Idi Amin’s son ‘mayoral candidate in Uganda’

One of the numerous sons of former dictator Idi Amin is running for mayor in a small town in eastern Uganda, a reports said.

One of the numerous sons of former dictator Idi Amin is running for mayor in a small town in eastern Uganda, reports said.

Ali Amin is one of three candidates on Friday for the job of mayor in Njeru, 50 miles east of Kampala, the government-owned New Vision said.

‘‘There are some people who go around mud-slinging and de-campaigning me that I disowned my father, Idi Amin. This is not true,’’ Amin said.

‘‘I know my father made some mistakes when he was president, but I cannot disown him,’’ Ali was quoted as saying during a campaign rally.

Ali Amin’s age and occupation are not known.

Nor is it known how many children the former military leader now in exile in Saudi Arabia has had with numerous wives and other women, but they are believed to number in the dozens.

Amin seized power in a coup in 1971 that was at first popular.

But because his army massacred tens of thousands of people during his eight-year rule, he is generally vilified throughout this East African nation.