‘Idi Amin’ Has Been Haunting I Of Late — I Can’t Explain. Can You?

by Anura Guruge

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Growing up in Britain, c. 1970s, as I did, YOU could NOT avoid or ignore Idi Amin Dada. He was in the news daily. There were books about him and I am sure even a TV series.

Initially his antics captured all of our collective imaginations. He was the reprobate that none of us ever dared aspire to.

The story that resonated with I the most was Idi and his checkbook (or ‘cheque book ‘ in Britain). Idi was a CREATION of the British! Yep, we groomed him and guided him to power. He was expected to be a good, ‘BIG’ puppet leader. Well, best laid plans of mice & men. As part of that grooming, the British administration in Uganda, opened a bank account for Idi Amin and gave him a checkbook. Idi promptly started writing checks — willy-nilly. He was overdrawn within hours.

‘They’ (us, the Brits) tracked him down and asked him why he was writing checks …

He was puzzled. He was confused. Idi really was an IDIOT. He did not understand that a check corresponded to money in the bank. He could NOT make that connection.

So … that was Idi.

Yes, then he turned into a murderous, bloody maniac. He was no longer funny. He was no longer just the village idiot that became a President.

I have NO IDEA why I keep on thinking about Idi Bloody Amin.

Idi Bloody Amin.

He was funny before it all became NOT funny at all, at all.

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by Anura Guruge