Mbarara and Masaka Offensives

Mbarara and Masaka Offensives - 1979 (Uganda-Tanzania War).

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This scenario represents the second phase of the invasion into Uganda.

The Tanzanians identify the two strategic towns of Mbarara and Masaka which are defended by Ugandan forces including tanks.

The assault starts off with the 207 Brigade attackig the units in Katera near Sango Bay to stop them from flanking their advance to Masaka.

The 201 and 108 Brigades then attack the airstrip at Lukoma which is overlooked by Nsambya Hill, Simba Hills and Kikanda Hill which all have Ugandan artillery and armour on them.

The night before some Tanzanian Brigade Commanders had a meeting and some drinks during which they discuss the fact that each side was listening to each others radio communications. They then decide to play a trick. When they got back to their positions they got on the radios to each other and said, 'Are the Cuban's ready on the right?' to which the responce was 'Ready, Sir', then. 'Are the Israelis ready on the left?' to which the responce was 'Ready, Sir', and then the third message said, 'Are the American's ready in the centre?' to which the responce was 'Ready, Sir'. It was said tha twithin minutes the Ugandan forces began leaving the area leaving only the units around Lukoma who could not get away.

During the war the Tanzanians could not get arms supplies. However, due to the fact that the Ugandans kept fleeing and leaving their equipment behind, they managed to build up armoured and heavy weaon capability an ddescribed the Ugandans as the best armourers they could have wished for.

The Ugandans had been flying their MiG aircraft out of Lukoma and by the time the Tanzanians captures the airstrip they had brought down 19 Ugandan aircraft and said that general maintenance and incompompetence kept the rest of the airforce out of the war rom then on.

The biggest challenge for the Tanzanians was at Gayaza where they were ambushed on the hilly roads.

The Tanzanians had also been informed that there was a camp at Kalisizo where Tanzanian prisoners were being kept, but when they got there they found only Ugandan soldiers.

see War In Uganda, The Legacy of Idi Amin, Tony Avirgan and Martha Honey

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Units (Tanzania)

Units (Uganda)