View source for Kikosi Maalum

{{Infobox war faction
| name             = Special Force
| native_name      = Kikosi Maalum
| native_name_lang = Swahili
| war              = 
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| active           = 1971–1978 (precursor groups)<br/>1978–1979 (officially)
| ideology         = 
| position         =
| leaders          = [[Milton Obote]]<br/>[[David Oyite-Ojok]]<br/>[[Tito Okello]]
| headquarters     = 
| area             = 
| size             = {{circa}} 600–800 {{small|(late 1978)}}<br/>{{circa}} 5,000 {{small|(Sept. 1979)}}
| partof           = [[Uganda National Liberation Army]] {{small|(from 1979)}}
| predecessor      = Obote loyalists in the [[Uganda Army (1962–1971)|Uganda Army]]<br/>"People's Army"
| successor        = Uganda National Liberation Army
| allies           = {{flagdeco|Tanzania}} [[Tanzania People's Defence Force]]
| split            = 
| opponents        = 
| battles          = [[Uganda–Tanzania War]]
*[[Battle of Tororo]]
*[[Battle of Lukaya]]
*[[Fall of Kampala]]
*[[Battle of Lira]]
[[Ugandan Bush War]] {{small|(unofficially)}}
}}
'''Kikosi Maalum''' (meaning "Special Force" in [[Swahili language|Swahili]]), also known as the '''Special Battalion'''{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=27}} or the '''grand  coalition''',{{sfn|Golooba-Mutebi|2008|p=11}} was a militia of [[Uganda]]n 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 [[Tanzania People's Defence Force|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.

== History ==
=== Obote's rebel movement ===
[[File:Obote cropped.png|thumb|left|[[Milton Obote]], leader of Kikosi Maalum]]

Milton Obote had served as Uganda's President until he was overthrown by [[Idi Amin]] in the [[1971 Ugandan coup d'état]].{{sfn|Hansen|2013|p=93}} Obote consequently went into exile, and tried to regain power. Many [[Uganda Army (1962–1971)|Uganda Army]] soldiers attempted to flee Uganda to link up with Obote. Hundreds of these deserters, mostly [[Acholi people|Acholi]] and [[Lango people|Langi]], were captured by security forces loyal to Amin and massacred.{{sfn|Lowman|2020|pp=38–40}} However, Obote still organized a guerilla force in exile.{{sfn|Hansen|2013|p=93}} One group of pro-Obote militants was provided by Tanzania with a training camp at Kingolwira, where 294 fighters had been amassed by August 1971.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=34}} Another, larger faction was located in Sudan. Assisted by the [[Sudanese Armed Forces]], about 700 to 1000 Ugandan exiles were trained at [[Owiny Ki-Bul]] to launch an invasion into Uganda. However, the Sudanese government and Amin's government concluded an agreement in May 1972, whereupon Obote and his forces had to leave the country. These militants were transported from Sudan to Tanzania, but on the way many got sick and died due to unhealthy transport conditions.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=34}}<ref name="monitor">{{cite web| url = https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/the-rise-of-kikosi-maalum-1892440 | title = The rise of Kikosi Maalum | date = 31 May 2020 | author = | website = Daily Monitor | access-date = 7 December 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515094904/https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/the-rise-of-kikosi-maalum-1892440|archive-date= May 15, 2023 }}</ref>

Regardless, Obote continued to organize a militant anti-Amin resistance movement in Tanzania. At the time, his armed faction was reportedly known as the "Uganda People's Liberation Front" (UPLF).<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/the-failed-1971-guerilla-force-attack-ex-minister-wakholi-disappearance-1631492 | title = The failed 1971 guerilla force attack, ex-minister Wakholi disappearance | date = 20 November 2015 | author = | website = Daily Monitor | access-date = 29 April 2021|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230516020406/https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/the-failed-1971-guerilla-force-attack-ex-minister-wakholi-disappearance-1631492|archive-date= May 16, 2023 }}</ref> Having unified his militia with the guerrilla group of [[Yoweri Museveni]], Obote dubbed the umbrella rebel force the "People's Army". The "People's Army" attempted to [[1972 invasion of Uganda|invade Uganda in 1972]]. Obote's forces were completely defeated and the unit suffered heavy losses{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|pp=15–17}} including hundreds killed.<ref name="monitor"/> The remnants of his rebel army were subsequently reorganized. By 1978, the unit had about 600{{sfn|Otunnu|2017|p=46}} or 800 trained fighters,{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=27}} most of whom were ex-soldiers who had fled Uganda due to Amin's ethnic and political purges.{{sfn|Golooba-Mutebi|2008|p=11}} It mostly recruited Acholi and Langi.{{sfn|Golooba-Mutebi|2008|p=13}}

=== Operations as "Kikosi Maalum" ===
When the [[Uganda–Tanzania War]] broke out in late 1978, Obote's militia acted as auxiliaries for the [[Tanzania People's Defence Force]] in combat against Amin's [[Uganda Army (1971–1980)|Uganda Army]]. At this point, his troops became known as "Kikosi Maalum".{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=75}} Obote also used Kikosi Maalum and associate guerrilla groups to instigate a revolt against Amin in Uganda, but these attempts failed,{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=28}} most notably during the [[Battle of Tororo]].{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=62}} While advancing into southern Uganda, Kikosi Maalum militants terrorized Muslims in the [[Ankole]] region and occasionally clashed with another rebel faction, Museveni's [[Front for National Salvation|FRONASA]], despite being officially allies.{{sfn|Otunnu|2017|p=46}} The Tanzanian government subsequently organized the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) and its military wing, the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA), as umbrella organizations to unify all Ugandan rebel factions, including Kikosi Maalum. Regardless of this nominal unification, the UNLF was split into numerous sub-units according to the wishes and needs of the Tanzanian military. As a result, Kikosi Maalum continued to operate as separate force. Its troops aided the Tanzanians in several battles, and helped to end Amin's regime.{{sfn|Cooper|Fontanellaz|2015|p=27}} As the fighting was still ongoing, Kikosi Maalum was rapidly expanded by enlisting new members in territories conquered from Amin's forces.{{sfn|Otunnu|2017|p=46}} As a result, the militia was initially the most powerful Ugandan rebel group in the UNLA, allowing Obote to gain much influence in the UNLF Military Commission.{{sfn|Otunnu|2017|p=55}}

After Uganda–Tanzania War's end in 1979, a new UNLF government was formed to govern Uganda. Obote quickly began to dominate this government, and outmaneuvered his political rivals.<ref name="Odongo">{{cite news| url = https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/former-members-of-kikosi-maalum-demand-govt-recognition| title = Former Members of Kikosi Maalum Demand Gov't Recognition| last = Odongo| first = Ronald| date = 22 March 2014| publisher = Uganda Radio Network| access-date = 30 March 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102085452/https://ugandaradionetwork.com/story/former-members-of-kikosi-maalum-demand-govt-recognition|archive-date= November 2, 2021}}</ref> Accordingly, he tried to empower Kikosi Maalum which had become his [[private army]]. The unit had about 5,000 fighters by September 1979.{{sfn|Otunnu|2017|p=46}} These troops provided the core for Uganda's new national army. After Obote officially returned to power as President following the disputed [[1980 Ugandan general election|1980 election]], opposition groups launched rebellions. Kikosi Maalum veterans consequently fought for Obote's government in the [[Ugandan Bush War]]. After years of civil war, Obote was ousted by Tito Okello in the [[1985 Ugandan coup d'état]]. Okello was, in turn, defeated by Yoweri Museveni in 1986. Thereafter, Kikosi Maalum veterans were retrenched from the military.<ref name="Odongo"/> Kikosi Maalum veteran [[Justine Odong Latek]] later founded the [[Uganda People's Democratic Army]].{{sfn|Lamwaka|2016|p=60}}

=== Legacy ===
In the 2010s, 100 Kikosi Maalum veterans formed the "Kikosi Maalum Cooperative Society Limited" to advocate for their interests and lobby for government recognition of their role in the overthrow of Idi Amin.<ref name="Odongo"/> The lobby group was headed by  Lt. Col. Bosco Omure. President Museveni and State Minister for Defence [[Jeje Odongo]] gifted [[Ugandan shilling|USh]]&nbsp;30&nbsp;million and USh&nbsp;10&nbsp;million respectively to the Kikosi Maalum Cooperative Society Limited in late 2014.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1317951/museveni-sh30m-kikosi-maalum-veterans| title = Museveni gives sh30m to Kikosi Maalum veterans| date = 22 December 2014| website = New Vision| access-date = 7 December 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515094905/https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1317951/museveni-sh30m-kikosi-maalum-veterans|archive-date= May 15, 2023}}</ref>
 
== References ==
{{reflist}}

=== Works cited ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book| last = Avirgan| first = Tony| last2 = Honey| first2 = Martha| title = War in Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin| location= Dar es Salaam|publisher = Tanzania Publishing House| date = 1983| isbn = 978-9976-1-0056-3}}
* {{cite book|last1 = Cooper|first1 = Tom|last2 = Fontanellaz|first2 = Adrien|title= Wars and Insurgencies of Uganda 1971–1994|date= 2015|publisher= Helion & Company Limited|location= [[Solihull]]|isbn= 978-1-910294-55-0}}
* {{cite journal| last = Golooba-Mutebi| first = Frederick| title = Collapse, War and Reconstruction in Uganda. An analytical narrative on state-making| journal = Makerere University Crisis States Working Papers Series| issue = 2| date = January 2008| url = http://www.lse.ac.uk/international-development/Assets/Documents/PDFs/csrc-working-papers-phase-two/wp27.2-collapse-war-and-reconstruction-in-uganda.pdf| issn = 1749-1800|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501104420/https://www.lse.ac.uk/international-development/Assets/Documents/PDFs/csrc-working-papers-phase-two/wp27.2-collapse-war-and-reconstruction-in-uganda.pdf|archive-date= May 1, 2023}}
* {{cite journal |last=Hansen |first=Holger Bernt |title=Uganda in the 1970s: a decade of paradoxes and ambiguities |journal=Journal of Eastern African Studies |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=83–103 |date=2013 |doi=10.1080/17531055.2012.755315 |s2cid=144443665}}
* {{cite book| last = Lamwaka| first = Caroline| title = The Raging Storm: A Reporter's Inside Account of the Northern Uganda War 1986-2005| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Ev7MDQAAQBAJ| publisher = Fountain Publishers| date = 2016| location = Kampala|isbn= 978-9970-25-221-3}}
* {{cite thesis |last=Lowman |first=Thomas James |date=2020 |title=Beyond Idi Amin: Causes and Drivers of Political Violence in Uganda, 1971-1979 |type=PhD thesis |publisher=Durham University |url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/13439/1/Tom_Lowman_-_Thesis_Corrected_Draft.pdf?DDD17+ |access-date=6 July 2020}}
*{{cite book |last = Otunnu |first = Ogenga |title= Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda, 1890 to 1979 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=aZDLDQAAQBAJ |date= 2016 |publisher= [[Palgrave Macmillan]] |location= Chicago |isbn= 978-3-319-33155-3 }}
*{{cite book |last = Otunnu |first = Ogenga |title= Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda, 1979 to 2016 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=4UQwDwAAQBAJ |date= 2017 |publisher= [[Palgrave Macmillan]] |location= Chicago |isbn= 978-3-319-33155-3 }}
{{refend}}

[[Category:Rebel groups in Uganda]]