Keeping Up With Our Leaders: Idi Amin Dada

Manatsa Musinahama-

In any struggle, there is the emergence of heroes. An elite ruling class that acquires the status similar to that of gods. Struggle brings forth the need for the leadership. And when this leadership comes, it becomes so disjointed from the conditions that formed it. And similar to the demon it removed. But because the people are asleep when this happens they often wake up when it’s too late. This could easily be the universal narrative of all dictatorships. Leader topples Dictator. Received by jubilant crowds. Only to become a crazy dictator himself.

The adage “power corrupts” does not simply mean embezzling of funds. It extends to mean a corruption of the mental psyche. This is a story of a mad man. A leader corrupted by power almost to the point of schizophrenia.

“His Excellency, President for life, Field Marshall Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of all the beast of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of The British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular” as he was known came into power through a military coup that removed the dictatorial Milton Obote. Soon after the coup, Amin, who at this time was still army commander, was received by jubilant crowds as a saviour who had toppled the authoritarian Obote. During the first years of his Rule, Amin claimed that he was only in power as a placeholder before a more legitimate president was to be chosen through democratic elections. During this period Amin freed political prisoners and had a state funeral  for the Ugandan Kabaka (King) Mutesa who had died in exile all to gain popular support. But as the power got sweeter, it started to corrupt his psyche in the way that only power can.

As we would all expect, the promised “democratic elections” did not materialise. Instead the people got years of madness. Amin set an Advisory Defence Council and a military tribunal, all of which were above the law. Soldiers were given charge of parastatals and ministers were to adhere to a standard of military discipline. Amin would hold events for his ministers where he would show them the heads of his political enemies which were stored in refrigerators as a warning of how he would treat disloyalty. Obote’s supporters along with other political opponents were killed. This was followed by the murder of Jews, religious leaders, students, lawyers, judges;basically everyone who opposed him. There was expropriation of property based on ethnicity and under the auspices of making true Ugandans recognize economic freedom. An African Hitler, I suppose.

After a trip to the United Kingdom in search of funding that he would use to repress people was unsuccessful, Amin developed a bitterness towards Britain. He held a campaign where he asked citizens to contribute to Britain after an economic recession in Britain. Imagine, a country whose GDP was less than half that of Britain donating goats and cabbages to a “First World” Country after a brief economic recession. After British relations had soured up immensely and subsequently broken, Amin added Conqueror of the British Empire(CBE) to his titles. He also declared himself the King Of Scotland (think Forrest Whitaker). As if it cannot get crazier than a dark skinned Ugandan declaring himself uncrowned Monarch of a European Country; Idi Amin was to give the highest Ugandan medal of Honour to his 6 year old son.

As the madness escalated, the cracks in the edifice started to appear. Idi Amin’s affinity for “conquering” things led to his ultimate downfall. Idi Amin had had the intentions to invade Israel, Kenya and Sudan but these plans had never been fruitful. Backed by a large Soviet funded Army, Amin accused Julius Nyerere of having declared war on Uganda. This was because Amin’s most loyal generals, tired of the madness, fled to Tanzania. Amin then declared war on Nyerere’s Tanzania. Unfortunately the Conqueror was Conquered and fled to Libya where he later died after Yoweri Museveni denied him permission to return to Uganda because of his crimes (ironic). Dictator after Dictator.

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”