Idi Amin is deposed as the President of Uganda

Date: 11 Apr 1979
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Idi Dada Amin ruled Uganda from 1971 until 1979 after he unconstitutionally seized power from president Obote Milton. However, in 1979 he suffers the same fate when he is overthrown by a military coup launched by rebels and exiles backed by Tanzanian forces. In October 1978 Amin launched an attack on western Tanzania. This resulted in a counter-attack by the Tanzanian army, which managed to work its way to the Ugandan capital of Kampala in early 1979. In April 1979 Amin flees to Libya and leaves Tanzania in sole charge of the country.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01Bute, E.L. & Harmer, H.J.P. (1997). The Black Handbook, London: Cassell.
02History, This Day in History 11/04/1979, from History.com, [online], Available at www.history.com [Accessed: 10 April 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Idi Amin is deposed as the President of Uganda. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012381

South African History Online (2011) 'Idi Amin is deposed as the President of Uganda', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012381 (Accessed: 19 September 2026).

South African History Online, Idi Amin is deposed as the President of Uganda [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012381, (accessed 19 September 2026).

"Idi Amin is deposed as the President of Uganda." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012381. Accessed 19 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Idi Amin is deposed as the President of Uganda." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012381.