Tanzanian forces seized the Simba Hills and Lukoma airstrip in February 1979, opening the route for the capture of Masaka during the Uganda-Tanzania War.
Key Facts
- Conflict
- Uganda–Tanzania War
- Date of hill assault
- 11 February 1979
- Airstrip captured
- 13 February 1979
- Tanzanian brigades involved
- 3 (201st, 207th, 208th)
- Days until Masaka fell
- 11 days after Simba Hills
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After repelling Uganda's 1978 invasion of the Kagera Salient, Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere ordered his forces into southern Uganda, aiming to capture Masaka and Mbarara. The Simba Hills and Lukoma airstrip, which dominated the route to Masaka, were held by Ugandan troops and had to be cleared before any advance could proceed.
In mid-February 1979, Tanzania's 207th Brigade pushed through deep swampland to dislodge Ugandan forces at Katera with artillery, allowing the 201st and 208th Brigades to assault the Simba Hills on 11 February. Most Ugandan defenders fled; Ugandan air support suffered heavy losses and failed to halt the advance. Lukoma airstrip and the surrounding hills fell on 13 February.
With the Simba Hills and Lukoma airstrip secured, the Tanzanian advance on Masaka could continue unimpeded. Eleven days after the battle, Tanzanian forces successfully captured Masaka, a major step toward the eventual overthrow of Idi Amin's regime.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent