In 1975, Uganda’s President Idi Amin Dada caused a global stir after summoning a group of Europeans in Uganda to kneel before him in exchange for Ugandan citizenship, a move that showcased Amin’s defiance of former colonial powers.
The unusual oath was part of Amin’s broader stance on enforcing Uganda’s independence and rebalancing the influence of British and other foreign nationals in the country.
The event was a result of the Africanisation policy, introduced by former President Milton Obote and maintained under Amin, which prioritized jobs and economic opportunities for Ugandan nationals over expatriates.
As a consequence, many British, European, and Asian residents lost employment, despite having lived in Uganda for years or even generations.
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| Former Ugandan Military President Idi Amin. Photo: Keystone/Getty Images |
This policy left the expatriates in a state of uncertainty, with their residency status under threat.
In response to their tenuous situation, 14 jobless European expatriates approached Amin’s advisor, Bob Astles, to request citizenship in the hopes of securing their future in Uganda. Astles, a close aide to Amin, reportedly raised their appeal with the president.
According to Astles, Amin responded by saying, “Yes, but I must have my piece of cake out of it,” accompanied by a characteristic burst of laughter.
Amin clarified that he would grant their request for Ugandan citizenship on the condition that they agree to serve as reservists in the Ugandan Army, a stipulation they ultimately accepted.
Following approval from the Defence Council, Amin summoned the 14 expatriates to officially finalize the citizenship process.
During the event, the individuals were fingerprinted, marking their formal integration as Ugandan citizens.
However, before concluding, Amin added an unexpected requirement: he instructed them to kneel and swear an oath of allegiance to him.
Astles later recounted that the expatriates felt ambushed by the demand but complied, as they had already obtained the citizenship they sought.
“Amin had tricked them good and proper. They had got what they wanted. Now they had to give him what he wanted,” Astles recalled.
The kneeling oath brought significant media attention at the time, emphasizing Amin’s use of symbolic gestures in his leadership approach.
According to reports, Amin’s demands symbolized his continued efforts to diminish the remaining influence of former colonial powers and assert his government’s sovereignty over the nation.
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