Brief History of Idi Amin Dada

He was a man who was greatly feared for his evil acts that left close to 300,000 people dead. These people included clergies, democrats, journalists, cabinet ministers, chief justice, civilians, and foreigners among others.

The cruelty that was practiced by this dictator was beyond imagination. He is a man believed to have promised crippled people that he would help them despite their physical disabilities. According to those who lived to tell the story, he would pile them on the truck and take them near a river, and later, kill them; disposing their bodies in the water.

A story is recounted of how Idi Amin had visited a certain primary school in Uganda. The headmaster of the school was shot at point blank on the forehead. The cooks were commanded to cook parts of his body. Every student was required to have a bite of the meat. They had no choice. In case the pupils and staff refused, they would expect a bullet to penetrate their bodies.

According to many Ugandans during Idi Amin’s time though there were no evidence but it does not mean it never happened, it is believed this man was into occult. This was a result of skulls of humans, probably murdered Ugandans stored in the fridge together with parts of flesh and blood.

Idi Anin Rise to Power

Idi Amin was born between the years 1923 and 1925 in Kiboko. It is found in the northwest corner of Uganda. His father was a farmer who afterwards left his mother and siblings never to be seen.

He had little formal education though it is not clear whether he attended the local missionary school.

In the year 1946 Idi Amin joined the Kings African Rifle (KAR) as an assistant cook. KAR was Britain’s colonial African troops. From a cook, Idi Amin rose to power, through ranks, to sergeant-major and platoon commander in 1958. By the year 1961, he had risen to the rank of lieutenant (only two Ugandans to had achieved this status).

Idi Amin served in various KAR missions including dealing with surge of Mau Mau fighters against the British colony in Kenya. In 1962, his cruelty started manifesting itself. His troop was involved in “Turkana Massacre’ in north-eastern Kenya. It is believed his troop tortured, killed to some extent of burying some of them alive. He was sent there to settle or quell the conflict between Kenya pastoralists and the neighboring tribesmen of northern Uganda.

When Uganda gained independence from Britain, the king of Baganda tribe declared himself the president and Idi Amin’s close friend Milton Obote was appointed the Prime Minister. Idi Amin’s rank was promoted to major in 1963 and colonel and deputy commander of the army and air force in 1964. In 1966, Milton Obote and Idi Amin were implicated in a deal to smuggle gold, coffee and Ivory out of Democratic Republic of Congo.

As a result the president, Edward Mutesa II commissioned a parliamentary committee to investigate the case. It was due to this that Obote declared himself the president, arrested five cabinet ministers and suspended the 1962 constitution. The kind of Baganda was forced into exile in Britain and Idi Amin was then promoted to major-general and chief-staff of the army.

During the months to follow, the relations between Idia and Milton Obote soured. This led to the overthrow of Obote and Idia Amin declared he was the president of Uganda. This was done while Obote was overseas attending Commonwealth conference.

It is from when he appointed himself as president that Uganda people started experiencing the full force of his cruelty. Many Indians, Pakistanis and Britons were given short notice to the country. Many left their businesses behind which led to loss of value of Uganda’s currency as the economy started taking a toll.

In 1979 Idi Amin’s regime was overthrown by the Ugandans nationalists backed by Tanzanian forces. He was forced into exile, his first landing place being Libya. He was given a short stay before leaving for Saudi Arabia.

He died in the year 2003 at King Faisal hospital due to high blood pressure, hypertension, fatigue and kidney failure. He was buried in Jeddah’s Ruwais cemetery in Saudi Arabia, a few hours after his death.

Idi Amin’s third name, Dada, was a nickname he was given as a result of being seen with women. In short, he was a womanizer. Every time he was seen with a lady and asked who she was, he would say “This is my sister.” Dada is the Kiswahili word (spoken in East Africa) for Sister.

The below is the self-declared title of Idi Amin when he overthrew Obote’s rule:

“His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts, of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.”