List of heads of state of Uganda

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This is a list of the heads of state of Uganda, from the independence of Uganda in 1962 to the present day.

Contents

From 1962 to 1963, the head of state under the Constitution of 1962 was the Queen of Uganda, Elizabeth II, who was also the Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The queen was represented in Uganda by a governor-general. Uganda removed Elizabeth II as head of state under a 1963 constitutional amendment and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonial president. The president under the 1963 constitution was an elective monarch, chosen by parliament from among Uganda's 5 traditional Kings. Uganda became a republic within the Commonwealth when this system was replaced by an executive presidency in 1966.

Commonwealth Realm (1962–1963)

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ReignRoyal house Prime minister(s)
Reign startReign endDuration
1 Queen Elizabeth II official portrait for 1959 tour (retouched) (cropped) (3-to-4 aspect ratio).jpg Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–2022)
9 October 19629 October 19631 year Windsor Obote

Governor-general

The governor-general was the representative of the monarch in Uganda and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. Since Uganda was granted independence by the Uganda Independence Act 1962, rather than being first established as a semi-autonomous dominion and later promoted to independence as defined by the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Uganda without the involvement of the British government. As Uganda became a republic before Walter Coutts, the former colonial governor, was replaced, this has never happened. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice would have served as the officer administering the government.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeMonarch Prime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Sir Walter Coutts.jpg Walter Coutts
(1912–1988)
9 October 19629 October 19631 yearElizabeth II Obote

Elective Monarchy (1963-1966)

Under the 1963 Constitution of the Sovereign State of Uganda, the British monarch was replaced as ceremonial head of state by an elective monarch with the title president. The president was elected by the Parliament for a 5-year term from among the kings of Uganda’s 5 kingdoms and constitutional heads of districts. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President served as acting president.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ReignRoyal house Prime minister(s)
Reign startReign endDuration
1 Mutesa II of Buganda (cropped).jpg Edward Mutesa II
(1924–1969)
9 October 19632 March 1966
(Deposed in coup)
2 years, 144 days Abalasangeye Obote

Republic (1966–present)

Political parties
   Uganda People's Congress (UPC)
   National Resistance Movement (NRM)
Other factions
   Military
   Independent
Status
  Denotes acting president

First Republic (1966–1971)

Under the 1966 "pigeon hole" constitution, the Sovereign State was abolished and replaced by the Republic of Uganda. The presidential office was transformed from a monarchical to an executive republican one. The president and vice-president were elected by the National Assembly. [1] The powers of the president were increased, with the establishment of the executive presidency, but the same rules applied concerning the vacancy of the president. It also applied to the 1967 and 1995 constitutions.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectedTerm of officePolitical party Prime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
2 Obote cropped.png Milton Obote
(1925–2005)
2 March 196615 April 196644 days UPC Himself
15 April 196625 January 1971
(Deposed in coup)
4 years, 285 daysPosition abolished

Second Republic (1971–1979)

General (later field marshal) Idi Amin led a coup d'état that overthrew President Obote and his government and installed himself as president.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeMilitary Prime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
3 Idi Amin at UN (United Nations, New York) gtfy.00132 (cropped).jpg Idi Amin
(1928–2003)
25 January 197111 April 1979
(Deposed by Tanzanian invasion)
8 years, 76 days Uganda Army Position abolished

Third Republic (1979–1985)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectedTerm of officePolitical party Prime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
4 Yusuf Lule.png Yusuf Lule
(1912–1985)
13 April 197920 June 1979
(Deposed in a coup)
68 days Independent
(UNLF)
Position abolished
5 No image.png Godfrey Binaisa
(1920–2010)
20 June 197912 May 1980
(Deposed in a coup)
327 days UPC
(UNLF)
6 No image.png Paulo Muwanga
(1924–1991)
12 May 198022 May 1980
(Resigned)
10 days UPC
(UNLF)
Coat of arms of Uganda.svg Presidential Commission 22 May 198015 December 1980207 days
(2) Obote cropped.png Milton Obote
(1925–2005)
1980 17 December 198027 July 1985
(Deposed in a coup)
4 years, 222 days UPC Allimadi

Military rule (1985–1986)

General Bazilio Olara-Okello led a coup d'état that overthrew President Obote and his government. Following the coup, Okello proclaimed himself president.

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeMilitary Prime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
7 No image.png General Bazilio Olara-Okello
(1929–1990)
27 July 198529 July 1985
(Resigned)
2 days Uganda National Liberation Front
(UNLF)
Position vacant
8 No image.png General Tito Okello
(1914–1996)
29 July 198526 January 1986
(Deposed in a civil war by NRM)
181 days Uganda National Liberation Front
(UNLF)
Muwanga
Waligo

Fourth Republic (1986–present)

Under the Constitution of Uganda, the president is the executive head of state. The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the vice president serves as acting president. [2]

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
ElectedTerm of officePolitical party Prime minister(s)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
9 Yoweri Museveni 2015 2.jpg Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
(born 1944)
1996
2001
2006
2011
2016
2021
26 January 1986Incumbent38 years, 121 days NRM Kisekka
Adyebo
Musoke
Nsibambi
Mbabazi
Rugunda
Nabbanja

Timeline since 1963

Yoweri MuseveniTito OkelloBazilio Olara-OkelloPresidential Commission of UgandaPaulo MuwangaGodfrey BinaisaYusuf LuleIdi AminMilton OboteEdward Mutesa IIList of heads of state of Uganda

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References

  1. Morris, H. F. (1966). "The Uganda Constitution, April 1966". Journal of African Law. 10 (2): 112–117. doi:10.1017/s0021855300004575. JSTOR   744686.
  2. "The Constitution | State House Uganda". www.statehouse.go.ug. Retrieved 15 February 2022.