Taban Lupayi, often just called Taban, was a high-ranking Sudanese-born Ugandan military officer during the dictatorship of Idi Amin.
13 Facts About Taban Lupayi
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Taban Lupayi rose to commander of the Marine Regiment and deputy chief of staff of the Uganda Army following the 1971 Ugandan coup d'etat, and became a member of Amin's inner circle.
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Taban Lupayi eventually joined the Uganda Army, and served as a private during the presidency of Milton Obote.
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Taban Lupayi's rise was the result of his connections to Amin and his lowly background, as the new president feared that better-educated officers could eventually overthrow him and wanted to check their influence.
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Taban Lupayi was promoted to major and second-in-command of the unit in January 1974.
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In March 1974, dissident soldiers attempted to overthrow Amin in the Arube uprising; Taban Lupayi was one of the Amin loyalists whom the rebels intended to kill or arrest.
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At some point, Taban Lupayi became a member of the Defense Council which factually governed Uganda under Amin.
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Taban Lupayi consequently clashed with the Anti-Smuggling Unit, threatening and possibly murdering ASU agents to maintain his criminal activities.
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Taban Lupayi was promoted from lieutenant colonel to brigadier in the following month.
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Taban Lupayi eventually became deputy chief of staff as well.
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Taban Lupayi was among the Uganda Army officers who called for a preemptive attack.
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Taban Lupayi initially fled north from Kampala to Arua before ultimately escaping to Sudan and settling down in Yei.
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In 1983, Africa Confidential reported that Taban Lupayi was still living in "oblivion" in Yei, hoping for Amin's eventual return to power in Uganda.