Idi Amin

Idi Amin was born in Kampala , of the Kakwa tribe, near Koboko in the West Nile Arua district. Although he was a Kakwa, the only language he ever spoke fluently was Luganda , the tongue of Uganda's largest tribe, the Baganda . He was deserted by his father at an early age and brought up by his mother, who was thought to be a witch doctor , and received little formal education. Amin took tribalism to an extreme by ordering the persecution of Acholi , Lango , and other tribes. Reports of the torture and murder of 300,000 to 500,000 Ugandans during Amin's presidency have been widespread since the 1970s.

Idi Amin Dada (c.1925 – 16 August 2003) was the military dictator and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles , in 1946, and eventually held the rank of Major General and Commander of the Ugandan Army prior to taking power in a military coup of January 1971 , deposing Milton Obote . He later promoted himself to Field Marshal while he was the head of state. Amin's rule was characterised by human rights abuses, political repression , ethnic persecution , extrajudicial killings , nepotism , corruption and gross economic mismanagement. The number of people killed as a result of his regime is estimated by international observers and human rights groups to range from 100,000 to 500,000. Notable backers of Amin included Muammar al-Gaddafi 's Libya , the Soviet Union and East Germany , with early support for his regime coming from the United Kingdom , Israel , and Apartheid -era South Africa . In 1975–1976, Amin became the Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity , a pan-Africanist group designed to promote solidarity of the African states. During the 1977–1979 period, Uganda was appointed to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights . From 1977 to 1979, Amin titled himself as " His Excellency , President for Life , Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC , DSO , MC , Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular ". Dissent within Uganda and Amin's attempt to annex the Kagera province of Tanzania in 1978 led to the Uganda–Tanzania War and the demise of his regime. Amin fled first to Libya , then to Saudi Arabia , where he died in 2003. The most conservative estimates by informed observers hold that President Idi Amin Dada and the terror squads operating under his loose direction have killed 100,000 Ugandans in the seven years he has held power. Uganda: a modern history .

Idi Amin Dada ( / ˈ iː d i ɑː ˈ m iː n / ; c. 1925 – 16 August 2003) was the third President of Uganda , ruling from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles , in 1946, serving in Kenya and Uganda . Eventually, Amin held the rank of major general in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its commander before seizing power in the military coup of January 1971 , deposing Milton Obote . He later promoted himself to field marshal while he was the head of state. Amin's rule was characterized by human rights abuses, political repression , ethnic persecution , extrajudicial killings , nepotism , corruption , and gross economic mismanagement. The number of people killed as a result of his regime is estimated by international observers and human rights groups to range from 100,000 to 500,000. During his years in power, Amin shifted in allegiance from being a pro-Western ruler enjoying considerable Israeli support to being backed by Libya 's Muammar Gaddafi , Zaire 's Mobutu Sese Seko , the Soviet Union , and East Germany . In 1975, Amin became the chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), a Pan-Africanist group designed to promote solidarity of the African states. During the 1977–1979 period, Uganda was a member of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights . In 1977, when Britain broke diplomatic relations with Uganda, Amin declared he had defeated the British and added "CBE", for "Conqueror of the British Empire", to his title. Radio Uganda then announced his entire title: "his Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Alhaji Dr. Dissent within Uganda and Amin's attempt to annex the Kagera province of Tanzania in 1978, led to the Uganda–Tanzania War and the demise of his eight-year regime, leading Amin to flee into exile to Libya and Saudi Arabia , where he lived until his death on 16 August 2003. The most conservative estimates by informed observers hold that President Idi Amin Dada and the terror squads operating under his loose direction have killed 100,000 Ugandans in the seven years he has held power.

President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979 Idi Amin Dada Oumee ( / ˈ iː d i ɑː ˈ m iː n , ˈ ɪ d i -/ , UK also /- æ ˈ m iː n / ; c. 1925 – 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern world history. Amin was born in Koboko in what is now northwest Uganda to a Kakwa father and Lugbara mother. In 1946, he joined the King's African Rifles (KAR) of the British Colonial Army as a cook. He rose to the rank of lieutenant, taking part in British actions against Somali rebels and then the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya . Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962, and Amin remained in the army , rising to the position of major and being appointed commander of the Uganda Army in 1965. He became aware that Ugandan President Milton Obote was planning to arrest him for misappropriating army funds, so he launched the 1971 Ugandan coup d'état and declared himself president. During his years in power, Amin shifted from being a pro-Western ruler enjoying considerable support from Israel to being backed by Libya 's Muammar Gaddafi , Zaire 's Mobutu Sese Seko , the Soviet Union , and East Germany . In 1972, Amin expelled Asians , a majority of whom were Indian-Ugandans , leading India to sever diplomatic relations with his regime. In 1975, Amin became the chairman of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), a Pan-Africanist group designed to promote solidarity among African states. The United Kingdom broke diplomatic relations with Uganda in 1977, and Amin declared that he had defeated the British and added " CBE " to his title for "Conqueror of the British Empire". As Amin's rule progressed into the late 1970s, there was increased unrest against his persecution of certain ethnic groups and political dissidents, along with Uganda's very poor international standing due to Amin's support for the terrorist hijackers in Operation Entebbe . He then attempted to annex Tanzania 's Kagera Region in 1978. The Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere ordered his troops to invade Uganda in response. Tanzanian Army and rebel forces successfully captured Kampala in 1979 and ousted Amin from power. Amin went into exile, first in Libya, then Iraq , and finally in Saudi Arabia , where he lived until his death in 2003. Amin's rule was characterised by rampant human rights abuses , including political repression , ethnic persecution , extrajudicial killings , as well as nepotism , corruption, and gross economic mismanagement. International observers and human rights groups estimate that between 100,000 and 500,000 people were killed under his regime. "Dictator Idi Amin dies" . 16 August 2003. The most conservative estimates by informed observers hold that President Idi Amin Dada and the terror squads operating under his loose direction have killed 100,000 Ugandans in the seven years he has held power.

President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979 Military career Mau Mau rebellion Gold Scandal President of Uganda 1971 coup d'état Uganda Army Second Republic of Uganda State Research Bureau Expulsion of Asians Entebbe raid Opposition and overthrow Arube uprising Operation Mafuta Mingi 1977 invasion of Uganda Uganda–Tanzania War Foreign support Fall of Kampala Media portrayals The Last King of Scotland film The Collected Broadcasts of Idi Amin The General Is Up Rise and Fall of Idi Amin v t e Idi Amin Dada Oumee ( / ˈ iː d i ɑː ˈ m iː n , ˈ ɪ d i -/ , UK also /- æ ˈ m iː n / ; 30 May 1928 – 16 August 2003) was a Ugandan military officer and politician who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until his overthrow in 1979. He ruled as a military dictator and is considered one of the most brutal despots in modern world history. Amin was born to a Kakwa father and Lugbara mother. In 1946, he joined the King's African Rifles (KAR) of the British Colonial Army as a cook. He rose to the rank of lieutenant , taking part in British actions against Somali rebels and then the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya . Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962, and Amin remained in the army , rising to the position of deputy army commander in 1964 and being appointed commander two years later. He became aware that Ugandan president Milton Obote was planning to arrest him for misappropriating army funds, so he launched the 1971 Ugandan coup d'état and declared himself president. During his years in power, Amin shifted from being a pro-Western ruler enjoying considerable support from Israel to being backed by Libya 's Muammar Gaddafi , Zaire 's Mobutu Sese Seko , the Soviet Union , and East Germany . In 1972, Amin expelled Asians , a majority of whom were Indian-Ugandans , leading India to sever diplomatic relations with his regime. In 1975, Amin assumed chairmanship of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), an intergovernmental organization designed to promote solidarity among African states (an annually rotating role). The United Kingdom broke diplomatic relations with Uganda in 1977, and Amin declared that he had defeated the British and added to his title for . As Amin's rule progressed into the late 1970s, there was increased unrest against his persecution of certain ethnic groups and political dissidents, along with Uganda's very poor international standing due to Amin's support for PFLP-EO and RZ hijackers in 1976, leading to Israel's Operation Entebbe . He then attempted to annex Tanzania 's Kagera Region in 1978. Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere ordered his troops to invade Uganda in response. Tanzanian Army and rebel forces successfully captured Kampala in 1979 and ousted Amin from power. Amin went into exile, first in Libya, then Iraq , and finally in Saudi Arabia , where he lived until his death in 2003. Amin's rule was characterized by rampant human rights abuses including political repression and extrajudicial killings as well as nepotism , corruption, and gross economic mismanagement. International observers and human rights groups estimate that between 100,000 and 500,000 people were killed under his regime. The Geographical Journal . 133 (2): 272. "Dictator Idi Amin dies" . 16 August 2003. The most conservative estimates by informed observers hold that President Idi Amin Dada and the terror squads operating under his loose direction have killed 100,000 Ugandans in the seven years he has held power.