In 1981, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni founded the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as a political organization aimed at restoring democracy, peace, and stability in Uganda. The formation of the NRM followed the disputed 1980 general elections, which were widely believed to have been rigged in favor of Milton Obote’s Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). Museveni, who had participated in the elections under his Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) party, rejected the results, declaring that political change could not be achieved through unfair electoral processes.

On February 6, 1981, Museveni launched a guerrilla war with 41 fighters, with only 27 armed with guns and pistols and attacked Kabamba Military School. This bold move launched a 5-year guerrilla war that liberated Uganda. 

Led by President Yoweri Museveni drove along Masaka-Nyendo-Katigondo-Ssembabule road in an old truck with one mission, to attack Kabamba Military Barracks and grab as many guns as possible so that they start a revolution to overthrow President Milton Obote.

In September 1972, Yoweri Museveni took part in a failed invasion of Uganda from Tanzania against the regime of President Idi Amin. Though unsuccessful, it provided important lessons in guerrilla warfare. The following year, Museveni established the Front for National Salvation and fought alongside Tanzanian forces in the Tanzania–Uganda War, which eventually overthrew Amin in 1979.