Idi Amin

Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a military officer and the third president of Uganda.

He ruled the country from 1971 until 1979. His presidency is remembered for being a period of dictatorship and severe human rights abuses. These abuses included political repression and extrajudicial killings. International observers estimate that between 100,000 and 500,000 people were killed during his regime. Because of this violence, he earned the nickname "The Butcher of Uganda."

There are many different accounts of Amin's early life. Because he did not write an autobiography, historians rely on various records. British government records suggest he was born in 1925. However, his family and Saudi authorities state he was born on May 30, 1928. He was born in Kampala, the capital of Uganda. His father, Amin Dada Nyabira Tomuresu, was of the Kakwa tribe. His mother, Aisha Chumaru Aate, was of the Lugbara tribe.

Amin's military career began in the colonial era. In 1946, he joined the King's African Rifles as an assistant cook. He received military training and rose through the ranks quite quickly. He served as a private in Kenya and fought against Somali rebels in 1949. He also participated in the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya during the 1950s. By 1959, he reached the rank of Effendi Class 2. This was the highest rank possible for a Black soldier in that unit. In 1961, he became one of the first two Ugandans to become a commissioned officer.

After Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1962, Amin continued to rise in the army. He was promoted to captain and then to major in 1963. He became the Deputy Commander of the Army in 1964. Two years later, he was appointed Commander of the Army. By 1970, he was the commander of all Ugandan armed forces. Amin was also a talented athlete. He was a swimmer and a rugby forward. He was also the Ugandan light heavyweight boxing champion from 1951 to 1960.

In 1971, Amin seized power by overthrowing President Milton Obote. He did this because he learned Obote planned to arrest him for misappropriating army funds. Amin's rule caused major shifts in international relations. At first, he had support from Western nations and Israel. Later, his government was backed by Libya, the Soviet Union, and East Germany. In 1972, Amin expelled Asians from Uganda, including many Indian-Ugandans. This decision caused the Ugandan economy to collapse. It also led India to end diplomatic relations with his regime.

As his leadership continued, Amin faced increasing international isolation. In 1975, he became the chairman of the Organisation of African Unity. However, his support for the 1976 hijacking that led to Israel's Operation Entebbe hurt his reputation. The United Kingdom broke diplomatic relations with Uganda in 1977. Amin responded by declaring he had defeated the British. He even added "CBE" to his title, meaning "Conqueror of the British Empire."

His downfall began when he tried to annex the Kagera Region of Tanzania in 1978. Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere responded by ordering an invasion of Uganda. Tanzanian troops and rebel forces eventually captured the capital, Kampala, in 1979. This forced Amin to flee the country. He lived in exile in Libya, Iraq, and finally Saudi Arabia. He remained in Saudi Arabia until he died in 2003.