Ugandan despot Idi Amin slips into coma

Uganda’s former dictator, Idi Amin is in  coma and on a life support system in his exile in Saudi Arabia, one of his wives said on Saturday.

Idi Amin terrorized Ugandans during his brutal rule

Idi Amin had ruled Uganda between 1971 and 1979 and his reign is best remembered as one of the most brutal ones in Africa’s modern history.


“They have told me he is in coma and on a life support machine. We are still waiting for more information from there,” one of the former despot’s wives, Madina Amin said.


After being deposed, Amin had fled Uganda and finally found refuge in Saudi Arabia, where he has being living for the past 10 years.

‘We have contacted the Kampala government to ask that if he dies his body can brought back home for a decent burial.‘

–One of Idi Amin’s wife

“We have contacted the Kampala government to ask that if he dies his body can brought back home for a decent burial,” Madina said.

She said the former dictator had suffered from hypertension for some time and slipped into a coma on Friday.

Idi Amin had not set his feet again in Uganda since he was ousted by joint forces of Tanzanian troops and Ugandan exiles in 1979.

His ouster brought down the curtains on one of the bloodiest reigns during which thousands were either killed or maimed.

But all subsequent attempts by human rights groups to bring the brutal dictator to justice for genocide failed and Idi Amin never had to stand trail for his crimes.

He first found refuge in Yemen and then slipped into a low-profile life in Saudi Arabia. 

He was often spotted shopping and was also known to occasionally indulge in his favorite sport of sailing. Idi Amin also had his favorite Ugandan food flown in from Kampala once a week.

Source: News Agencies