoma TPDF documents; ameandika article yake hapa


Revisiting the Tanzania-Uganda war that toppled Amin

Nimeikopi hapa:

Revisiting the Tanzania-Uganda war that toppled Amin
Saturday April 26 2014
In Summary
Kagera War. It is 35 years since the Tanzanian People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) marched on the streets of Kampala after a five-month war that toppled Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. In the first part of the series Kagera War, Sunday Monitor’s Henry Lubega traces the planning and execution of the war and brings you the personal accounts of the Tanzanian Generals who fought that war.


Ugandans call it the 1979 Liberation War while Tanzanians call it the Kagera War. Its seeds were sown as early as 1972 soon after the coup that brought Amin to power. The relation between Uganda and Tanzania started going bad because Tanzania played host to more than 20,000 Ugandan exiles, according to documents in the TPDF museum.

The first attempt by Uganda exiles to overthrow Amin was on September 17, 1972 when a convoy of 77 trucks full of armed Ugandan exiles crossed into Uganda from Tanzania with the sole purpose of capturing Masaka and Mbarara towns. The mission failed when Amin’s air force intercepted the mission.

In retaliation, Uganda jet fighters hit Bukoba and Mwanza towns in Tanzania. The two incidents were resolved by the October 1972 Mogadishu Agreement, where the two countries agreed to withdraw their forces 10km away from their respective borders.

However, according to the document “TPDF: An Operation History”, Amin’s ambition was to annex some northern parts of Tanzania for Uganda to have access to the sea through the port of Tanga. From the Ugandan perspective, this does not appear to have been the case.
On October 27, 1978 Ugandan forces carried out a surprise invasion of the Tanzanian territory, annexing the Kagera Salient (area north of Kagera River).

The area had been defended by the 202 Brigade commanded by Brig Gen Yusuf Himid. Within two days of the invasion, Ugandan troops occupied 1,850 sqkm of Tanzanian soil, after bombing Bukoba and Kyaka towns and blowing up the Kagera Bridge which connected the salient to the rest of Tanzania. Amin went ahead and announced that the Kagera Salient was now part of Ugandan territory.

Tanzania reacts

Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere’s first reaction was to seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict through the Organisation of the African Union (OAU) now African Union. When the OAU failed to act, President Nyerere on November 2, 1978 declared war on Uganda calling on the TPDF to defend the national sovereignty and integrity.

“The world must understand our reason for wanting to hit Amin hard. Sababu za kumpiga Amin tunazo, nia tunayo, na uwezo tunao” meaning “We have the reasons to hit Amin, we have the ability to hit him and we have the determination to hit him),” said Nyerere at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in Dar es Salaam as he formally declared war on Uganda.

Preparation for the war

Maj Gen Abdallah Twalipo was TPDF’s Chief of Defence Forces but the responsibility to respond to Amin’s invasion fell on Brig Gen Tumainieli Kiwelu who had to reorganise the army from different parts of the country. By then, TPDF had only one army division with four infantry brigades in different parts of the country.

Brigade 101st, nicknamed Nyuki (Bee) was based in Zanzibar, 302nd in Dar s Salaam, 202nd Faru in Tabora and 401 Tembo in Songea. The youth who had participated in National Service training were transformed into a reserve force; trained militias were prepared for battle, police and prisons personnel were mobilised, while the ordinary civilians offered food and livestock, private companies surrendered their vehicles to transport troops and hardware.

At the same time the Uganda exiles living in Tanzania also united to form the Uganda National Liberation Army, which included groups like FRONASA of Yoweri Museveni, Save Uganda Movement of Akena p’Ojok, Ateker Ejalu and William Omaria and Kikosi Maalum (Special Unit) led by Lt Col David Oyite Ojok and Col Tito Okello. They established a joint training camp of close to 1,200 recruits at Tarime near Musoma on the shores of Lake Victoria.

From Brig Gen Kiwule’s reorganisation, a 20th division was created with different brigades like Brigade 206th under Brig Gen Silas Mayunga – later taken over by Brig Gen Roland Makunda, 207th under Brig Gen Butler Walden and 208th under Brig Gen Mwita Marwa.
As the war progressed more brigades were formed, including 201st under Brig Gen Imran Kombe, 205th under Brig Gen Herman Lupogo – later taken over by Brig Gen Muhidin Kimario, Brigade Minziro under Brig Gen Takadiri Kitete and Brigade Kagera under Brig Gen Ramadhan Haji.

The overall commander of the operation was Brig Gen David Msuguri who was promoted to the rank of Maj Gen as Brig Gen Kiwelu went back to the headquarters as Chief of Staff. Within weeks, the TPDF had mobilised its numbers from 40,000 to 100,000.


Operation Chakaza

With his new responsibility to liberate Kagera Salient, Maj Gen Msuguri saw this as a personal battle with Amin, with whom he had served in the King’s African Rifle (KAR) during the colonial times. Msuguri’s thoughts soon after the appointment as documented in TPDF: An Operation History was: “I knew I was going to win the war. I knew him, he was a recruit at Kahawa Camp in Nakuru Kenya in 1949, and I was a corporal. Amin was a sportsman and a naughty soldier. Above all he put his personal agenda before that of the military”.
The first TPDF operation was codenamed “Operation Chakaza”.

There were no serious clashes when Operation Chakaza started and on December 4, 1978 the Tanzanian side of Mutukula had been recaptured by the Tanzanian forces and by early January 1979, all Uganda forces had been expelled from Tanzanian soil.

The advance to the Ugandan border was planned along two axis; the main axis was along Kyaka- Mutukula road and the western axis was from Kyaka to Kakunyu The main axis was to take Masaka and proceed to Kampala and eastern Uganda while the second was to take Mbarara and seal off the Rwanda, Zaire (now DR Congo border) and move on to the Uganda-Sudan border.
With the fall of Mutukula, Amin’s forces regrouped at Sanje, 30km from Mutukula and gave the Tanzanian forces a hard time for two weeks. The rainy season made it hard for the TPDF making the movement of their equipment like the heavy trucks and amoured personnel carriers (APC)s almost impossible.

Fall of Masaka

Brigades 201, 205 and 208 were tasked with capturing Masaka and moved close to 100km fighting small battles along the way. At Kasasa, they met their first real test when Amin’s soldiers backed by the air force put up a real fight. TPDF deployed rocket propelled grenades (RPGs), 14.5mm anti-aircraft guns and SAM-7 missiles, shooting down two jet fighters, destroying two battle tanks and killing 24 Amin soldiers while TPDF lost two soldiers and 20 were wounded. The next town was Kyotera where Maj Gen Msuguri assigned two brigades having got information that Amin’s forces had deployed heavily in the town.

Resistance

Brigade 201 blocked the road from Rakai to Lyantonde, while brigade 207 aka Amphibious, moved towards Bikira. When they entered Kyotera, Amin’s troops had already moved to Kalisizo. Plans for the assault on Kaliszo were drawn only to find the place deserted. TPDF took Kalisizo on February 20, 1979 without firing a shot. Amin’s troops had relocated to Kabuwoko hills.

When they took Kalisizo, TPDF knew Masaka was next but expected stiff resistance knowing that it would be heavily defended. TPDF knew the notorious Revolutionary Suicide Specialist Mechanised Regiment (RSSMR) units which invaded Tanzania to be based in Masaka. Before the final assault on Masaka there were small fights around Kabuwoko and Kakondo hills, brigade 208 on its way to take Kiziba fell into an ambush of Ugandan troops withdrawing from Kalisizo.

Using BM-21 multiple rocket launcher, TPDF dislodged Amin’s men from their bases enabling brigade 208 to take Kiziba town. After Kiziba’s fall, they planned a final assault on Masaka Town.

The 40-barrel BM-21 multi-rocket launcher was nicknamed Saba-Saba by Ugandans. According to some of the Tanzanian field commanders, the word Saba-Saba was a Ugandan creation. Retired Maj Gen Ben Msuya says he first heard of the word when he entered Uganda. “I was told that Ugandans were told that Tanzanians are firing from Saba-Saba in Dar es Salaam,” Maj Gen Msuya told this writer in Dar es Salaam in early April.

Saba-Saba is a trade show ground in Dar es Salaam and has no connection with the military. Retired Col Isaac Mtemihonda, a former battalion commander, also said he first heard the BM-21 multi-rocket launcher being referred to as Saba-Saba while in Uganda.

He says “within the TPDF, the BM-21 was known as Baba Mtakatifu (Holy Father)”.

Brigades 201, 205 and 208 positioned themselves on the outskirts of Masaka Town and Brigade 207 under Brig Gen Butler Walden aka Black Mamba, attacked Masaka with a tank squadron from Mutukula side. At Kasijagirwa camp, the Uganda Army put up a stiff fight but they were eventually overpowered by TPDF’s 130mm guns and BM-21 multiple rocket launchers.

IDI AMIN’S REIGN
1971: Milton Obote toppled in coup led by Uganda army chief Idi Amin.

1972: Amin orders Asians who were not Ugandan citizens - around 60,000 people - to leave the country.

1972-73: Uganda engages in border clashes with Tanzania.

1976: Idi Amin declares himself president for life and claims parts of Kenya.

1978: Uganda invades Tanzania with a view of annexing Kagera region.

1979: Tanzania invades Uganda, unifying the various anti-Amin forces under the Uganda National Liberation Front and forcing Amin to flee the country; Yusufu Lule installed as president, but is quickly replaced by Godfrey Binaisa.

...Continues in the Sunday Monitor