Front: Idi Amin (1924-2003), President of Uganda 1971-1979

Idi Amin started out in 1946 as a soldier in the British colonial army. He rose through the ranks and was eventually made the army's chief of staff under Uganda's first president, Milton Obote. In 1971 Amin overthrew Obote and seized power. He became internationally famous in 1976 when he provided a safe haven for hostage-holding Palestinian hijackers, who were then attacked and killed at Entebbe by Israeli forces. In 1978 Amin's forces invaded neighboring Tanzania, but Tanzanian forces drove them back and invaded Uganda, forcing Amin to flee.

During his reign, Amin used brutal force against his opponents. It is estimated that he is responsible for at least 100,000 deaths. After fleeing Uganda he settled in Saudi Arabia, and died there in 2003.

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