Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada was the third President of Uganda after Fredrick Muteesa II and Milton Obote. Standing over six feet tall, Amin was a strong and intimidating leader.
He became known worldwide for his brutal rule and was feared as one of history’s most notorious dictators.
There are different stories about his birthplace. Some say he was born where the International Conference Center in Uganda stands today, while others believe he was born in Koboko to a Kakwa father and a Lugbara mother.
His exact year of birth is unclear but is estimated to be between 1925 and 1928.
Amin’s childhood was difficult. His mother abandoned him when he was still a baby, and he had to survive by selling snacks and doing small jobs.
He did not receive much formal education but joined the British colonial army, the King’s African Rifles (KAR), in 1946. He served in different places, including Burma, Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda.
Though he was a skilled soldier, he was known for his cruelty. Despite this, he rose through the ranks and became an effendi, the highest position for a Black African in the British army.
In the late 1960s, Amin’s relationship with President Milton Obote worsened due to political differences. Western nations, particularly Britain, saw Amin as a better option to protect their interests.
In 1970, Amin was appointed commander of all armed forces, but later that year, Obote took back control.
Fearing arrest for corruption, Amin staged a coup in January 1971 while Obote was away in Singapore and took over Uganda’s leadership. His rule lasted for eight years, filled with fear and terror.
Amin’s past in Kenya is also controversial. He worked as a police constable in Mathira, Nyeri County, around 1954. He reportedly led attacks on locals resisting British rule.
During this time, he befriended a young woman, Wamuyu wa Murage, and eloped with her. Her family never saw her again.
Even today, locals in Mathira remember Amin with fear. His old house still stands, serving as a painful reminder of his brutal past. Despite his death in 2003, his legacy of violence remains unforgettable.