On 25 January 1971 Amin launched a military coup, ousting Obote and seizing power. He released Ibingira along with 54 other political prisoners and appointed him Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Ibingira later went into exile. When a Tanzanian invasion threatened the Ugandan regime, he promoted Yusuf Lule as a potential successor to Amin. Ibingira attended the Moshi Conference in March 1979 where Ugandan exiles elected Lule to succeed Amin once he was deposed. Lule appointed Ibingira Minister of Information on 7 June 1979. His addition to the cabinet particularly upset the National Consultative Committee. On 19 June Lule removed Ibingira from his cabinet and made him Ambassador to the UN.