by Comrade Shoaib Nagi

Created on: August 27, 2010   Last Updated: August 28, 2010

Idi Amin Dada’s sense of humour and presentation often deluded foreigners into thinking that he was merely a clown. Very few know that behind this outlook of a clown, there was a brutal tyrant responsible for more than half a million deaths. His rule left Uganda devastated and on the verge of economic collapse, while he became famous around the world for his eccentric behavior and his flamboyant brutality.

Amin was born in 1925 in a remote West Nile district in northern Uganda, which was at that time under the British Crown. His parents belonged to minor tribes collectively known as the Nubians and they lived in extreme rural poverty. His father had converted to Islam and so Idi was a Muslim himself. Raised by his mother, in 1946, he joined the King’s African Rifles as an assistant cook and rose rapidly through the ranks. In the fifties, he fought against the Mau Mau rebels in Kenya and was given the rank of ‘Effendi’, which was reserved for potential African leaders. In 1961, he was appointed as a Lieutenant, which was very rare for an African to be. During this time, he started showing his sadistic and brutal tendencies. He tortured and killed nomads who stole cattle. At his prime, he was a 6’4”, 300 pounder, a boxing champion and a marvelous swimmer.

Amin supported the Ugandan politician Milton Obote who rewarded him when he became the first Prime Minister of Uganda, after it gained its independence in 1962. By 1964, he became the Deputy Commander of the Ugandan Army, and had received his paratroop training in Israel. In 1966, Parliament accused Obote and Amin of stealing public funds. This led to a political crisis and Amin’s forces arrested five dissident ministers. Soon, Obote suspended the constitution and gave Amin full command of the Ugandan Armed Forces. Obote then used Amin to arrest the President who was also the king of the powerful Baganda tribe and soon with Amin’s help, all the Baganda soldiers in the army were replaced by Amin’s fellow tribesmen.

In 1971, Obote ordered an account of defence spending and soon after this announcement; he left the country for the Commonwealth conference. Amin took advantage of the situation and launched a successful coup. Amin promised free elections, released political prisoners and promised to unite the country and that’s how he managed to bag some popularity in his early days.

Within few weeks, he ended all political commotion and became an extremely

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