‘A State of Blood’ is the comically tragic story of the rise and rule of Field Marshall Idi Amin ‘Dada’ told by a former Cabinet Minister as well as a member of Amin’s extended family through marriage.
Spun with remarkable specificity, Kyemba shines a spotlight on Amin’s insatiable bloodlust, providing lists, dates and details of state sanctioned murder executed on a grand scale. Interesting tableaus dedicated to exposing Amin’s legendary sexual appetites are a major feature of the book. It is well known by now Amin had a thing for the ladies and that is putting it mildly.
The intellectual community of political historians seems to be unanimous concerning Amin’s legacy of murder and mind boggling ineptitude but Kyemba weaves a more personal narrative about what transpired as the greatest blemish on the nation’s political past.
Although difficult to discern on the face of it, Amin’s menace is not entirely attributable to his portrayal as an incurable buffoon.
One telling departure however, from conventional caricature of the former president was his characterization of Amin as owning a method to his madness. Although difficult to discern on the face of it, Amin’s menace is not entirely attributable to his portrayal as an incurable buffoon. In many cases it was carefully designed to buttress his personality cult and erect a veneer of invincibility.
in full military regalia
Former Cabinet Minister Henry Kyemba
This book, replete with examples makes the case that the narrative holds.
Amin has a propensity to control the flow of information geared towards creating a positive depiction of his government. He mastered the use of the most coercive lever of the state, the army to entrench his regime and orchestrate what can only be described as rule by whim.
In total, Amin arguably presided over the most grotesque period of misrule Uganda has ever experienced and that fact appears closed to dispute.
4.5/5
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Draman Victor - A happy member of the Dangala Bookclub at our last meeting
