Idi Amin Replaces Milton Obote

Date: February 2, 1971 • Location: Kiboga, Uganda

Idi Amin replaces President Milton Obote as leader of Uganda.

Awon'go Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a Ugandan military officer and dictator who served as the third president of Uganda from 1971 until his overthrow in 1979. He gained power after the 1971 Ugandan coup d'état and subsequently ruled the country under a regime characterized by rampant human rights abuses, economic mismanagement and corruption. International observers and human rights groups estimate that between 100,000 and 500,000 people were killed under his regime.