09/12/2025
WHEN IDI AMIN WAS CARRIED BY BRITISH BUSINESSMEN: THE NIGHT UGANDA’S LEADER TURNED DIPLOMACY INTO POLITICAL THEATRE
In July 1975, the lawns of Uganda’s State House lit up for a grand diplomatic reception. Diplomats, government officials, and Western business leaders gathered—only to witness one of the most unforgettable spectacles in African political history.
In a scene that stunned the world, President Idi Amin Dada was carried high in a chair by four British businessmen, waving proudly to an applauding crowd. It was a moment that blended comedy, intimidation, symbolism, and pure political theatre.
Idi Amin, who ruled from 1971 to 1979, was known for his commanding personality and unpredictable flair. Rising from army sergeant to president after a coup, he mixed raw power with dramatic showmanship, captivating supporters and critics alike.
A Leader Larger Than Life
Amin often positioned himself as a defender of African pride—mocking colonial influence while enjoying spectacles that would dominate global headlines. That night was no different.
The 1975 Diplomatic Spectacle
At the height of the cocktail event, Amin—dressed in full military uniform—summoned four British businessmen to lift him in a chair draped with the Ugandan flag. As they paraded him through the venue, guests applauded, cameras flashed, and Amin basked in the moment, a bodyguard shielding him with an umbrella.
Some saw the act as satire—a mockery of colonial arrogance. Others saw it as intentional humiliation, a message that power had shifted since independence.
The Symbolism
This event took place just a year before Uganda cut diplomatic ties with Britain. It also aligned with Amin’s self-bestowed titles such as “Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa” and “The Last King of Scotland.”
To Amin, it was symbolic reversal—an image of white businessmen carrying an African leader. But to Western observers, it reinforced his image as both a charismatic performer and a feared authoritarian.
