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Idi Amin

Idi Amin took power in a coup exactly 39 years ago today. We hear from a soldier who helped him and then years later tried to bring him down.

Overthrowing a government in Uganda is not an easy job. We hear from a soldier who helped bring Idi Amin to power in 1971. It was a day of great joy, armoured vehicles were decorated with flowers and girls threw themselves at him!

But three years later, with rumours of human rights abuses growing, the soldier is persuaded to help overthrow him. When that goes wrong he ends up face to face with the dictator.

(Photo: 6th February 1971: Major-General Idi Amin takes the Oath of Office in Kampala when the new government was sworn in. The ceremony was supervised by the Chief of Justice Sir Dermont Sheridan.)
(Credit: Keystone/Getty Images)

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10 minutes

Last on

Mon 25 Jan 2010 08:50GMT

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  • Mon 25 Jan 2010 00:50GMT
  • Mon 25 Jan 2010 08:50GMT

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