Kikosi Maalum

Special Force
Kikosi Maalum
Leaders	Milton Obote David Oyite-Ojok Tito Okello
Dates of operation	1971–1978 (precursor groups) 1978–1979 (officially)
Size	c. 600–800 (late 1978) c. 5,000 (Sept. 1979)
Part of	Uganda National Liberation Army (from 1979)
Allies	Tanzania People's Defence Force
Battles and wars	Uganda–Tanzania War Battle of Tororo Battle of Lukaya Fall of Kampala Battle of Lira Ugandan Bush War (unofficially)
Preceded by Obote loyalists in the Uganda Army "People's Army" Succeeded by Uganda National Liberation Army

Kikosi Maalum (meaning "Special Force" in Swahili), also known as the Special Battalion^[1] or the grand coalition,^[2] was a militia of Ugandan exiles formed in Tanzania to fight against the regime of Idi Amin. The unit was founded by and loyal to former Ugandan President Milton Obote, and served as his de facto private army. It was commanded by former army officers David Oyite-Ojok, and Tito Okello. Kikosi Maalum took part in the Uganda–Tanzania War, fighting alongside the Tanzanian military against Amin's forces. In course of this conflict, the militia was nominally unified with other Ugandan rebel groups, forming the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) in 1979. After the fall of Amin's regime and Obote's return to power, Kikosi Maalum became the core of Uganda's new national army.