Hero or dictator? Ugandans divided over Idi Amin Dada’s legacy | Revisited • FRANCE 24 English
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Published 2018-09-21
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Forty years after Idi Amin Dada’s bloody regime came to an end, Ugandans are divided over how to view their former leader. For older Ugandans, the president’s eight years at the helm evokes nothing but bitter memories of terror, torture and massacres. But many younger Ugandans associate him with more positive qualities, such as that of a builder, a nationalist and a separatist. Our reporters went to Uganda to trace Amin’s footsteps.
When we first began filming this report on the Idi Amin Dada years in Uganda (1971-1979), we expected to hear damning accounts of the brutality that marked the despot’s time in power. But to our surprise, it turned out that only the eldest Ugandans, those who lived through that era of dictatorship – whether they played an active role or were collateral victims – regretted the instability and massacres.
So has it only taken 40 years for Ugandans to forget the 300,000 deaths attributed to Amin’s rule? To overlook the fact that atrocities committed by his men were their daily lot, that people lived in fear, that Ugandans could be kidnapped and tortured to death to confess to a crime they did not commit?
World’s second-youngest country
With 80 percent of its population under the age of 30, Uganda is now the second-youngest country in the world in terms of population age. Few remember the Amin years. The youngest have only ever known the current president, Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986. Uganda is currently enjoying the longest period of political stability since independence in 1962 and has high hopes for its future oil production. But millions of young people are still looking for a job, while the population's size continues to rise and corruption remains rampant.
In the minds of the youngest, nostalgia for a Uganda that had influence on the international stage, and where "hospitals and roads" were built, has superseded the legacy of the dark chapters of history. Some of the most important infrastructure in the capital, Kampala, was indeed built at that time – a time when Uganda even took the lead in global coffee production. Many politicians still align themselves with this economic legacy today, like pastor Abwed Bwanika, a failed presidential candidate who only granted us a few minutes of interview time.
In this report, we met young people nostalgic for an imaginary and bygone golden age, but also elderly Ugandans who have forgotten nothing. Like Ndawula Seguya who lost his brother and took up arms against Amin. Or Sanjiv Patel, a Ugandan of Indian origin, who had to flee the country when Amin decreed that Indians were stealing Ugandans’ jobs. We even met the dictator’s former personal photographer, Elly Rwakoma. He, too, had to flee – because of a photo that displeased Amin. Despot or hero, Amin remains very much present in the minds of Ugandans today.
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All Comments (21)
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Ask a Ugandan this question then we'll know the truth. Otherwise this is when invaders can't get their way.... they come up with crazy lies.
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They hate you when you stand up to them
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Considering how he is villified by Hollywood it is a certainty that he was a hero.
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I respect this man
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Amin, Gaddafi and magufuli, one love. African countries.
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FRANCE 24 Please can you make a documentary about the apartheid rule imposed on Ugandans by the British and Indians between the late 1880s to 1960s. How many millions were killed during that time and who is responsible? Uganda's history is NOT defined by the 8years Amin was in power. The British killed millions of Ugandans during the 60years they lived here. we need a documentary on that, if not please take away your propaganda because every country has its own challenges but you never talk about the good things he build for Ugandans.
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Amin hated political rivals like most African leaders including "museveni " bt Amin was very patriotic, social services like hospitals never lacked medicine, roads were much better, coffee prices were higher, education was better ,Uganda's debt burden was low, corruption never existed. We as Ugandan we accept he had his failures bt he is the best president we have ever had. Merry his soul rest in peace
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Idi Amin was set up. He had the interest of his people at heart, had zero tolerance for colonialism, and wanted to build a Uganda for Ugandans. However, the Muzungus needed him out of the way inorder to gain access to the country's natural resources. This image of him being a heartless dictator sounds similar to Gaddafi's story. The Muzungus wanted these 2 great leaders out of the picture inorder to take over their countries.
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Idi Amin loved Africa, Uganda, and the people of Uganda.
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Am a Ugandan but 90% Ugandans admire Idi Amin.
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Hero of Africa 🌍 Mr President dada
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1:14 it was then that the US decided to attack Uganda, realizing the amount of oil that was on his face alone.
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Africa needs leaders like amin to prosper.
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Am Ugandan myself, if you need answers to your questions, ask Ugandans ourselves. HE WAS A GREAT LEADER
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Migrate to India in large numbers as Black Africans if you ever could. Try to acquire some of their land and form a large African community or town and let's see how you will fair.
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Idi Amin, Sankara, Robert Mugabe, my African heroes
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Correction, the first president of Uganda was Kabaka Mutesa 2 and Obote was the prime minister in the same govt
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When media labels someone in wrong sense .. then you must know he was a man not stooge... Stooge don't get critcized...
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The most patriotic leader UGANDA ever had and will ever have, he is being talked of negatively simply because he lacked that PROPAGANDA machinery but he will forever be OUR HERO
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Could you plz help and tell the world at least one village the was burnt by Amin as stated in the second minute of the video??
