A fierce warrior. A charming diplomat. A monster. –
1923 – Northwest Africa – A child is born who will shape the course of history on the continent. This child will grow into one of the most brutal enemy of the Jews in history.
While little is known about his upbringing, the child survives the tough life experienced by many of his fellow Ugandans. He has little formal education, is raised by his mother, and is very intelligent and politically savvy.
He also has the natural ability and desire to wage war.
1946 – The boy becomes a man when he joins the King’s African Rifles (a division of the British colonial army.) He quickly distinguishes himself on the battlefield.
His rise to power begins when he fights in Burma and Kenya. He becomes one of a few black officers elevated to high rank just before Uganda gained independence in 1962. He also develops a close relationship with Uganda’s first Prime Minister, Milton Obote.
1971 – Thirsty for power, he orchestrates a successful, bloodless military coup and seizes the presidency as his friend, Obote, is attending a foreign conference. Because of his charm, charisma, and bravery, he initially enjoys some popularity and support from Ugandans who are frustrated with Obote’s increasingly authoritarian regime.
But, this new dictator’s eight-year reign will be characterized by widespread ethnic violence, mass purges, severe economic mismanagement, and international provocations, earning him the moniker “Butcher of Uganda”.
The people are about to learn disturbing things about their leader.
The dictator rules directly and ruthlessly, transforming Uganda into fascist police state. His secret police and military death squads target rival tribes and political opponents, with estimates suggesting his regime was responsible for the deaths of 100,000 – 500,000 civilians.
He keeps his prisons and execution chambers near the royal palace so that he can indulge in his sadistic persona.
He gives himself increasingly fantastical titles, including “President for Life” and “Conqueror of the British Empire”.
He is not an economic expert. In 1972, he expels tens of thousands of Asian residents (primarily those of Indian descent) who control much of Uganda’s commerce. While popular among some working-class citizens at the time, this devastates the Ugandan economy.
As he is failing his country economically and murdering citizens, he also attracts controversy internationally.
The best known mistake that will take down the regime is when he decides to tangle with the State of Israel. In 1976, Palestinian passengers highjack an Air France civilian aircraft destined for Paris. His support for Muslim Palestinians prompts him to provide for a detour permitting the Palestinian hijackers to land the plane at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda and take hostages.
When news of this arrived in Tel Aviv, Israeli Special Forces, with military assistance from other countries, quickly developed a plan to save the hostages.
The Entebbe raid, codenamed Operation Thunderbolt, springs into action.
Little did he know that the plane does not just carry Israeli Jews. There are American, British, French, and other nationalities on board. Now, he faces an angry world.
Nevertheless, on June 28th, hijackers issued a declaration and formulate their demands. In addition to a ransom of $5 million for the release of the airplane, they demand the release of 53 Palestinian and pro-Palestinian militants, 40 of whom are prisoners in Israel. They threaten that if these demands are not met, they will begin to kill hostages on July 1, 1976.
Israel has no intention of negotiating with this reckless brutal dictator. A 29-person assault unit led by Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu is composed entirely of commandos and given the primary task of assaulting the old port terminal and rescuing the hostages.
This is a perfect example of good overcoming evil. With very few casualties, Israeli Special Forces land in Entebbe, take control of the airport, and rescue a vast majority of the hostages. The dictator is furious and greatly embarrassed.
For most dictators, circumstances usually get worse with decisions made after failure. This is no exception.
In late 1978, the dictator launches an unprovoked attack and attempts to annex a large region of land in neighboring Tanzania. This mistake triggers a counter-invasion by Tanzanian troops and Ugandan exiles, who successfully force the dictator from power in April 1979.
Idi Amin, the cowardly dictator of Uganda, flees and eventually settles in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he lives in comfortable exile until his death from multiple organ failure on August 16, 2003.
Idi Amin is just another footnote in the dark history of communism, dictatorship, and cruelty. Yet, his life once again illustrates what happens when brave men confront evil.
Victory.