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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AtulaSiriwardane" data-source="post: 4425605" data-attributes="member: 120286">Idi Amin                      From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia                                                  <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Idi_Amin.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/33/Idi_Amin.jpg/225px-Idi_Amin.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a>Idi Amin addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York, 1975      3rd <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Uganda" target="_blank">President of Uganda</a>    In office1971 – 1979   Vice President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustafa_Adrisi" target="_blank">Mustafa Adrisi</a>   Preceded by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Obote" target="_blank">Milton Obote</a>   Succeeded by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yusufu_Lule" target="_blank">Yusufu Lule</a>       Born c.1925<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-birth_date_place-0" target="_blank">[1]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koboko_District" target="_blank">Koboko</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampala" target="_blank">Kampala</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-birth_date_place-0" target="_blank">[1]</a>   Died 16 August 2003 (aged 78)<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeddah" target="_blank">Jeddah</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" target="_blank">Saudi Arabia</a>   Nationality Ugandan   Spouse Malyamu Amin (divorced)Kay Amin (divorced)Nora Amin (divorced)Madina AminSarah Amin   Profession Military officer   Religion <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" target="_blank">Islam</a>   Idi Amin Dada Oumee (c.1925<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-birth_date_place-0" target="_blank">[1]</a> – 16 August 2003), commonly known as Idi Amin, was a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda" target="_blank">Ugandan</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_dictatorship" target="_blank">military dictator</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Uganda" target="_blank">president</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda" target="_blank">Uganda</a> from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_colony" target="_blank">British colonial</a> regiment, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_African_Rifles" target="_blank">King's African Rifles</a>, in 1946, and advanced to the rank of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_General" target="_blank">Major General</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander" target="_blank">Commander</a> of the Ugandan Army. He took power in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_Ugandan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" target="_blank">military coup</a> in January 1971, deposing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Obote" target="_blank">Milton Obote</a>. His rule was characterized by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights" target="_blank">human rights</a> abuses, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_repression" target="_blank">political repression</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_persecution" target="_blank">ethnic persecution</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrajudicial_punishment" target="_blank">extrajudicial killings</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_of_Asians_in_Uganda_in_1972" target="_blank">expulsion of Asians from Uganda</a>. The number of people killed as a result of his regime is unknown; estimates from international observers and human rights groups range from 100,000<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-Ullman1978-1" target="_blank">[2]</a> to 500,000. From 1977 to 1979, Amin titled himself as "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excellency" target="_blank">His Excellency</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_for_Life" target="_blank">President for Life</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_Marshal_%28Uganda%29" target="_blank">Field Marshal</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajji" target="_blank">Al Hadji</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Laws" target="_blank">Doctor</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-doctorate-2" target="_blank">[3]</a> Idi Amin Dada, VC,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-3" target="_blank">[4]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distinguished_Service_Order" target="_blank">DSO</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Cross" target="_blank">MC</a>, Conqueror of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire" target="_blank">British Empire</a>."<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-guardian_obit-4" target="_blank">[5]</a> In 1975–1976, Amin became the Chairman of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization_of_African_Unity" target="_blank">Organization of African Unity</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Africanism" target="_blank">pan-Africanist</a> group designed to promote solidarity of the African states.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-5" target="_blank">[6]</a> During the 1977–1979 period, Uganda was appointed to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Commission_on_Human_Rights" target="_blank">United Nations Commission on Human Rights</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-6" target="_blank">[7]</a> Dissent within Uganda, and Amin's attempt to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annexation" target="_blank">annex</a> the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagera_Region" target="_blank">Kagera</a> province of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania" target="_blank">Tanzania</a> in 1978, led to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda-Tanzania_War" target="_blank">Uganda-Tanzania War</a> and the fall of his regime in 1979. Amin fled to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" target="_blank">Libya</a>, before relocating to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" target="_blank">Saudi Arabia</a> in 1981, where he died in 2003.     Contents  Early life and military career Amin never wrote an autobiography or authorized any official written account of his life. There are discrepancies as to when and where he was born. Most biographical sources hold that he was born in either <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koboko_District" target="_blank">Koboko</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kampala" target="_blank">Kampala</a> around 1925.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-britannica-7" target="_blank">[8]</a> According to Fred Guweddeko, a researcher at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makerere_University" target="_blank">Makerere University</a>, Idi Amin was the son of Andreas Nyabire (1889–1976). Nyabire, a member of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakwa" target="_blank">Kakwa</a> ethnic group, converted from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholicism" target="_blank">Roman Catholicism</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" target="_blank">Islam</a> in 1910 and changed his name to Amin Dada. Abandoned by his father, Idi Amin grew up with his mother's family. Guweddeko states that Amin's mother was called Assa Aatte (1904–1970), an ethnic <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugbara" target="_blank">Lugbara</a> and a traditional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbalist" target="_blank">herbalist</a>, who treated members of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buganda" target="_blank">Buganda</a> royalty, among others. Amin joined an Islamic school in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombo,_Uganda" target="_blank">Bombo</a> in 1941. After a few years he left school and did odd jobs before being recruited to the army by a British colonial army officer.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-monitor_01012004-8" target="_blank">[9]</a>   Chronology of Amin's military promotions       King's African Rifles   1946 Joins <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_African_Rifles" target="_blank">King's African Rifles</a>   1947 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_%28rank%29" target="_blank">Private</a>   1952 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporal" target="_blank">Corporal</a>   1954 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effendi" target="_blank">Effendi</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_Officer" target="_blank">Warrant Officer</a>)   1961 First Ugandan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_%28armed_forces%29" target="_blank">Commissioned Officer</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant" target="_blank">Lieutenant</a>       Uganda Army   1962 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_%28OF-2%29" target="_blank">Captain</a>   1963 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major" target="_blank">Major</a>   1964 Deputy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander" target="_blank">Commander of the Army</a>   1965 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel" target="_blank">Colonel</a>, Commander of the Army   1968 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_General" target="_blank">Major General</a>   1971 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_State" target="_blank">Head of State</a>Chairman of the Defence Council<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander-in-Chief" target="_blank">Commander-in-Chief</a> of the armed forcesArmy <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_staff_%28military%29" target="_blank">Chief of Staff</a> and Chief of Air Staff   1975 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_Marshal_%28Uganda%29" target="_blank">Field Marshal</a>    Colonial British army Amin joined the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_African_Rifles" target="_blank">King's African Rifles</a> (KAR) of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_British_Army" target="_blank">British Colonial Army</a> in 1946 as an assistant cook.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-britannica-7" target="_blank">[8]</a> He claimed he was forced to join the Army during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II" target="_blank">World War II</a> and that he served in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Campaign" target="_blank">Burma Campaign</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-portrait-9" target="_blank">[10]</a> but records indicate he was first enlisted after the war was concluded.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-guardian_obit-4" target="_blank">[5]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-10" target="_blank">[11]</a> He was transferred to Kenya for infantry service as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_%28rank%29" target="_blank">private</a> in 1947 and served in the 21st KAR infantry battalion in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilgil,_Kenya" target="_blank">Gilgil</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya" target="_blank">Kenya</a>, until 1949. That year, his unit was deployed to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" target="_blank">Somalia</a> to fight the Somali <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shifta" target="_blank">Shifta</a> rebels who were <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_raiding" target="_blank">rustling cattle</a> there.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-ContWldHist-11" target="_blank">[12]</a> In 1952 his brigade was deployed against the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mau_Mau" target="_blank">Mau Mau</a> rebels in Kenya. He was promoted to corporal the same year, then to sergeant in 1953.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-monitor_01012004-8" target="_blank">[9]</a> In 1954 Amin was made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effendi" target="_blank">effendi</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_officer" target="_blank">warrant officer</a>), the highest rank possible for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_people" target="_blank">Black African</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonial" target="_blank">colonial</a> British army of that time. Amin returned to Uganda the same year and in 1961 he was promoted to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant" target="_blank">lieutenant</a>, becoming one of the first two Ugandans to become <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_%28armed_forces%29" target="_blank">commissioned officers</a>. He was then assigned to quell the cattle rustling between Uganda's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karamojong" target="_blank">Karamojong</a> and Kenya's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkana" target="_blank">Turkana</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nomad" target="_blank">nomads</a>. In 1962 he was promoted to captain and then, in 1963, to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major" target="_blank">major</a>. The following year, he was appointed Deputy Commander of the Army.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-monitor_01012004-8" target="_blank">[9]</a> Amin was an active athlete during his time in the army. At 193 cm (6 ft 4 in), he was the Ugandan <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_heavyweight" target="_blank">light heavyweight</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing" target="_blank">boxing</a> champion from 1951 to 1960, and a swimmer and rugby player.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-Scotsman-12" target="_blank">[13]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-13" target="_blank">[14]</a>  Army commander In 1965 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Uganda" target="_blank">Prime Minister</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Obote" target="_blank">Milton Obote</a> and Amin were implicated in a deal to smuggle <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory" target="_blank">ivory</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold" target="_blank">gold</a> into Uganda from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo" target="_blank">Democratic Republic of the Congo</a>. The deal, as later alleged by General Nicholas Olenga, an associate of the former Congolese leader <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrice_Lumumba" target="_blank">Patrice Lumumba</a>, was part of an arrangement to help troops opposed to the Congolese government trade ivory and gold for arms supplies secretly smuggled to them by Amin. In 1966, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament" target="_blank">Parliament</a> demanded an investigation. Obote imposed a new constitution abolishing the ceremonial presidency held by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabaka" target="_blank">Kabaka</a> (King) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Mutesa_II" target="_blank">Edward Mutesa II</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buganda" target="_blank">Buganda</a>, and declared himself executive president. He promoted Amin to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel" target="_blank">colonel</a> and army commander. Amin led <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mengo_Hill" target="_blank">an attack</a> on the Kabaka's palace and forced Mutesa into <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exile" target="_blank">exile</a> to the United Kingdom, where he remained until his death in 1969.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-14" target="_blank">[15]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-bookrags-15" target="_blank">[16]</a> Amin began recruiting members of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kakwa" target="_blank">Kakwa</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugbara" target="_blank">Lugbara</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nubian" target="_blank">Nubian</a>, and other ethnic groups from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Nile_sub-region" target="_blank">West Nile</a> area bordering <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan" target="_blank">Sudan</a>. The Nubians had been residents in Uganda since the early 20th century, having come from Sudan to serve the colonial army. In Uganda, Nubians were commonly perceived as Sudanese foreigners and erroneously referred to as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anyanya" target="_blank">Anyanya</a> (Anyanya were southern Sudanese rebels of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sudanese_Civil_War" target="_blank">First Sudanese Civil War</a> and were not involved in Uganda). Because many ethnic groups in northern Uganda inhabit both Uganda and Sudan, allegations persist that Amin's army consisted substantially of Sudanese soldiers.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-Anyanya-16" target="_blank">[17]</a> Seizure of power Eventually, a rift developed between Amin and Obote, worsened by the support Amin had built within the army by recruiting from the West Nile region, his involvement in operations to support the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Sudanese_Civil_War" target="_blank">rebellion in southern Sudan</a>, and an attempt on Obote's life in 1969. In October 1970, Obote himself took control of the armed forces, reducing Amin from his months-old post of commander of all the armed forces to that of commander of the army.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-britishcouncil-17" target="_blank">[18]</a> Having learned that Obote was planning to arrest him for misappropriating army funds, Amin seized power in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_Ugandan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" target="_blank">military coup</a> on 25 January 1971, while Obote was attending a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations" target="_blank">Commonwealth</a> summit meeting in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore" target="_blank">Singapore</a>. Troops loyal to Amin sealed off <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entebbe_International_Airport" target="_blank">Entebbe International Airport</a>, the main artery into Uganda, and took Kampala. Soldiers surrounded Obote's residence and blocked major roads. A broadcast on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_Broadcasting_Corporation" target="_blank">Radio Uganda</a> accused Obote's government of corruption and preferential treatment of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lango_sub-region" target="_blank">Lango region</a>. Cheering crowds were reported in the streets of Kampala after the radio broadcast.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-18" target="_blank">[19]</a> Amin announced that he was a soldier, not a politician, and that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_government" target="_blank">military government</a> would remain only as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caretaker_government" target="_blank">caretaker regime</a> until new elections, which would be announced as soon as the situation was normalised. He promised to release all <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_prisoner" target="_blank">political prisoners</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-19" target="_blank">[20]</a> Amin was initially welcomed both within Uganda and by the international community. He gave former king and president Mutesa (who had died in exile) a state burial in April 1971, freed many political prisoners, and reiterated his promise to hold free and fair elections to return the country to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy" target="_blank">democratic</a> rule in the shortest period possible.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-20" target="_blank">[21]</a>  Presidency Main article: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_under_Idi_Amin" target="_blank">Uganda under Idi Amin</a>   Establishment of military rule On 2 February 1971, one week after the coup, Amin declared himself President of Uganda, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander-in-Chief" target="_blank">Commander-in-Chief</a> of the Armed Forces, Army <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_of_staff_%28military%29" target="_blank">Chief of Staff</a> and Chief of Air Staff. He announced that he was suspending certain provisions of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Uganda" target="_blank">constitution</a> and soon instituted an Advisory Defence Council composed of military officers, with himself as the chairman. Amin placed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_tribunal" target="_blank">military tribunals</a> above the system of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_law_%28legal_system%29" target="_blank">civil law</a>, appointed soldiers to top government posts and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parastatal" target="_blank">parastatal</a> agencies, and informed the newly inducted civilian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabinet_%28government%29" target="_blank">cabinet ministers</a> that they would be subject to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_courtesy" target="_blank">military discipline</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-britishcouncil-17" target="_blank">[18]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-LOC_Rule_Under_Amin-21" target="_blank">[22]</a> Amin renamed the presidential lodge in Kampala from Government House to "The Command Post". He disbanded the General Service Unit (GSU), an intelligence agency created by the previous government, and replaced it with the State Research Bureau (SRB). SRB headquarters at the Kampala suburb of Nakasero became the scene of torture and executions over the next few years.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-LOC_Security-22" target="_blank">[23]</a> Other agencies used to root out political dissent included the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_police" target="_blank">military police</a> and the Public Safety Unit (PSU).<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-LOC_Security-22" target="_blank">[23]</a> Obote took refuge in Tanzania, having been offered sanctuary there by Tanzanian President <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Nyerere" target="_blank">Julius Nyerere</a>. He was soon joined by 20,000 Ugandan refugees fleeing Amin. In 1972, the exiles attempted to regain the country through a poorly organized coup attempt, without success.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-invasion-23" target="_blank">[24]</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-29" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin#cite_note-29" target="_blank"></a></blockquote>

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