Derek R Peterson

My new book--A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda--publishes today! Based on newly-available government archives, the book shows why and how Amin's regime commanded popular support. It can be bought on paper or as an e-book here: yalebooks.yale.edu/book/978030027…

I am very glad to have this insightful review of A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda in the Los Angeles Review of Books. From @sfcdaly. lareviewofbooks.org/article/idi-am…

Here is Patrick Otim's insightful review of my book _A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda_. At History: Reviews of New Books. tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

Just published: @AnnaAdima's excellent review of _A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda_. Available here: tandfonline.com/eprint/ICEUDKV…

2/ And here's another clip of the same scene. What strikes me is the optimism of the occasion: here Ben Kiwanuka confidently looks forward to standing again for election. He was to die in the hands of Idi Amin's men in September 1972, together with many others.

Today--25 Jan 2026--is the 55th anniversary of the coup that brought Idi Amin to power in Uganda. Here's the scene a few days later, when Amin released political prisoners held by the Obote govt. Among those released: Benedicto Kiwanuka, who'd been Uganda's first PM. 1/

Here's an ITN clip from 1980, the first time that Pres. Museveni stood for election. Uganda was recovering from years of misgovernment; Museveni was the new man, full of ideas & energy. This week Museveni is again standing for election. Ugandans go to the polls on the 15th.

As chair of faculty govt here @UMich I am--guardedly--optimistic about our new president, Kent Syverud. He cares about social justice; he knows what faculty govt can do; he's committed to teaching. These are all good things for a university president. mlive.com/news/ann-arbor…

Just published in @nybooks: Helen Epstein’s excellent review of A Popular History of Idi Amin’s Uganda, seen alongside Mahmood Mamdani’s new book. Read it here: nybooks.com/articles/2026/…

Here's a review of _A Popular History_ in @HistoryToday from @JonathonLEarle. Readers will take what they will from the book. I'm not a fan of Jon's review, as he misses the point: the success of Amin's regime was to expand Ugandans' sense of destiny. historytoday.com/archive/review…

@ASANewsOnline 2/ And congrats also to Admire Mseba, whose _Society, Power & Land in NE Zimbabwe_ won the best African history prize of @AHAhistorians!

My colleagues Carina Ray, Jacob Dlamini & I are delighted at the awards that #NewAfricanHistories authors have won this year. Congratulations to Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi, whose insightful _Imagine Lagos_ won the 'best book' prize @ASANewsOnline. And 1/ ohio.edu/news/2025/12/o…

Glad it has finally reached you! A Fountain Publishers edition will drop in Kampala early next year, inshallah.

Happening today at 10 am Eastern, 3 pm in London and 6 pm in Kampala (not 5 pm): I will be talking about my new book _A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda_. Link below. Do join!

The Ugandan dictator was a pioneer of populism. A new book argues that, for his followers, they transformed the boring work of government into “a thrilling battle for racial and political liberation” economist.com/culture/2025/1…

How did Idi Amin’s brutal regime endure for eight years of chaos and violence? In this groundbreaking study, Derek Peterson uncovers how ordinary Ugandans—civil servants, artists, businesspeople, patriots—helped sustain Amin’s dictatorship.

Last week I participated in a panel discussion at @GZ_Kampala about the 39 artifacts we've recently brought back from @MAACambridge to the Uganda Museum in Kampala. The panel--ably chaired by the intrepid @dntshimba--is now online. Take a look. youtube.com/watch?v=L_q8pt…

@KakwenzaRukira Excellent!

@Unseen_Archive I have seen someone's review on facebook and liked and hungered to read the same. I cannot wait to afford the book and order my copy.

Just dropped: an audiobook version of my book A Popular History of Idi Amin's Uganda. Available at most online outlets, and here. Check it out! play.google.com/store/audioboo…

Just published in @TheEconomist: a review of my new book A Popular History of Idi Amin’s Uganda, seen alongside Mahmood Mamdani’s new book. economist.com/culture/2025/1…

@Reuters Correction: Bondo! not Bombo. Oof.

2/ After debate the family decided to bury Oginga senior in Bombo, the constituency that he represented. The tomb reportedly cost Ksh. 1 million. Here's a @Reuters clip from the funeral service. Moi did not grant late Odinga a state funeral, but he did attend the burial.

The death of Oginga Odinga--Raila's distinguished father--was a great shock. He died of a heart attack on 20 Jan. 1994. He was Leader of the Opposition. I was living in Nairobi at the time, and remember people's profound grief as it played out on the city's streets. 1/