Part 1, Chapter 2 Summary

Garrigan is writing his memoir in cold Scotland after his return home. In this chapter, he provides a formal statement of his purpose in telling his story. Because Idi Amin, "His Excellency Idi, the number one id", has never written his own story, Garrigan is going to do it for him, to provide an eyewitness account. He claims he is not trying to justify his own actions, although some people will doubtless think that is what he wants to do.

He tells about his life as the son of a minister, and how he came to work in Uganda. His early life is unremarkable-the death of his donkey he considers as the most traumatic thing that happened to him. He goes to medical school in Edinburgh, then interns in various hospitals. When he must decide how he wants to set up...