The Return of Milton Obote | Yoweri Museveni Bides his Time | Ugandan Politics | June 1980

June 1980.

ITN News footage of the return of Milton Obote to Ugandan politics 9 years after his overthrow by his Army Chief of Staff (then) Major General Idi Amin and one year after Amin's overthrow after the Tanzania-Uganda War of 1978-79.

Among the Ugandan militias who aided the Tanzanian overthrow of Amin was Yoweri Museveni, leader of the Front for National Salvation, who was attached to the Tanzanian forces under the command of Brigadier Silas Mayunga. Museveni was involved in the overthrow of Godfrey Binaisa in May 1980 by an existing Military Commission and was part of the Presidential Commission of Uganda which ran the country until elections were held.

Both Obote and Museveni contested the December election of December 1980 which was won by Obote and his Ugandan People's Congress (UPC) party. The validity of the elections was disputed and Museveni went underground to participate in an insurgency. His guerrilla force was known as the National Resistance Army (NRA).

Obote was himself overthrown by his own military officers in July 1985 and a Military Council led by Brigadier Bazilio Olara-Okello and Lieutenant General Tito Okello ruled Uganda until the Museveni-led NRA seized control of major parts of the country including the capital city of Kampala.

Museveni was sworn in as President of Uganda in January 1986, a position which he has not relinquished.

Obote died in exile while in South Africa in 2005. He was given a state funeral which was attended by Museveni.

Source of footage: Getty Images.