Juma Butabika

Juma Butabika
Birth nameJuma Ali Oka Rokoni
Nickname(s)"Butabika" ("crazy"; "the mad one")[1]
DiedApril 1979[a]
Kampala
Allegiance Uganda
Service / branchUganda Army (UA)
Years of service?–1979
RankLieutenant colonel[b]
CommandsChui Battalion
Malire Battalion
Battles / wars
RelationsIdi Amin (first cousin once removed)
Other workChairman of the Ugandan Military Tribunal

Juma Ali Oka Rokoni,[c] commonly referred to as Juma Butabika, (died April 1979)[a] was a Ugandan military officer who served as Uganda Army (UA) top commander during the dictatorship of Idi Amin. Despite being notorious for his erratic behavior and abuse of power, he was highly influential, held important army commands, and served as long-time chairman of the Ugandan Military Tribunal, a military court used by Amin to try and eliminate political dissidents and rivals. By commanding an unauthorised attack on Tanzania in October 1978, Butabika was responsible for the outbreak of the Uganda–Tanzania War which ultimately resulted in his death in combat, probably during or shortly before the Fall of Kampala.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference independent was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference fall was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Mzirai 1980, p. 97.
  4. ^ "Idi Amin's son relives his father's years at the helm". Daily Monitor. 13 April 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. ^ Smith (1980), p. 120.
  6. ^ Allen (1987), p. 129.
  7. ^ Seftel 2010, p. 203.


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