UGANDA

COMPENDIUM OF CONFLICTS IN UGANDA
In 1971, Amin led a coup against the government of Milton Obote and declared
himself President of the Second Republic of Uganda, a position he maintained through
oppressive and brutal control tactics for the following eight years. Amin had previously
been promoted by Obote in 1966 to the position of Commander of the Army and carried
out the attack on the Kabaka’s palace, initiating the Kabaka crisis of the same year. 123
There were many precipitating factors for the coup. Amin accused Obote of tribalism,
claiming he disproportionately favoured his own Langi people over other Ugandans. 124
Power struggles over promotions in the military gave Amin the support he needed from
disillusioned officers in the army. 125 He also denounced the centralization of power that
took place under Obote, who simultaneously occupied the offices of President, Minister
of Defence, Head of Foreign Affairs, and Prime Minister.
The rising popularity of Amin created rivalry with Obote. A serious falling out between
the two leaders resulted in the temporary house arrest of Amin in 1970. He was released
on Independence Day, the 9 th of October. When Obote left
the country to attend
the Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting in Singapore in January
123 Southall, A. (1975) General Amin and the coup: Great man or historical inevitability? The Journal of
Modern African Studies,13 (1) pp. 85-105; Brett, E.A. (1995) Neutralising the use of force in Uganda: The
role of the military in politics. The Journal of Modern African Studies 33 (1), pp. 129-52
124 Research conducted in Mubende District
125 Research conducted in Mukono and Hoima Districts
78