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.

Assisted by the Sudanese Armed Forces, about 700 to 1000 Ugandan exiles were trained at Owiny Ki-Bul to launch an invasion into Uganda.

[7] Having unified his militia with the guerrilla group of Yoweri Museveni, Obote dubbed the umbrella rebel force the "People's Army".

[10] 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.

[11] Obote also used Kikosi Maalum and associate guerrilla groups to instigate a revolt against Amin in Uganda, but these attempts failed,[12] most notably during the Battle of Tororo.

[13] While advancing into southern Uganda, Kikosi Maalum militants terrorized Muslims in the Ankole region and occasionally clashed with another rebel faction, Museveni's FRONASA, despite being officially allies.

[1] As the fighting was still ongoing, Kikosi Maalum was rapidly expanded by enlisting new members in territories conquered from Amin's forces.

[9] 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.