ABSTRACT
Idi Amin was a Ugandan military offi cer who, in 1971, led a coup against the Ugandan government and had himself appointed president of that country. During his military career, Amin demonstrated brutality and cruelty towards prisoners and he continued this behavior as president. His administration became known for harassment, torture and murder of civilians and political opponents. His decisions were based on whim rather than logic and feasibility and he was eventually feared and hated by most of the Ugandan population. He was ousted from power in 1979 by Tanzanian and Ugandan rebel forces and died in 2003.
