Share

Idi Amin biography

5 photos

Quick Facts

  • PLACE OF DEATH: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  • Originally: Idi Amin Dada
more about Idi

Best Known For

Idi Amin became known as the “Butcher of Uganda” for his brutal, tyrannical rule while president of Uganda from 1971 to 1979.


Videos see all videos

  • Idi Amin - Mini Bio (3:36)

  • Idi Amin - Mini Bio

    Idi Amin joined the King's African Rifles in 1946 and soon developed a bad reputation for his treatment of detainees. He staged a military coup in 1971. As President of Uganda, his brutality made many consider him the "Butcher of Uganda."

Idi Amin - Mini Bio watch more videos (1)

Synopsis

A member of the small Kakwa ethnic group of northwestern Uganda, Idi Amin entered the Ugandan military at a young age and soon rose through the ranks. In 1971, he staged a successful military coup and named himself president and chief of the armed forces. After a Tanzanian-led coup in 1979, he fled the country. On August 16, 2003, Amin died in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Contents

Quotes

I am the hero of Africa.

– Idi Amin

Profile

A member of the small Kakwa ethnic group of northwestern Uganda, Idi Amin's birth date is unconfirmed, but estimated to have been in 1925. His mother, an herbalist and diviner, raised him after his father deserted the family. Amin had little formal education before joining the King's African Rifles of the British colonial army in 1946 as an assistant cook. Extremely charismatic and skilled, he quickly rose through the ranks. His stature was rather notable. He stood six feet, four inches tall and was a Ugandan boxing champion from 1951 to 1960, as well as a swimmer. He soon became notorious among fellow soldiers for his overzealous and cruel military interrogations. Eventually he made the highest rank possible for a Black African serving in the British Army. From 1952 until 1956, he served in the Allied forces' Burma campaign during World War II and in the British action against the Mau Mau revolt in Kenya (1952–56). Before Uganda's independence in 1962, he became closely associated with the new nation's prime minister and president, Milton Obote. The two men worked to smuggle gold, coffee and ivory out of Congo, but conflicts soon arose between them, and on January 25, 1971, while Obote was attending a meeting in Singapore, Amin staged a successful military coup. Amin became president and chief of the armed forces in 1971, field marshal in 1975, and life president in 1976.

Amin began his rule with popular actions, including freeing several political prisoners. Simultaneously, however, he sent out “killer squads” to hunt down and murder Obote's supporters, predominantly those from the Acholi and Lango ethnic groups, military personnel and civilians. His victims soon came to include people from every order and rank, including journalists, lawyers, homosexuals, students and senior bureaucrats. He expelled all Asians from Uganda in 1972, an action that led to the breakdown of his country's economy. He became known as the “Butcher of Uganda” for his brutality. It is believed that some 300,000 people were killed during his presidency. In July 1976 he was personally involved in the hijacking of a French airliner to Entebbe. In October 1978 Amin ordered an attack on Tanzania. Aided by Ugandan nationalists, Tanzanian troops eventually overpowered the Ugandan army. As the Tanzanian-led forces neared Kampala, Uganda's capital, on April 13, 1979, Amin fled the city. Escaping first to Libya, he finally settled in Saudi Arabia. On August 16, 2003, Idi Amin died in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The cause of death was reported to be multiple organ failure. Although the Ugandan government announced that

ADVERTISEMENT
9183487 9183487
profile id: 9183487
profile name: Idi Amin
profile occupation:
related profile id: 9183487
related profile name: Idi Amin
related profile occupation:
related profile img: /imported/images/Biography/Images/Profiles/D/Idi-Amin-Dada-9183487-1-402.jpg
related profile URL: /people/idi-amin-9183487
profile
pop
Your Connections

Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.

specific profile connection
Your Friends' Connections
specific friend connection
Profile Connections
    Show More Connections
    Included In These Groups
    • Political Criminals

      These politicians are crooks.

      View group

      Political Criminals 7 people in this group

    • Erratic and Autocratic

      Ruthless, corrupt, and crazy. Many of the world's dicators started out as charismatic young leaders, with a large measure of support from their countrymen—only to become bloated with power and abandon the principles they had pledged to uphold. These leaders held on to power by rigidly enforcing control, intimidating opposition and instilling fear among citizens. With access to unlimited power and riches, many developed secretive personal lives and bizarre habits. These dictators terrorized their people, and mesmerized the world, with their bizarre sayings, styles, and actions. Biography.com looks at some of the most erratic, and autocratic, leaders.

       

      View group

      Erratic and Autocratic 13 people in this group

    • Oscar-Winning Portrayals

      Truth is often more fascinating than fiction. Since the beginning of movies, actors have been portraying figures from history and bringing them to life on screen. Mastering the well-known mannerisms and characteristics of real world figures can be more challenging than portraying a fictional character.  Enormous amounts of research and drastic physical transformations are not uncommon for actors wanting to properly inhabit their role on film.  Whether playing a scheming Queen, a country singer, a temperamental boxer, or a pioneering writer, those performers who can accurately play the part often find Oscar gold as their reward. Here are the Academy Award-winning actors, and the larger-than-life people they portrayed.

      View group

      Oscar-Winning Portrayals 68 people in this group
      presented by Oscar-Winning Portrayals

    See all related groups

    Celebrity Connections

    Show More Connections
    Fact Check: We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!