Bob Astles
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Astles is a former British soldier and colonial officer who lived in Uganda
and became an associate of presidents Milton Obote
and Idi Amin
.
. He joined the British Indian Army
as a teenager and then the Royal Engineers
, reaching the rank of Lieutenant. Of his war service, he recalls: "I enjoyed being with other nationalities and their fights for world recognition during World War II." He was 21 when he left the United Kingdom for Africa.
. His first job in Uganda was as a colonial officer with the Ministry of Works, then with £100 he set up Uganda Aviation Services Ltd, the first airline in Uganda to employ Africans. As Uganda's independence approached in 1962, Astles became involved with a number of political groups. One of these was led by Milton Obote
, who led the country to independence. Astles worked in his government until the 1971 coup d'état, when he transferred his allegiance to Amin.
In December, suspicion fell on Astles because of his previous support for Obote. Amin sent him to Makindye Prison
where he spent 17 weeks, often shackled and brutally interrogated. Astles later said, "Amin called me a 'rotten apple' on the radio, and nationalised my airline. It was ordinary Africans who helped me to survive. One guard was kicked to death for helping me."
In 1975, Astles joined Amin's service, becoming the head of the anti-corruption squad and advising the president on British affairs, while running a pineapple
farm. He also presided over an aviation service that transported members of the government. Astles later said "I kept my eyes shut, I said nothing about what I saw, which is what they liked". What Astles did or did not do during Amin's brutal tenure is a matter of conjecture. He was feared, and considered by many to be a malignant influence on the dictator; others thought he was a moderating presence. He came to be known as "Major" Bob (the title of Major was given to him by Amin) or "the White Rat".
which led to the demise of Amin's regime in 1979, Astles fled to Kenya
, but was brought back to Uganda to face criminal charges. He was imprisoned for his alleged association with Amin's security apparatus, and was charged with everything from murder and corruption to theft. Though acquitted, he remained in Luzira Prison
for six and a half years, returning to Britain after his release in 1985.
n kingdom, Mary Ssen-Katukka, and they later adopted two children.
Astles currently lives in Wimbledon, London
, and continues to deny the allegations against him. Since returning to Britain, he has dedicated his life to campaigning against superpower interference in African political and economic affairs. He has also contributed political commentaries to a number of publications associated with Africa.
. The fictional character of Dr. Nicholas Garrigan in the book and film The Last King of Scotland
was loosely based on some events in Astles' life.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and became an associate of presidents Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
and Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
.
Early life
Bob Astles is English and was born in Ashford, KentAshford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
. He joined the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
as a teenager and then the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, reaching the rank of Lieutenant. Of his war service, he recalls: "I enjoyed being with other nationalities and their fights for world recognition during World War II." He was 21 when he left the United Kingdom for Africa.
Ugandan career
In 1949, Astles was sent on special duties during the Bataka uprising in BugandaBuganda
Buganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
. His first job in Uganda was as a colonial officer with the Ministry of Works, then with £100 he set up Uganda Aviation Services Ltd, the first airline in Uganda to employ Africans. As Uganda's independence approached in 1962, Astles became involved with a number of political groups. One of these was led by Milton Obote
Milton Obote
Apolo Milton Obote , Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and President of Uganda from 1966 to 1971, then again from 1980 to 1985. He was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda towards independence from the British colonial administration in 1962.He was overthrown by Idi Amin in 1971, but...
, who led the country to independence. Astles worked in his government until the 1971 coup d'état, when he transferred his allegiance to Amin.
In December, suspicion fell on Astles because of his previous support for Obote. Amin sent him to Makindye Prison
Makindye Prison
Makindye Prison was a Uganda Government state-run prison which became notorious as a hell hole for extrajudicial killings and execution of government opponents during the time of Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin....
where he spent 17 weeks, often shackled and brutally interrogated. Astles later said, "Amin called me a 'rotten apple' on the radio, and nationalised my airline. It was ordinary Africans who helped me to survive. One guard was kicked to death for helping me."
In 1975, Astles joined Amin's service, becoming the head of the anti-corruption squad and advising the president on British affairs, while running a pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
farm. He also presided over an aviation service that transported members of the government. Astles later said "I kept my eyes shut, I said nothing about what I saw, which is what they liked". What Astles did or did not do during Amin's brutal tenure is a matter of conjecture. He was feared, and considered by many to be a malignant influence on the dictator; others thought he was a moderating presence. He came to be known as "Major" Bob (the title of Major was given to him by Amin) or "the White Rat".
Imprisonment
Following the Uganda-Tanzania WarUganda-Tanzania War
The Uganda–Tanzania War was fought between Uganda and Tanzania in 1978–1979, and led to the overthrow of Idi Amin's regime...
which led to the demise of Amin's regime in 1979, Astles fled to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, but was brought back to Uganda to face criminal charges. He was imprisoned for his alleged association with Amin's security apparatus, and was charged with everything from murder and corruption to theft. Though acquitted, he remained in Luzira Prison
Luzira Maximum Security Prison
Luzira Maximum Security Prison is a prison in Luzira, Kampala, Uganda. Part of the African Prisons Project, it is one of Uganda’s most notorious prisons. A welfare project was carried out by installing windows, lighting, plumbing, furniture, mattresses and linen in a 70-bed prison.The prison has a...
for six and a half years, returning to Britain after his release in 1985.
Personal life
In 1958, he married Monica, who had come to Uganda with him from Kent. A year later, after they had divorced, Astles married an aristocratic member of the BugandaBuganda
Buganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
n kingdom, Mary Ssen-Katukka, and they later adopted two children.
Astles currently lives in Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, and continues to deny the allegations against him. Since returning to Britain, he has dedicated his life to campaigning against superpower interference in African political and economic affairs. He has also contributed political commentaries to a number of publications associated with Africa.
Film
He was played by Leonard Trolley in the 1982 movie Amin: The Rise and FallRise and Fall of Idi Amin
Rise and Fall of Idi Amin, also known as Amin: The Rise and Fall, is a 1981 biographical film directed by Sharad Patel and starring Joseph Olita as Idi Amin....
. The fictional character of Dr. Nicholas Garrigan in the book and film The Last King of Scotland
The Last King of Scotland
The Last King of Scotland is an award-winning 1998 novel by journalist Giles Foden. Focusing on the rise of Ugandan President Idi Amin and his reign as dictator from 1971 to 1979, the novel is written as the memoir of a fictional Scottish doctor in Amin's employ. Giles Foden's novel received...
was loosely based on some events in Astles' life.
External links
- Uganda's white Rat
- Interview with Last King of Scotland author Giles Foden
- "Bob Astles' Memories" by Norman S. Miwambo, Black Star News (New York), 30 July 2006
Bob Astles' commentaries
- "In defence of Milton Obote", New AfricanNew AfricanNew African is an English-language monthly news magazine based in London. Published since 1966, it is read by many people across the African continent and the African diaspora...
, 1 December 2003 - "Darfur another view", New African, 1 November 2004
- "Who will best lead Uganda?", Daily MonitorThe Monitor (Uganda)The Daily Monitor is Uganda’s leading independent daily newspaper. The "Monitor" name is shared by the Saturday Monitor and Sunday Monitor, which are also published by Monitor Publications Limited. It has an online readership of over 1,000,000.The newspaper was established in 1992 as The Monitor...
, 17 January 2006 - "Ethiopia Opens Pandora's Box", Black Star News, 29 January 2007
- "U.S. Tentacles Spread In Africa", Black Star News, 6 February 2007
- "South Africa Rejects US Africa Militarism", Black Star News, 16 February 2007
- "Killers In The Mist", Black Star News, 20 February 2007
- "Americans Milk Africa To Death", Black Star News, 16 March 2007
- "Ousting Nubians For Profit’s Spoils", Black Star News, 27 January 2008
- "Obama And Source Of The Nile", Black Star News, 5 February 2008