Comments on: The rise of Idi Amin in Uganda, 1971-72 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/ British Historian & Journalist Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:56:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Leicester Socialist Party » Uganda and Leicester http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-17313 Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:37:25 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-17313 [...] Like all the celebratory coverage surrounding Leicester Labour Councils unwilling acceptance of these political refugees, no mention is made of the key role played by the British government in bringing the dictator Idi Amin to power. An issue which is well covered in Mark Curtis’ excellent book Unpeople: Britain’s Secret Human Rights Abuses (Vintage, 2004); a relevant extract of which can be found online here, see “The rise of Idi Amin in Uganda, 1971-72.” [...]

]]> By: a70667 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-17223 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:16:07 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-17223 Reblogged this on a70667 and commented:
A vivid account of one the many occasions of the sinister and abhorrent nature of British foreign policy. Great read!

]]> By: a70667 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-17222 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 08:10:19 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-17222 Britain owes the people of Uganda an apology for derailing their country and implanting a murderous goon on them. Shame on Britain!

]]> By: Cherie http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15919 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:28:32 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15919 my father was one of the unpeople. you may like to visit my blog murderedormissing.wordpress.com. I am searching for answers.
Cherie Scanlon

]]> By: Vali Jjamal, PhD http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15917 Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:11:19 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15917 I read this again this week in connection with a book I’m writing about Uganda Asians in which our hero figures big time. It’s a great article and I should like to summarise it in my book, fully attributed, with citation of the book. My book is currently at 750 pages, stories of people who were expelled, settling down in UK and Canada, and returning to Uganda. It should be out around August. I think it’ll make an impact!

]]> By: Edmore Maisvoreva http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15687 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:14:33 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15687 the intension of indigenisation of the ugandan economy were noble.however amin used stalinist brutality in expelling asians they were human after all.on the other hand asians in africa must be open to avoid stereotyping

]]> By: vilash ruparelia http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15542 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:07:58 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15542 soo many lives taken because of this mad man Amin..i am so surprised that Britain did not stop this Mad man n save thousand’s o f people

]]> By: New publication: ‘The Rise of Idi Amin 1971-72′ « East African Asians, The New Wahindi http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15529 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:09:10 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15529 [...] Mark Curtis, the historian and journalist provides and interesting view of the rise of Idi Amin based on the release of official papers. This is one of the most interesting features of his blog, which can be accessed by using this link: http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15528 [...]

]]> By: Kalwant Ajimal http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15528 Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:09:06 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15528 I had the dubious pleasure of meeting Amin at an event held at Makerere University, Kampala. He told a gathering of hundreds of students and well known academics that the key to his success was his ability to think. He said that he had come to the meeting totally unprepared but his speech, which he was about to deliver was going to be a success, was entrely due to his unique ability to think… The students were advised that they must also acquire the same skills.

Not bad advice in principle but the audience was enthralled by the messenger and not the message…

Kalwant Ajimal
http://wahindi.wordpress.com

]]> By: Edmund. ex-Bakuli http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15526 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:49:06 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15526 Amin’s coup was not premeditated. In fact, while Obote was away attending the Commonwealth Conference in Singapore there was plan which originated from the General Service Unit, which was headed by Akena Adoka, and who operated from Nakasero (the former hospital and UTV premises. The plan was to remove Amin from his position as Chief of Staff; a post originally created to distance him from direct control of the armed forces. Amin was percieved, at that time, to be a sort of threat to Obote’s ambitions and continued security.

Troops based in Masaka were instructed to ‘neutralise’ the contingent based in Bombo who consisted of Amin’s tribesmen and who came mainly from the West Nile district.

Amin at this time was on a shooting safari and came across the convoy on its way to Kampala. He stopped the lead vehicle and identified himself. He enquired of the junior officers as to their orders and immediately smelt a rat. He ordered the convoy to return to Masaka and proceeded to issue orders to those Officers and troops who were loyal to him to assume control of the situation.

Interestingly, Obote’s co-ordinater for the initial operation to remove Amin was a middle-ranking General Services officer who, after conveying orders to the Army Officer commanding the Masaka battalion, left his office at around 9.00pm to go drinking with his friends. He was unavailable when the Masaka officers tried to contact him – the rest is history.

]]> By: joe malik http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15525 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:18:17 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-15525 According to my research it was an Israeli construction company namely Soleil Boneh that helped the Israelis. They had designed and built the airport in Entebbe and had the plans and the drawings of the airport which they handed to the Israeli military in planning the raid.

Joe
Ex Ugndan in Southern California.

]]> By: Naturinda Dalton http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-6757 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:11:11 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-6757 I was a child when Amin took over but I still remember the pervading sense of terror of those days.On some days,we would spend the day talking in whispers in our infants class,as word spread about “Joseph,s Dad was taken last night”,invariably, those taken would never be seen again.

While its understandable that Government should lookout for the business interests of its citizens,now in the days of Globalisation and privatisation,democratic stable Gorvenance is in the investor’s interest.

Citizens and taxpayers should now hold their Governments accountable in human rights issues,afterall, stable economically vibrant economies abroad in former colonies like Uganda make much better business environments.

This article by Curtis certainly raises awareness,hopefully ,it contributes towards reduced would be support for any future tyrants ,promoting democracy around the world.

Many thanks

Naturinda Dalton
Kabale-Uganda.

]]> By: Ed Button http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-1135 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:43:22 +0000 http://markcurtis.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/the-rise-of-idi-amin-in-uganda-1971-72/#comment-1135 I watched “The Last King of Scotland” movie a few nights ago. It has stayed with me in an unsettling way, so I have found your article in my Internet search for more information that might help me to understand the surrounding and supporting influences to this dark episode of human history.

I wondered about the sources of wealth in Uganda that might sustain an elite and that would motivate a power seeking dictator.

“profit” is often a very ugly word.

Regards,
Ed

]]>