List of heads of state of Uganda

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

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 became a republic within the Commonwealth under a 1963 constitutional amendment and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonial president, which was replaced by an executive presidency in 1966.

Monarchy (1962–1963)

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

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Reign			Royal house	Prime minister(s)
			Reign start	Reign end	Duration
1		Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022)	9 October 1962	9 October 1963	1 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.

Status

  Denotes chief justice acting as officer administering the government

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch	Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Walter Coutts (1912–1988)	9 October 1962	9 October 1963	1 year	Elizabeth II	Obote

First Republic (1963–1971)

Further information: History of Uganda (1963–1971)

Under the 1963 constitutional amendment establishing the Republic of Uganda, the president replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The president and vice-president were elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term from among the traditional rulers and constitutional heads of districts. ^[1]

In 1966, 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.

Status

  Denotes prime minister acting as president

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Edward Mutesa (1924–1969)	1963	9 October 1963	2 March 1966 ( deposed.)	2 years, 144 days	Kabaka Yekka	Obote
2		Milton Obote (1925–2005)	—	2 March 1966	15 April 1966	44 days	Uganda People's Congress	Himself
				15 April 1966	25 January 1971 ( deposed.)	4 years, 285 days		Position abolished

Second Republic (1971–1979)

Further information: Second Republic of Uganda

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

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Military	Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
3		Idi Amin (1928–2003)	25 January 1971	11 April 1979 ( deposed.)	8 years, 76 days	Uganda Army	Position abolished

Third Republic (1979–1985)

Further information: History of Uganda (1979–1986)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
4		Yusuf Lule (1912–1985)	—	13 April 1979	20 June 1979 (deposed.)	68 days	Independent (UNLF)	Position abolished
5		Godfrey Binaisa (1920–2010)	—	20 June 1979	12 May 1980 (deposed.)	327 days	Uganda People's Congress (UNLF)
6		Paulo Muwanga (1924–1991)	—	12 May 1980	22 May 1980 (resigned.)	10 days
—		Presidential Commission	—	22 May 1980	15 December 1980	207 days	—
(2)		Milton Obote (1925–2005)	1980	17 December 1980	27 July 1985 (deposed.)	4 years, 222 days	Uganda People's Congress	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.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Military	Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
7		General Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929–1990)	27 July 1985	29 July 1985 (resigned.)	2 days	Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF)	Position vacant
8		General Tito Okello (1914–1996)	29 July 1985	26 January 1986 ( deposed.)	181 days		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]

Status

  Denotes vice president acting as president

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
9		Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born 1944)	1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021	26 January 1986	Incumbent	38 years, 34 days	National Resistance Movement	Kisekka Adyebo Musoke Nsibambi Mbabazi Rugunda Nabbanja

Timeline

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.

External links

• World Statesmen – Uganda
• Rulers.org – Uganda