At 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) tall and powerfully built, Amin was the Ugandan light heavyweight boxing champion between 1951 and 1960.
Idi Amin was once a cook, a job he held while serving in the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles.
Amin was one of only two native officers in Uganda’s military forces when the country became independent in 1962.
A supporter of President Milton Obote, Amin rose quickly through the ranks and was promoted to major general and commander of the armed forces in 1968.
Idi Amin seized power of Uganda in a military coup on January 25, 1971, while President Milton Obote was attending a Commonwealth summit meeting in Singapore. One week after the coup, Amin declared himself President of Uganda, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Army Chief of Staff, and Chief of Air Staff.
Idi Amin seized power of Uganda in a military coup on January 25, 1971, while President Milton Obote was attending a Commonwealth summit meeting in Singapore. One week after the coup, Amin declared himself President of Uganda, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Army Chief of Staff, and Chief of Air Staff.
Photo below by United Nations (via Library of Congress Country Study). Taken on October 1975 by the United Nations (T. Chen).,
As president of Uganda between 1971–79, Amin exercised a reign of terror over his people. He expelled some 50,000 Asians, nationalized foreign companies, and had an estimated 300,000 Ugandans killed.
As president of Uganda between 1971–79, Amin exercised a reign of terror over his people. He expelled some 50,000 Asians, nationalized foreign companies, and had an estimated 300,000 Ugandans killed.
Amin was believed to have up to 50 children and five wives, two of whom he killed.
During his rule Amin banned miniskirts, and attended a Saudi royal funeral wearing a kilt.
In 1977, when Britain broke diplomatic relations with Uganda, Radio Uganda announced his entire title as: "His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Alhaji Dr. Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, CBE".
Queen Elizabeth II planned to hit Idi Amin with the Pearl Sword if he came to her Silver Jubilee, according to Lord Mountbatten.
By 1978, Amin's rule had become increasingly unpopular, and the Ugandan economy had collapsed. Various opposition groups had formed a coalition known as the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF), which received support from neighboring Tanzania.
In October 1978, Tanzania launched an invasion of Uganda with the aim of removing Amin from power. The conflict lasted for several months, with the Tanzanian army and UNLF forces gradually advancing towards Kampala. On April 11, 1979, they entered the city and overthrew Amin's regime.
Amin fled Kampala as Tanzanian troops and Uganda National Liberation Front forces closed in. Amin escaped first to Libya, where he stayed until 1980, and ultimately settled in Saudi Arabia.
Idi Amin died on August 16, 2003 at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from kidney failure. He was buried in Ruwais Cemetery in Jeddah in a simple grave without any fanfare.
Source Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia
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