This Day in African History — Ugandan Despot President Dies

During the 1970s Uganda was ruled by a despotic president, Idi Amin Dada, whom, popular history has it, declared his title to be: "His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin, 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."

Amin seized power in a military coup in 1971 and ruled over Uganda for 8 years. Estimates for the number of his opponents who were either killed, tortured, or imprisoned vary from 100,000 to half a million. He died on 16 August 2003 in exile in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.