West Nile campaign (October 1980)

West Nile campaign
Part of the Ugandan Bush War
Date October 1980 Location Mostly West Nile Region, Uganda, with spillovers into surrounding areas Result Ugandan government victory Massacres and mass displacement in West Nile Region
Belligerents
Uganda Army Alleged support by:  Zaire  Sudan  Saudi Arabia Armed Madi civilians	Uganda  Tanzania
Commanders and leaders
Elly Aseni †	Ojul[1]
Units involved
Several groups	Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF) Acholi and Langi militants Kitgum militia
Strength
c. 7,100 (total Uganda Army) c. 500 (initial attack)	Unknown UNLA Thousands of militia
Casualties and losses
Low	200+ killed
1,000–30,000 civilians killed, 250,000 displaced

In October 1980, Uganda's West Nile Region was the site of a major military campaign, as Uganda Army (UA) remnants invaded from Zaire as well as Sudan and seized several major settlements, followed by a counteroffensive by the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) supported by militias and Tanzanian forces. The campaign resulted in large-scale destruction and massacres of civilians, mostly perpetrated by the UNLA and allied militants, with 1,000 to 30,000 civilians killed and 250,000 displaced. The clashes mark the beginning of the Ugandan Bush War.