25 January 1971 – Idi Amin Takes Power in Uganda

General Idi Amin Dada took power in Uganda by military coup while the existing president, Milton Obote, was at a Commonwealth meeting in Singapore. This was a pre-emptive strike since President Obote was arranging for General Amin to be arrested and replaced as chief of staff.

During his period of rule, Amin would personally order the execution of the Anglican archbishop of Uganda, the chief justice, the chancellor of Makerere College, governor of the Bank of Uganda, and several of his own parliamentary ministers. In 1972 he declared 'economic war' on Uganda's Asian population, expelled his Israeli military advisors and turned to Colonel Gadhafi in Libya and the Soviet Union for support.

Popular legend has Amin involved in blood rituals and cannibalism. More authoritative sources suggest that he may have suffered from hypomania, a form of manic depression which is characterized by irrational behavior and emotional outbursts.

Find out more in this biography of Idi Amin Dada.

See Also:
You can see more about the life of Idi Amin in the film Last King Of Scotland starring Forest Whitaker. Find out more about the film from About's Guide to Hollywood Movies, Rebecca Murray.