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The making of Idi Amin’s Regime

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Geraldine Bass | 3 comments

“His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.”

– Self title

In 1971, General Idi Amin elected himself as President after over throwing the first established government of the nation under Milton Obote, post independence. He ruled as Commander in Chief for 8 long years. During that period of time, Idi Amin went on a rampage, killing over 300,000 Ugandans.

Obote was a well respected Ugandan politician but didn’t meet the Western standard in regards to English-Ugandan relations. He desired his country to be as liberated as possible, after all, that was aim of the fight for independence.

Let’s back track a little…

Interestingly, Amin was inducted into Britain’s Colonial African Troops, “KAR” at a young age with no significant educational experience. This military organization in question was a multi-battalion regiment, carried on by the British during colonial times, extending over most of East Africa.

As he was ascending through the ranks, he became infamous for his brutality and torture. From ordinary soldier, Amin excelled to an “effendi”, the highest position achievable for an African soldier within the British army.

Once President, Idi Amin terrorized the entire nation of Uganda as England turned a blind eye.

One question I cannot help but ask myself: is it by pure chance, that the English bred one of the most ferocious dictators in the History of Africa, immediately after their Independence, at such a crucial, vulnerable and premature time period?

Idi Amin1

In recently declassified documents from England’s Colonial era, many of their atrocities lead and influenced globally, including Asia and East Africa, were revealed.

According to Sky News, a very reputable English TV channel, they quoted these British documents stating “Amin was reliable”.

Eleven days before the Coup against Obote’s government, Richard Slater, British High Commissioner in Kampala stated many issues the new regime caused the British, qualifying the Anglo-Ugandan relations as “deplorable”. What issues you may ask?

Obote’s new legislation gave all ownership of the import and export business to the Ugandan government.
60% of the shares of oil companies, manufacturing industries, banks, insurance companies and others would be nationalized.

Normal right? Considering, Uganda was an INDEPENDANT country. But no, this was greatly challenging the British business interests in Uganda.

Moreover ‘there is a danger that other countries will be tempted to try and get away with similar measures with more damaging consequences for British investment and trade’. Three weeks after Uganda proceeded with all these new legislations, Sudan decided to nationalize foreign businesses in a “ even more unacceptable way”

African burden

Amin being a simple marionette, unconsciously by his “allies”, he plummeted the country’s economy, racked up over 200 million dollars in debt, raised inflation to 20%, destroyed families, established poverty and unemployment but moreover mentally emotionally and physically scared an entire nation.

According to the British High commissioner , Ambassador Harold Smedley, Amin was ‘corrupt and unintelligent’ fully aware of his savagery but yet “despite his limitations Amin has considerable dignity and more the air of a leader than Obote.”

We’ve all seen Amin’s cruelty in class, dismembering his own spouse, using government officials heads as trophies. Now, is that the new definition of “dignity”?

Coming from a family of Ambassadors myself, the thought alone of someone of such stature conveying these thoughts is very frightening because this mindset itself can go a long way. And as we’ve learned, it did. It was only during the last few years when Idi Amin’s craziness made him turn against the English that they in return decided to stop any funding and ended relations with the country.

We need to open pour eyes and carefully inspect such situations in order for it to not repeat itself. Nothing is really as it seems . A little food for thought.

” Nobody is as powerful as we make them out to be” – Alice Walker

http://www.biography.com/people/idi-amin-9183487

http://africanhistory.about.com/od/biography/a/bio_amin.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/17/world/idi-amin-murderous-and-erratic-ruler-of-uganda-in-the-70-s-dies-in-exile.

html://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/502.html

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Posted in Conflict, History, Natural Resources, Politics, Poverty, Urban Economies

Tagged uganda

British colonization of the US and Uganda

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Geraldine Bass | Leave a comment

The terms, colonization, is originally derived from the latin ‘colere’ signifying to ‘ to inhabit, cultivate, protect’ another group of humans, thus to colonize would naturally signify to guard another people.

As a matter of fact, only a few countries in early and modern history such as Japan, Thailand, Iran, Liberia and Korea amongst a dozen have never been fully colonized at any point in their history.

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The Great United States, “Land of the Free and Home of the Brave” was once under the rule of other nations. Having begun in 1492 with a Spanish expedition, directed by Christopher Columbus, the colonization of the Americas lasted until late 1700’s. During that time frame, European, more specifically British settlers made several attempts to colonize the Eastern coast of the “New World” we now know as the US.

As the United States gained their freedom from the hands of the Europeans, many countries across the globe were experiencing the same fate post Slave Trade. In 1884-1886, the “scramble for Africa”, or the ‘”conquest of Africa” emerged as the timeframe where European settlers truly established themselves as strict colonists within the African continent. Within the space of 20 years, 90 percent of Africa became occupied.

At the time, the Kingdom of Buganda was one of the major political structures in the area we now know as Uganda. Although the presence of Arab traders seeking ivory and slaves had been in the region prior to the Europeans, notably the British invasion, it was not until 1888 that the English reluctantly considered East Africa and more specifically thus the Bugandan region as a colonial interest.

In 1894 The Brtish government declared a protectorate over Bugandan, separating numerous ethnic groups, especially the Bantu in the south from the Acholi and Langi in the North. In 1895, it associates Kenya forming the East Africa Protectorate.

WWII became a turning point for the invisibility of the European colonists. As Britain dwelled in bankruptcy, African nationalism emerged and the Ugandan population straightened in political power. Having exposed many civilians through military travels abroad, young educated Ugandans and the Bugandan kingdom hunted for the freedom of their people.

In 1962, Uganda was granted autonomy. Ugandan politician Milton Obote, founder of the Uganda’s People Congress, becomes prime Minister and negotiates the official terms of the Constitution when the nation becomes fully independent in October 1962.

Both The United States and Uganda have experienced England take control of their land, labour and livelihood.

However past evidence shows that the level of severity and inhumane actions against Ugandans were absolutely dispicable.

In a recent article from the Guardian, it was shown that “thousands of documents detailing some of the most shameful acts and crimes committed during the final years of the British empire were systematically destroyed to prevent them falling into the hands of post-independence governments.”

The notes included multiple genocides, purges and other abominable acts against the colonized societies, including Uganda. It was believed the genocide of Bunyoro reduced a 2.5 million population to a mere 150,000 Ugandan.

Even though colonization is no longer, England unquestionably left an indelible mark on it’s colonies.

The United States became the single most ruthless nation to participate in the human slave trade, leading to decades and generations of imported black slaves. It was only in the middle of the 20th century, with the Civil Rights Movement, that racial equality emerged.

As for Uganda, Britain turned into its’ “motherland”. From the English language and customs to their clothing and culture, Ugandans were brainwashed with the idea of a utopian British lifestyle. Moreover, It’s swift euphoric moment of independence only marked the beginning of a long chain of civil wars. British powered warlords such as Idi Amin, led the country into a full decade of absolute terror and a significant economic downfall.

Hatred between the North and the South ethnic groups instilled during the British Protectorate’s “divide and rule” technique, promoted conflict amongst ethnic violence. Forceful religious association, singularly Christianity had to be practiced during colonization, resulted into a major spiritual belief.

Although obvious mass exploitations for Uganda’s resources has ceased, it is not unfathomable that an underground “New Scramble for Africa” can be detected through fake foundations, tax havens, money laundering from foreign banks, multi national companies, food systems and more. From 1970 an estimated 845 billion dollars has been “lost”. In the words of George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”