Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-28T12:35:41.767Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The United States and Idi Amin: Congress to the Rescue

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2014

Ralph D. Nurnberger
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Idi Amin's brutal regime in Uganda presented a series of unique and complicated dilemmas for American policymakers. Despite its stated commitment to the cause of human rights, the administration of President Jimmy Carter opposed the imposition of economic sanctions against Uganda. Congress, however, determined that the levels of atrocity and repression which marked Amin's dictatorship warranted a new foreign policy approach. In addition, by providing another example of changing executive-legislative relations in foreign policy, the October 10, 1978, embargo of United States' trade with Uganda established new precedents in America's commitment to human rights.

Amin came to power in Uganda as a result of a 1971 coup against President Milton Obote. During his eight-year regime, over 100,000 people were murdered and thousands of others were expelled (U.S. Congress, House, Subcommittee on Africa [hereafter U.S. Congress, House], 1978: 5; International Commission of Jurists, 1977). A number of Amin's victims received worldwide press attention. Two Americans, Nicholas Stroh, a thirty-three year old journalist, and Robert Siedele, a forty-six year old lecturer, were brutally killed in 1971. The expulsion of the Asians from Uganda in 1972 attracted international attention. An El Al jetliner hijacked in July 4, 1976, again thrust Uganda into the headlines. In the aftermath of the daring Israeli raid to rescue the hostages at Entebbe airport in Kampala, the Ugandan authorities murdered Mrs. Dora Bloch, a seventy year old passenger who had been removed to a hospital. The 1977 murder of Ugandan Anglican Archbishop Janai Luwuum, together with two government officials, was condemned throughout the world. This event prompted Senator Clifford Case (R-NJ) to introduce Senate Resolution 175, expressing the sense of the Senate that the regime in Uganda should be condemned.

Type
Research Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 25 , Issue 1 , March 1982 , pp. 49 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anderson, Jack, and Whitten, Les. (1977) “Ugandans Get Pilot Training in U.S.” Washington Post, 7 November.Google Scholar
Berry, John. (1978) “S.E.C. Suit Accuses Page Airways of Illegal Payments.” Washington Post, 14 April: 1.Google Scholar
Bode, Roy E. (1977) “F.A.A. to Withhold U.S. Certification from Ugandans Training as Pilots.” Dallas Times Herald, 3 December.Google Scholar
Boesch, Barry. (1977) “Ugandan Pilots Training in Fort Worth Suspended.” Dallas Morning News, 4 December: 7.Google Scholar
Boesch, Barry, and Strong, Barbara. (1977) “Ugandan at Bell Expected to Leave.” Dallas Morning News, 18 November.Google Scholar
Cleveland Press. (1978) May 18: A5.Google Scholar
Dallas Morning News. (1977) 17 November: 1.Google Scholar
Dallas Times Herald. (1977) 17 November: 1.Google Scholar
de St. Jorre, John. (1978) “The Ugandan Connection.” New York Times Magazine, 9 April.Google Scholar
Edwards, Mary. (1978a) “Evil Walks in Uganda.” Richmond Panorama, 19 June: 4–7.Google Scholar
Edwards, Mary (1978b) “Ugandan Coffee Leaves a Bitter Taste.” Richmond Panorama, 23 July: 10–11.Google Scholar
Fredman, Steven J. (1979) “U.S. Trade Sanctions Against Uganda: Legality Under International Law.” Law and Diplomacy in International Business II, No. 3: 1149–92.Google Scholar
Horrack, Nicholas. (1978) “Page Airways Group Investigated by U.S.” New York Times, 3 July: 28.Google Scholar
International Commission of Jurists. (1977) Uganda and Human Rights: Reports to the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Geneva, Switzerland: 1JC.Google Scholar
Jones, Jack. (1977) “Wilmorite Begins Building Uganda Mission.” Rochester Times Union. 8 January.Google Scholar
Melady, Thomas. (1977) Idi Amin Dada: Hitler in Africa. New York: Sheed, Andrew and McNeel.Google Scholar
Melady, Thomas and Melady, Margaret. (1976) Uganda: The Asian Exiles. New York: Orbis Books.Google Scholar
Miller, Judith. (1978) “S.E.C. Say Amin Got Gift Cadillac.” New York Times. 14 April: D1.Google Scholar
Miller, Judith (1980) “When Sanctions Worked.” Foreign Policy, Number 39 (Summer): 118–29.Google Scholar
Monoghan, Nancy, and Rooney, Brian. (1980) “A Curtain of Silence in the National Interest.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 20 April: B 1.Google Scholar
Musto, Paula. (1976) “Wilmots Aid Democrat Fund.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 13 October.Google Scholar
Newsletter of the Committee on Uganda, Inc. (1978) 22 March. New York Times. 18 May 1978.Google Scholar
Nurnberger, Ralph. (1980) “The C.I.A. Restrains the S.E.C.” Baltimore Sun. 19 May: A 15.Google Scholar
Omicinski, John. (1975) “Wilmot in Capital Planning Demo Dinner.” Gannett News Service. 30 January.Google Scholar
Prichard, Peter. (1978a) “Page and Uganda: The Connection.” Rochester Times Union. 7 June: 1.Google Scholar
Prichard, Peter (1978b) “Dealing with Amin: A Moral Issue.” Rochester Times Union. 8 June: 1.Google Scholar
Prichard, Peter (1978c) “Page's ‘Mr. Uganda’ Discusses Idi Amin in Rare Interview.” Rochester Times Union. 9 June: 1.Google Scholar
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. (1978) “Eldorado for Idi and Trouble for Page Airway.” 29 April (editorial): 8a.Google Scholar
Rochester Times Union. (1975a) “Wilmot, Hylan Aided Carey Drive.” 3 January.Google Scholar
Rochester Times Union. (1975b) 30 January.Google Scholar
Roderick, Lee. (1977) “40 More Ugandans Contracted for Pilot Training in the United States.” DeKalb Daily Chronicle. 6 December.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, House. (1974) Congressional Record, 93rd Cong., 2d sess., 10 October: E 35539.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, House. (1978) Congressional Record, 95th Cong., 2d sess., 22 September: H 10519–21.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, House, subcommittees on Africa, International Organizations, and International Policy and Trade. (1978) United States-Uganda Relations, 95th Cong., 2d sess.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, Senate. (1977) Congressional Record, 95th Cong., 1st sess., 4 November: E 6843.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, Senate. (1978) Congressional Record, 95th Cong., 2d sess., 23 January: S 256–57.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, Senate. (1978) Congressional Record, 95th Cong., 2d sess., 3 May: S 6781–86.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, Senate. (1978) Congressional Record, 95th Cong., 2d sess., 28 July: S 12021–32.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, Senate. (1979) Congressional Record, 96th Cong., 1st sess., 26 April: S 4745–46.Google Scholar
U.S. Congress, Senate, Subcommittee on Foreign Economic Policy. (1978) Uganda–The Human Rights Situation, 95th Cong., 2d sess.Google Scholar
Wallstreet Journal. (1980) 9 April: 30.Google Scholar
Washington Post. (1977) 9 November.Google Scholar
Washington Post. (1980) 9 April: D 10.Google Scholar
Ziegler, Michael. (1978) “Wilmot: Cadillac Was Gift to Amin.” Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 26 April: 1.Google Scholar
Zimmerman, Richard. (1978) “Amin's Pals: Democrats' Angel Deals with Uganda's Butcher.” Cleveland Plain Dealer. 18 June: II, 12.Google Scholar