IDI AMIN WAS FLAWN ON THE QUEENS FLIGHT IN JULY 1971

Three of his sons were by their unconscious father’s bedside. "His situation is very bad, we don’t expect him to last until tomorrow," a hospital official said.

So pleased was Britain at having rid Uganda of Mr Obote, an autocratic socialist, that it laid on official visits for Amin in Britain in 1971 and 1972. But he emerged as one of Africa’s most infamous dictators.

Amin was flown on the Queen’s flight in July 1971 from London to Edinburgh. He was taken for a spot of sea bathing before attending the beating of the retreat in Edinburgh Castle by the pipes and drums of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers.

"I like Scots best because they are the best fighters in Britain and do not practise discrimination," said the former NCO, who made himself a field marshal and awarded himself the Victorious Cross and a CBE (Conqueror of the British Empire).

grist for the mill for British comedy shows, was also the subject of Giles Foden’s novel The Last King of Scotland, which explored his strange relationship with the Scots.

The title came from one of Amin’s many "If the Scots want me to be their king, I will."

Amin learned to play the bagpipes, wore the kilt and put one regiment of his own army into kilts.

A Muslim with six living wives, thought to have murdered several others, he gave two of his sons Scottish names, Campbell and Mackintosh. In colonial times he had learned to sing Scottish ballads and dirty rugby songs with the "boys" at the Kampala Rugby Club,

What was good fun for British wits and newspapers Ugandans. Amin struck against Mr Obote on 25 January, 1971, while the Ugandan president was at a Commonwealth summit in Singapore.

Britain immediately recognised the new Ugandan ruler. The Daily Telegraph called him "a welcome contrast to other African leaders and a staunch friend of Britain".

But as Britain was congratulating him on becoming Uganda’s president for life, Bravo. oct. 27,2007.