IDI AMIN DADA FOUNDATION

In order to hold effective discussions about events that occurred in Uganda during my dad’s regime, I strongly feel that it is necessary to trace the history of Uganda from the end of the Stone Age culture to the present. Consequently, I am pleased to present information I have gathered through archival, library and internet research and personal accounts, for consideration during discussions with Ugandans and other people interested in having discussions about dad’s rule in Uganda. I have taken some of the information from my book project titled “Rembi’s Mystical Legacy: An Ethnographic Chronicle” and share a few highlights below:



EONS OF PLUNDER; KI-KOLONI; 4TH BATTALION KAR:



These sections provide some history of Uganda from the end of the Stone Age Culture to 1922.



IDI AMIN AWONGO ALEMI DADA: A CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS/ HIGHLIGHTS FROM MID 1940S TO JANUARY 25, 1971



This section provides a Chronology of events from the time dad joined the army to the time he overthrew Apollo Milton Obote in a Military Coup on January 25, 1971. Highlights include but are not limited to:



· The start of dad’s Military Career in the mid 1940s.



· The time in 1953 when dad was directed to fight the Mau Mau uprising of Kenya - at this time, he was viewed as “very quiet, well mannered, respectful and loyal” - one of several NCOs who show outstanding qualities of leadership, bravery and resourcefulness.



· The time in 1954 when Queen Elizabeth II opened the Owen Falls Dam in Jinja, Uganda - Dad and his 4th Battalion, were part of the festivities.



· The time in 1954 when dad joined a special training school in Nakuru, Kenya – he continued to show exemplary behaviour, gain a certain degree of formal education including a basic knowledge of English. He is promoted to Sergeant.



· The time in 1954 – when dad excelled in Athletics, including sprinting. He also won the heavy weight championships and National Title.



· The time in or about 1958, when one of dad’s British commanders Grahame wrote, “As a platoon commander, however, I found him (Idi Amin Dada) first-class.



· The time in 1958 when dad was promoted to Warrant Officer Platoon Commander.



· The time in 1959 when dad and other Ugandans were promoted to the ranks of Second Lieutenant by the British and Army Battalions were organized along Tribal Lines.



· The time on March 1, 1961 when dad was commissioned Lieutenant and served in “C” Company of the Uganda Rifles (formerly a company charged with disarming a section of the cattle rustling Turkana Tribe. Years later, dad was falsely accused of killing three Turkana tribesmen. During this time, dad also acted as Deputy Company Commander.



· The time between 1961 and 1964 when a series of events occurred in the Belgium Congo involving Tshombe, Lumumba, Cyrille Adoula, Kizenga, Joseph Kasongo, Colonel Mobutu, etc – Lumumba was killed, Obote attempted to help Congolese rebels avenge Lumumba’s death.


· The time in 1962 when Uganda attained Independence from the British and surrounding events. On October 9, 1962 Uganda attained Independence from the British. Ka’baka Mutesa, King of the Baganda became Uganda’s President - The Baganda rejoiced deliriously. Obote became the First Prime Minister of Independent Uganda.



· The time in 1963 when rifts emerged between Obote and Mutesa II and surrounding events. Dad continued to be an exemplary soldier.




· The time in 1963 when Major (later, Lt. Colonel Rogers) left Uganda and Dad arranged a cocktail party for him.



· The time in 1963 when Obote promoted dad to the rank of Major, goes to Israel and takes dad along. Dad demonstrated the African gift of silence, didn’t talk about the Israel arrangement (“Obote requested the Israeli government to send a six-man team from Israel, to carry out primary patrol training in Teso District”; Obote had turned down an arrangement for British officers to conduct the training).



· The time in 1963 when the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was born.


· The time in 1963 when a Mutiny was in the Brewing.



· The time in 1964 when Mutinies ran wild and surrounding circumstances. Obote called 450 Scottish Guards and troops of the Staffordshire Regiment to crush the uprising. Dad summoned some of the British Officers and the UR troops and addressed them. One British officer observed that “It was the most moving speech and a sincere one. “Amin dwelt on our [British-Uganda] traditional ties and fully expected us to rise to the occasion”. Dad was promoted to Lt. Colonel and demanded of the soldiers the behavior they learnt from the British. Dad helped calm things down and restored order. He was held in high esteem.



· The time in 1964 when Obote openly advocated a “one-party” state in Uganda – he needed the support of the Army and named dad commander.


· The time in 1964 when Bob Astles was Dad’s Pilot in the Congo. He was rescued by dad from a Congolese prison.



· The time in 1964 when Patrice Lumumba was killed and surrounding circumstances and events.



· The time in 1964 when dad was falsely accused of financial gain through corruption – this would continue in future years.



· The time in 1964 when Obote needed the army to advance his political goals and came to the aid of Congo rebels, assisted by dad. He increasingly turned to dad for help – he invited dad to state functions, ordered that he be given a Mercedes Benz by the state.



· The time in 1964 when refugees flooded Uganda from the Sudan.



· The time between 1965 and 1966 when Daudi Ochieng, Leader of the Opposition produced photocopies of dad’s bank account for February 1965, with deposits of up to £17,000. He alleged financial gain from corruption in Congo Operations and recommended that dad be suspended from the army. Obote was implicated too and opposed the motion to suspend dad from the army and he denied the allegations made against dad and him in a Press Conference.



· The time in 1966 when five Ministers were arrested and Obote assumed “all powers of Government”. Dad took over the command of the Army and Airforce and assured Obote of the loyalty of the Ugandan troops. There were Political Crises and dad found himself right in the middle of these crises.




· The time in 1966 when Obote assumed the power of President and Vice President. There was more trouble with the Ka’baka (King of the Baganda). There was also a Judicial Inquiry into the Congo Affair (allegations of corruption against dad, Obote and others).



· The time in 1966 when Obote suspended the Uganda Constitution and declared himself President. He also declared a new Constitution and faced opposition from the Baganda. There was Political Trouble, popularly known as the Ka’baka Uprising. Obote ordered an attack on the RoyalPalace. During several of our regular chats with dad, he told us that in the thick of battle, he threw a smoke screen which shielded the Ka’baka and the Ka’baka escaped amidst a heavy shower by taxi where he and his ADC Captain Katende, drove away to the Congo and then to Bujumbura in Burundi. Following the escape orchestrated by dad, the Ka’baka lived in exile. Dad claimed that his action was in memory of the close relationship between the Buganda Royal Family and his Mother, my grandmother Aisha Aate, in the past.



· The time in 1967 when there were more events relating to Uganda’s politics and there was a continuing Anyanya rebellion in the Sudan. Obote announced a move to the left with a view to rapid Africanisation. He relied heavily on his tribesmen in the Uganda Army.

· The time in 1967 when the historic East African community was formed.


· The time between 1969 and 1970 when a) Obote visited Koboko with dad b) an assassination attempt was made on Obote c) there was Inflation in Uganda and the common man was becoming even poorer. Obote and Adoko had sought to divide the army along tribal lines. Obote and others falsely accused dad of being behind the assassination attempt on Obote. All parties were dissolved except Obote’s Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). There was Political trouble in Uganda. There was trouble in the Army and Murder. There were false allegations levied against dad for Murder.


· The time in 1970 when there were plans to hasten the Africanisation of commerce, trade and industry. There were over 40,000 Asians who held British passports in Uganda. Obote angered Ugandans by his Nakivubo Pronouncement relating to Socialism. Obote put the Indian tycoon, Jayant Madhivani, to be head of the new state-run Exports and Import Department. A new Immigration Act was due to effect relating to non-Ugandan Asians.



· The time in 1970 when there was an increasing rift between Obote and dad and other events. Obote placed dad under house arrest and planned against him.



· The time on January 25, 1971 when dad overthrew Obote while he was in Singapore attending a Conference of commonwealth Heads of State and Governments and events immediately preceding the Military Coup, including jubilation on Kampala streets.


· The time between 1971 and 1979 when dad ruled in Uganda and related events including dad expelling the non-Ugandan Asians.



· Events that unfolded prior to dad’s overthrow in 1979.



· The time in 1979 when dad was overthrown.



· Events that continue to unfold in Uganda from 1979 when dad was overthrown to the present, including the war in Northern Uganda (www.ugandarising.com).