History is replete with figures whose eccentricities are as legendary as their deeds, but few dictators blend brutality with such bizarre humour and colossal ego as Idi Amin Dada. The former military strongman of Uganda, whose iron grip on the nation spanned the 1970s, remains a figure of perplexing fascination, not least for his alleged fascination with the British monarchy and his audacious self-appointed titles.
Perhaps the most outlandish anecdote associated with Amin is the persistent rumor that he allegedly sent love letters to Queen Elizabeth II, professing his affection and even going so far as to propose marriage. While official historical archives reveal formal diplomatic correspondence, such as an invitation to Uganda's 10th Independence Anniversary celebrations, direct "love letters" or marriage proposals remain largely in the realm of popular legend, reflecting the sheer audacity of his public persona. Yet, this tale perfectly encapsulates the surreal blend of flattery and mockery that defined his approach to the former colonial power. As if this wasn't bold enough, Amin further styled himself with outrageous royal titles, famously declaring himself the “King of Scotland” – a claim popularized by fictionalized accounts like "The Last King of Scotland," but rooted in his known contempt for the British Empire and his own outsized ego.
When Idi Amin seized control of Uganda in a military coup on January 25, 1971, while then-President Milton Obote was abroad, he was initially hailed by many as a liberator. However, this early optimism quickly dissolved as the true nature of their new leader became chillingly apparent. A former heavyweight boxing champion (from 1951 to 1960) and a formidable presence at six feet, four inches tall, Amin's physical prowess was matched only by his charisma and a disturbing capacity for cruelty.
Click Link To Watch More On This
Click Link To Watch More On This
His rise through the ranks of the British colonial army was meteoric. He served in the Allied forces’ Burma campaign during World War II (1952–56) and later participated in the British action against the Mau Mau revolt in Kenya (1952–56). It was during this period that he became notorious among fellow soldiers for his overzealous and often cruel military interrogations, yet he managed to achieve the highest rank possible for a Black African serving in the British Army. Before Uganda’s independence in 1962, he was closely associated with Prime Minister Milton Obote, engaging in illicit activities like smuggling gold, coffee, and ivory from Congo before their relationship fractured, leading to the coup.
Amin’s ego, however, remains his most infamous characteristic. He bestowed upon himself a bewildering array of self-aggrandizing titles, eventually styling himself as ‘His Excellency, President for Life Field Marshall Al Hadj Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC. Lord of all the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular’. In his own mind, this made him one of the most powerful men on the planet.
The absurdity of his royal aspirations, particularly towards the British monarch he ostensibly despised, is further underscored by the grim reality of his personal life. Amin was a polygamist, known to have married at least six women and fathered as many as 43 children. The tragic discovery of one of his wives, found dead and horrifically mutilated after becoming pregnant by another man, serves as a stark reminder of the brutality that lay beneath the veneer of his bizarre public antics.
