London - Idi Amin, the brutal dictator who ruled Uganda from 1971 to 1979, was a "splendid type", good at rugby but decidedly stupid, according to official British records from 1964 which were released on Thursday.
"Idi Amin is a splendid type and a good rugby player," wrote an official in the Dominions Office identified only as J.S.C.
But he went on to describe Amin as "virtually bone from the neck up and needs things explained in words of one letter".
Other Dominions Office officials were quick to agree that Amin, during whose rule up to 500 000 Ugandans were to die, was essentially a good person.
"Amin is a splendid man by any standards and is held in great respect and affection by his British colleagues. He is tough and fearless and...completely reliable," said another note in the file which was released by the Public Record Office.
"Against this, he is not very bright," the note added.
Amin, who commanded one of two battalions in the Ugandan Army in 1964, was nonetheless regarded as better than his fellow commander Major Opoloto who was more intelligent but also "more devious and inscrutable".
Amin, the brains behind schemes such expelling all Asians from Uganda and allowing an airliner hijacked by Palestinians to land at Entebbe airport where it was promptly stormed by Israeli commandoes, became an implacable foe of the British and sought to humiliate them throughout his turbulent presidency.
He seized power in a coup against the former president, Milton Obote, but was deposed in 1979 when a joint force of Ugandans and Tanzanians invaded Uganda. By the time the troops reached the capital, Kampala, Amin had escaped.
Amin, a Muslim, now lives in Saudi Arabia. - Reuters