then assigned to quell the cattle rustling between Uganda’s Karamojong and Kenya’s Turkana nomads. In 1962 he was promoted to captain and then, in 1963, to major. The following year, he was appointed Deputy Commander of the Army.
Amin was an active athlete during his time in the army. 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) and powerfully built, he was the Ugandan light heavyweight boxing champion from 1951 to 1960, as well as a swimmer. Idi Amin was also a formidable rugby forward. In the 1950s, he played for Nile RFC. The British Lions nearly played Amin on their 1955 tour of South Africa, when he was selected as a reserve for the East Africa XV. He was the only black player on the squad. Amin did not however, get fielded during the game, and after the match, sat outside the clubhouse drinking a Coca Cola until one of the opposition suggested that he should be let in.One officer said