Milton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital

Updated: 22 Aug 2019

Milton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital

Obote, a member of the legislative council of Uganda from 1957, founded the Uganda People's Congress in 1960. Obote became Uganda's Prime Minister after independence was gained from the British in 1962 and by 1966 he had installed himself as president. He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971 and fled to Tanzania. He returned with the Tanzanian-aided invasion of 1979 and was re-elected in 1980 amid accusations of fraud. Factionalism led to an army coup in 1985 in which he was ousted a second time and exiled to Zambia. Obote's rule was marred by repression and the torture of political opponents. He was granted political asylum in Zambia following the coup. 10 years later Obote was rushed from Zambia to a hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he died of kidney failure on 10 October 2005. He was 81 when he died.

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South African History Online. (2019, August 22). Milton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149019

South African History Online (2019) 'Milton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital', South African History Online, 22 August. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149019 (Accessed: 27 August 2026).

South African History Online, Milton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149019, (accessed 27 August 2026).

"Milton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital." South African History Online, 22 Aug. 2019, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149019. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Milton Obote (81), Uganda's former dictator, dies in a South African hospital." South African History Online. August 22, 2019. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0149019.