A history of the Kagera war: social and economic impacts on Kagera region, 1971-1990

The 1978-1979 Kagera War still lingers in memories and is obvious in physical, psychological, social-economic and political lives of Tanzanians particularly in Kagera region. It inflicted untold damages on people and their property during the eight months it lasted. This study investigated the history of the Kagera War and documents its social and economic impacts on the lives of Kagera residents. Its qualitative methodology encompassed in-depth oral interviews and collection of relevant information from written sources. Using the System-Level of Analysis framework and the Mixed Impact approach, this study reveals that the Kagera War was largely a product of conflicting foreign policy principles between Tanzania and Uganda soon after the Uganda coup in 1971. Since then, plots to unseat Idi Amin and subvert his government in favour of the deposed Milton Obote were ongoing in Tanzania. Likewise, the new regime in Uganda strove to resist against possible rebel incursions from Tanzania and win diplomatic recognition from its neighbours. The confrontations between the two regimes were further fuelled by aggressive statesmen, socio-economic and political turmoil within Uganda, arms race and inability of the international community to provide a timely diplomatic solution. Furthermore, the study reveals that the war inflicted considerable atrocities; financial loss and other war associated collateral damages to Kagera residents on the Tanzanian side. In keeping with the above findings, the study concludes that the Kagera War would have been avoided if statesmen had made rational decisions from the outset to avoid war.