By Olu Victor
The man who acted the role of Idi Amin, a biographical film on former Ugandan dictator entitled ‘Rise and Fall of Idi Amin’ is dead.
Reports say Mr. Olita died of high blood pressure, last Sunday, in Kenya, at the age of 70.
Olita, who lived in Uganda, was said to have gone to burry his late mother in Kenya, when he died 24 hours after.
A popular film in the 80s, ‘Rise and Fall of Idi Amin’ (1981) was directed by Sharad Patel. The film records the controversial actions and atrocities of the former dictator of Uganda during his violent rise to power in 1971 until his overthrow in 1979, as a result of the Uganda–Tanzania War.
A close relative, Ms Risper Odero described Olita’s death as a big blow to the family, especially since it happened less than 24 hours after the burial of his mother. A funeral committee has been set up in his home village, chaired by the Kenya’s South Alego Ward representative, Joshua Osuri.
‘Rise and Fall of Idi Amin’ was a co-production of the United Kingdom, Kenya and Nigeria, with most of filming done inKenya, less than a year after Amin’s downfall.
Other films by the late actor include ‘Mississippi Masala’ (1991) and Sheena (1984).