In 1979, Kombe held the rank of brigadier in the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF). During the Uganda–Tanzania War, he commanded the 201st Brigade as the TPDF invaded Uganda. In March 1979, the TPDF decided to attack the town of Lukaya, Uganda, where the only road from Masaka to Kampala passed through. The TPDF's 207th Brigade was dispatched through the swamp to the east. The 208th Brigade was sent west to conduct a wide sweep that would bring it around the northern end of the swamp, and Kombe's 201st Brigade was to advance up the road directly into the town. The 201st consisted almost entirely of militiamen, many of whom had not seen combat. However, the unit was bolstered by a battalion of Ugandan rebels. On 10 March, the brigade seized the town without incident. Later that day, a Ugandan-Libyan force advanced to the outskirts of the town and encountered the Tanzanians. The Libyans bombarded the locale with rockets, and the inexperienced militiamen broke and fled. Kombe and his subordinates tried to reassemble their brigade so it could continue fighting, but the soldiers were shaken and could not be organised. TPDF commanders altered their strategy and organised a counterattack, ordering the 208th Brigade to move around Lukaya to outflank the Ugandans and Libyans. The 208th Brigade reached its flanking position on 11 March and together with Kombe's brigade—by then organised—launched a new attack, successfully capturing the town.