Idi Amin: The Butcher of Uganda

Early Life and Military Career

Idi Amin Dada Oumee was born between 1923 and 1928 in Koboko, a town in northwestern Uganda, then part of the British Protectorate. His exact birthdate remains uncertain, but he belonged to the Kakwa ethnic group, a minority in Uganda.

it's difficult to know the truth about Idi Amin because he there are practical problems in terms of getting hold of the information, especially for the early years

Mark Leopold, author of Idi Amin: The Story of Africa’s Icon of Evil.

Raised by his mother, Amin received limited formal education. He was said to have worked as a cook before joining the King’s African Rifles, a regiment of the British colonial army, in 1946.

His military career was notable for its brutality and his enthusiasm for combat. He served in British campaigns in Burma and Kenya, including efforts to suppress the Mau Mau uprising. By the time Uganda gained independence in 1962, Amin had risen rapidly through the ranks, benefiting from his loyalty to British and then Ugandan leaders.

Rise to Power

Amin became a close ally of Prime Minister and later President Milton Obote. In 1966, Obote used the military—under Amin’s command—to centralise power, even ordering an attack on the palace of the Buganda king. However, tensions between the two men escalated, particularly as Obote accused Amin of misusing funds and plotting a coup.

On January 25, 1971, while Obote was out of the country, Idi Amin seized power in a military coup. He claimed he was acting to save Uganda from corruption and promised to restore democracy, as well as hold free and fair elections. Many Ugandans initially welcomed his takeover.

Rule of Terror

Amin quickly consolidated power, declaring himself president and promoting himself to field marshal. His regime soon became synonymous with violence and repression. Political opponents, real or perceived, were tortured, imprisoned, or murdered. Victims included judges, academics, religious leaders, and soldiers from rival tribes. Estimates of the number of Ugandans killed under his rule range from 100,000 to over 500,000.

In 1972, Amin expelled Uganda’s Asian minority—mostly Indian and Pakistani families—who had long controlled much of the country’s commerce. Their abrupt removal devastated the economy, leading to a collapse in trade, production, and basic services. Amin handed over their businesses and assets to his supporters, most of whom lacked the expertise to run them.

Amin also aligned himself erratically with global powers. He initially had Western support, especially from Britain and Israel, but later turned to Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and the Soviet Union after falling out with his former allies. He portrayed himself as a Pan-Africanist and an anti-imperialist, even bestowing upon himself bizarre and grandiose titles, including "Conqueror of the British Empire."

International Notoriety

Amin’s bizarre behaviour and brutal policies attracted international media attention. His public statements were often inflammatory, anti-Semitic, or absurd. He sent telegrams praising Adolf Hitler, claimed he was the rightful king of Scotland, and frequently appeared in military uniforms laden with medals he awarded himself.

Behind the bombast, however, was a climate of fear and repression. The State Research Bureau, his secret police, ran torture chambers and executed thousands of people. Amin's government was also plagued by mismanagement and growing isolation.

Downfall and Exile

In late 1978, Amin made the fatal decision to invade neighbouring Tanzania after a border dispute. In response, Tanzanian forces, alongside Ugandan exiles, launched a full-scale war. By April 1979, they had captured Kampala, Uganda’s capital, and forced Amin to flee.

He first sought refuge in Libya before settling in Saudi Arabia, where he was granted asylum on the condition that he refrain from politics. He lived there in relative obscurity until his death in Jeddah on August 16, 2003, reportedly from kidney failure.

Legacy

Idi Amin remains one of the most infamous figures in modern African history. His eight-year rule left Uganda economically shattered, socially divided, and deeply traumatised. While some in Uganda’s north still view him as a symbol of resistance against southern elites, for most, his name is a reminder of tyranny and bloodshed.

Numerous books, films, and documentaries have explored his regime, most notably the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland.

His legacy is a contested one. There is no doubt that a lot of his regime was marinated in the blood of many innocents….

Daniel Kalinaki is a journalist with Uganda’s Daily Monitor.