 Idi Amin Dada ( / ˈiːdi ɑːˈmiːn / ; c . 1923 – 28 – 16 August 2003 ) was the third President of Uganda , ruling from 1971 to 1979 . Amin joined the British colonial regiment the King 's African Rifles in 1946 , serving in Kenya and Uganda . Eventually , Amin held the rank of major general in the post-independence Ugandan armed forces . He held the post for the duration of his life .
Amin was born in Kobuya , Ugand . He was the son of a farmer . He was educated at the University of Ugand and graduated in 1946