In the late 1970s, the PLO faced a crisis relating to its affairs in Africa. The organisation had forged a strong alliance with Uganda under Idi Amin, establishing bases in the country where it trained about 400 fighters. When the Uganda–Tanzania War broke out in 1978, the Uganda Army quickly proved incapable in the face of the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF), and Amin's regime began to collapse. The PLO high command was alarmed, fearing that the end of Amin's government would result in the ouster of the Palestinian militants from Uganda. The PLO consequently opted to fight alongside the Uganda Army and sent further reinforcements. Despite being aided by the PLO and Libya, the Uganda Army was completely defeated in the Battle of Lukaya on 10–11 March 1979. Most PLO field commanders were wounded at Lukaya, whereupon Da'as was appointed replacement commander for Uganda. Realizing that the war was lost, he divided his remaining troops into two groups. One secured a escape route to Sudan, whereas the other took up defensive positions at Uganda's capital Kampala. In late March, PLO troops were part of the garrison which attempted to defend the strategic town of Mpigi. The Tanzanians began their attack on Kampala on 10 April 1979, and the PLO troops under Da'as reportedly resisted some time before retreating northward. He managed to bring his surviving men to Sudan despite being hindered by bad roads, a hostile population, and dangerous wildlife.