Ousted by an army of Ugandan exiles and Tanzanian forces in 1979 after attempting to invade parts of Northern Tanzania, Amin's exile marked the end of a bloody 8-year reign. Prominent and anonymous citizens alike died at the hands of his Public Safety Unit and the State Research Bureau. Reasons for execution could include troop desire for a victim's money, houses, or women. Anonymous victims were usually shot or died in mysterious "car accidents" according to the Washington Post. More prominent victims such as Anglican and Catholic clergy, former cabinet ministers, businessmen, and students were publicly beheaded. It has been reported that Amin would freeze the heads of certain victims, situate them around his kitchen table, and hold conversations with them. Even his wives were not spared from his vicious rule since he had two of them executed.

In 1972 Amin expelled more than 50,000 Asians and gave their assets to soldiers to ensure loyalty. Officers from his favored Nubian tribe received many of the confiscated goods. According to the Washington Post, the exile of Asians, whose population included many business owners, coupled with the refusal of the British and Israeli governments to sell Amin's government arms, led to economic turmoil. As a result, Amin formed an alliance with Libyan dictator Moammar Qadaffi with the agreement that Amin, a converted Muslim, would turn his country into a Muslim state.

Amin also pursued friendships with extreme Palestinians. According to the New York Times, in 1976, when Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France Airbus, they were allowed to land the jet at Entebbe Airport and Amin agreed to hold the hostages. Israeli special forces performed a long-range raid that freed all but one of the hostages. Seventy-five year old Dora Bloch, who held joint British and Israeli citizenship, was reportedly kidnapped from a hospital and shot by Ugandan troops.

Born in the West Nile region of Uganda in the province of Koboko, Amin joined the King's African Rifles in 1946 as an assistant cook. A former champion boxer with an outgoing manner, British commanders noticed him and he quickly rose through the ranks. By 1957 Amin was one of two Ugandans to be given the Queen's Commission of First Lieutenant. According to africanhistory.com, one of his assignments included being sent north to fix a cattle theft problem. Amin committed atrocities during this period, and the British government demanded prosecution. Instead, leader of the Ugandan People's Congress Milton Obote arranged for further military training in England.

After his return from Britain in 1965, Amin, then a colonel, and Obote were accused of smuggling gold, coffee, and ivory from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Funds from the operation were supposed to be used to support troops loyal to assassinated DRC Prime Minister Lumuba but the money never came. A parliamentary investigation was conducted and Obote, using the funds from the smuggling ring, took control of Uganda with the help of forces led by chief of staff Amin.

Africanhistory.com reports that the relationship between Amin and Obote became strained when Amin sought to strengthen his control over the army using the funds from the DRC smuggling ring and the selling of arms to Sudanese rebels. Amin undermined Obote's authority by forging relationships with British and Israeli agents. Obote placed him under house arrest and later stripped him of his military title. This failed and when Obote left to attend a conference in Singapore, Amin led a coup and declared himself President with the title: "His Excellency President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular."

Amin's tenure ended in 1979 and after brief stays in Libya and Iraq, settled in Saudi Arabia under the condition that he would remain out of politics. CNN.com reports that Amin spent the last decade of his life living with his four wives in the port city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The family appealed to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to allow Amin to spend his last days in Uganda but the government said if Amin attempted to return, he would be arrested.