The Turbulent Marriages of a Dictator: The Wives of Idi Amin
The story of Idi Amin, Uganda’s former dictator, is often told through the lens of his brutal eight-year regime. But a parallel narrative, just as revealing of his character, unfolded in the private sphere of his marriages—a saga of betrayal, public humiliation, and violence that began with his first wife, a woman who defied her family for him.
In March 1962, 22-year-old Sarah Kibedi ignored her parents’ wishes and married the then-upcoming army sergeant, Idi Amin. Converting to Islam as required, she took the name Mariam. Their union began just months before Uganda’s independence, a time of national hope that would soon darken personally for Mariam. She quickly discovered Amin’s rampant infidelity.
Her attempt to catch him—by feigning a trip to her parents—backfired spectacularly. Amin enthusiastically encouraged her to go and stay longer. Returning secretly, she found him with another woman, Kay Adroa, leading to a physical fight. Amin’s apology and promise to change were hollow; he married Kay as his second wife the very next week, with Mariam learning of it only by seeing the vows on television in May 1966.
This pattern of coercive control and public spectacle was repeated. As recalled by Apollo Lawoko, then-manager of Radio Uganda where Kay worked, Amin’s possessiveness was violent. He once stormed the live studio, assaulted a manager, and dragged Kay out by her collar. Kay, who had previously come to work with a beaten face, warned Lawoko that Amin was dangerously unpredictable.
The entry of a third woman, Norah, sparked a rare alliance between Mariam and Kay. Their joint confrontation earned them a “thorough beating.” At a party soon after, Amin brazenly arrived with Norah, prompting his two wives to attack her. In retaliation, Amin took all three women home and beat them again for embarrassing him, then officially married Norah the following week.
In 1972, Amin believed he had found his ideal match in a fourth wife, Madina Najjemba. He so favored her that he dismissed his other three wives in a cabinet meeting, declaring Madina his only spouse. Yet, his compulsion remained unchecked. Within two years, he married a fifth, Sarah Kyolaba, a military dancer, in a lavish ceremony attended by foreign dignitaries.
The aftermath of these relationships was often tragic. Sarah Kyolaba eventually left Amin in his Saudi exile, taking one of their sons, Faisal Wangita. Her life in London included a stint as a lingerie model, a restaurant business that faced public health violations, and a son who was convicted for gang violence and deported. She died in London in 2015.
The domestic life of Idi Amin stands as a stark microcosm of his rule: characterized by absolute control, capricious brutality, the humiliation of those close to him, and a profound betrayal of trust that began with the first brave young woman who chose to love him. Their stories reveal not just a tyrant in his home, but the human cost of his unchecked power.
About The Author
