Idi Amin Dada Biography and Timeline

Birth of Ida Amin Dada

Birth of Ida Amin Dada, born as Awo-Ongo Angoo in Kampala, fathered by Andreas Nyabire, Nyabire was an ethnic Kakwa and Catholic who converted to Islam iand changed his name to Amin Dada

Birth of Ida Amin Dada

Birth of Ida Amin Dada, born as Awo-Ongo Angoo in Kampala, fathered by Andreas Nyabire, Nyabire was an ethnic Kakwa and Catholic who converted to Islam iand changed his name to Amin Dada

Kings African Rifles

Amin joins the King's African Rifles (KAR) of the British colonial army as part of the laundry and kitchen army staff whilst undergoing training

Boxing Champion

Holds Ugandas light heavyweight boxing championship from 1951 to 1960

Corporal

Appointed Corporal

Sargeant

Appointed Sargeant

Effendi

Appointed Effendi (Warrant Officer), the highest rank possible for a Black African in the colonial British army

Lieutenant

The first two Ugandans to become commissioned officers with the rank of Lieutenant

Captain

After independence Milton Obote, Ugandas first Prime Minister, rewards Idi Amin for his loyalty by promoting him to Captain

Deputy Commander

Appointed Deputy Commander of the Army

Commander of Army

Obote promotes Amin to General and Commander of the Ugandan Army

General

Obote promotes Amin to General and Commander of the Ugandan Army

Commonwealth

After hearing that Obote was planning to arrest him for misappropriating army funds, Amin seized power in a military coup when Obote is attending a Commonwealth summit meeting in Singapore

Role range: 1971-1978

Coup

After hearing that Obote was planning to arrest him for misappropriating army funds, Amin seized power in a military coup when Obote is attending a Commonwealth summit meeting in Singapore.

Role range: 1971-1978

Coup

Amin's government expelled 49,000 Ugandan Asians.

Role range: 1971-1978

Coup

Idi Amin Dada overthrows President Obote.

Role range: 1971-1978

Coup

Idi Amin is initially welcomed both within Uganda and by the international community, In an internal memo, the British Foreign Office described him as "A splendid type and a good football player."

Role range: 1971-1978

Coup

Over 300,000 opponents of the new regime are killed.

Role range: 1971-1978

Burial

Amin gives the former King and President Mutesa, who had died in exile, a state burial

Role range: 1971-1979

Massacre

Amin founds the so-called "State Research Bureau," which are death squads to hunt down and murder Obotes supporters, as well as much of the intelligentsia, whom he distrusted

Role range: 1971-1979

State Research Bureau

Amin founds the so-called "State Research Bureau," which are death squads to hunt down and murder Obotes supporters, as well as much of the intelligentsia, whom he distrusted

Role range: 1971-1979

Exile of Idi Amin Dada

Amin gives Ugandas 50,000 Asians (mostly Indians of Gujarati origin) 90 days to leave the country, following an alleged dream in which, he claimed, God told him to expel them

Role range: 1971-1979

Break in Diplomatic Relations with Israel

Amin severs diplomatic relations with Israel, while turning to Muammar al-Qaddafi of Libya, as well as the Soviet Union, for support

Role range: 1971-1979

Exile of Idi Amin Dada

The Asian community is expelled

Role range: 1971-1979

Invasion of Uganda

The Asian community is expelled

Role range: 1971-1979

United States closes its embassy in Kampala

The United States closes its embassy in Kampala

Role range: 1971-1979

Constitution of Uganda

Appointed President of Uganda, for life

Role range: 1971-1979

Dictatorship

Appointed President of Uganda, for life

Role range: 1971-1979

Hijack

The hijackers demand the release of 53 PLO and Red Army Faction prisoners in return for the 256 hostages and are assisted by Amins troops. Flight 139, the Air France Airbus hijacked from Athens is invited by Amin to stop at Entebbe International Airport in the city of Entebbe, 32 km from Kampala

Role range: 1971-1979

President of Uganda

Appointed President of Uganda, for life

Role range: 1971-1979

Red Army Faction

The hijackers demand the release of 53 PLO and Red Army Faction prisoners in return for the 256 hostages and are assisted by Amins troops

Role range: 1971-1979

Red Army

The hijackers demand the release of 53 PLO and Red Army Faction prisoners in return for the 256 hostages and are assisted by Amins troops

Role range: 1971-1979

Hijack

The hijackers agree to the release of non-Jewish and noni passengers and a transport plane, arranged by Amin, takes off and lands in Europe

Role range: 1971-1979

Hijack

At midnight Israeli commandos attack the airport and free all but four of the hostages who are killed

Role range: 1971-1979

Hijack

The success of the Israeli operation largely contributed to Amins downfall, while increased resistance and sabotage operations cripple Uganda during his final years

Role range: 1971-1979

United Kingdom closes its High Commission in Uganda

The United Kingdom closes its High Commission in Uganda. Amin announces he will investigate the possibility that large parts of southern Sudan and western and central Kenya, up to within 32 km of Nairobi, were historically a part of colonial Uganda

Role range: 1971-1979

Break in Diplomatic Relations with His regime

After Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with his regime, Amin declares he had beaten the British and conferred on himself the decoration of CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire)

Role range: 1971-1979

CBE

After Britain breaks off diplomatic relations with his regime, Amin declares he had beaten the British and conferred on himself the decoration of CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire)

Role range: 1971-1979

Invasion of Kagera

Amin orders the invasion of Tanzania, with the help of Libyan troops, Amin tries to annex the northern Tanzanian province of Kagera

Role range: 1971-1979

Invasion of Tanzania

Tanzania, under President Julius Nyerere, declares war on Uganda, then begins a counterattack, enlisting the countrys population of Ugandan exiles. Amin orders the invasion of Tanzania, with the help of Libyan troops, Amin tries to annex the northern Tanzanian province of Kagera

Role range: 1971-1979