A force consisting of the Tanzania People's Defence Force's 201st Brigade and the Uganda National Liberation Front's Kikosi Maalum attacked Lira on 15 May 1979, ousting the Amin loyalists after a short battle.

The clash at Lira was the last important battle of the Uganda–Tanzania War, as the remnants of Amin's army completely disintegrated thereafter.

[5] This is approximately 124 kilometres (77 mi) northwest of Soroti, the nearest city to the south.

An 80 kilometres (50 mi) 132 kilovolt electricity line from the Karuma Power Station is under construction to a substation in Lira, under the supervision of Intec Gopa International Energy Consultants GmbH of Germany.

[12] The following additional points of interest lie within the town limits or close to the edges of the city: