170. Memorandum From Secretary of State Vance to President Carter1
[Omitted here are items unrelated to East Africa.]
5. Uganda—The resignation of Lule has sparked a reaction by his tribal supporters. Lule now claims that his resignation was forced upon him and that he remains President.2 Godfrey Binaisa’s successor government declared the demonstrations by Lule’s supporters illegal, and Ugandan and Tanzanian troops dispersed them with small arms fire.
The balance of power in Uganda rests with the 30,000 Tanzanian troops. Tanzania, which has accepted Binaisa’s new government, is anxious to restore political stability and to withdraw the bulk of its forces.
Our people in Kampala are safe. We plan to make no statements about the new government in this volatile situation.
[Omitted here are items unrelated to East Africa.]
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 21, Evening Reports (State) 6/79. Secret. Carter initialed “C” in the upper right corner.↩
- In a memorandum to Carter, June 20, Vance wrote, “Yusufe Lule resigned yesterday and Godfrey Binaisa was appointed Acting Head of Government. Lule was not in good health and apparently stepped aside in response to pressures from his National Council, which objected to Lule’s making Cabinet appointments without consultation.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 21, Evening Reports (State) 6/79)↩