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.
From 1962 to 1963, the head of state under the Uganda Independence Act 1962 was the Queen of Uganda, Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen was represented in Uganda by a governor-general. Uganda became a republic under the Constitution of 1963, when the monarch and governor-general were replaced by an executive president.
Monarch (1962–1963)
The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
Queen | Reign | House | Prime Minister | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Start | End | Duration | ||
1 | Elizabeth II (1926–) |
9 October 1962 | 9 October 1963 | 1 year | Windsor | Obote | |
Governors-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. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Uganda without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy, the chief justice served as officer administering the government.
- Status
Governor-General | Term of Office | Monarch | Prime Minister | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Duration | ||
1 | Walter Coutts (1912–1988) |
9 October 1962 | 9 October 1963 | 1 year | Elizabeth II | Obote | |
First Republic (1963–1971)
Under the 1963 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, the president replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The president was elected by the Parliament for a four-year term. In the event of a vacancy the prime minister served as acting president.
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
President | Term of office | Political party (at time of election) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Duration | |
1 | Edward Mutesa (1924–1969) |
9 October 1963 | 2 March 1966 (Deposed) |
2 years, 144 days | Kabaka Yekka | |
2 | Milton Obote (1925–2005) |
2 March 1966 | 15 April 1966 | 4 years, 329 days | Uganda People's Congress | |
15 April 1966 | 25 January 1971 (Deposed) | |||||
Military rule (1971–1979)
General Idi Amin led a coup d'état that overthrew President Obote and his government. In 1971, Amin was given the presidency. In the event of a vacancy, the vice president served as acting president.
- Status
Head of State | Term of Office | Political party (at time of election) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took Office | Left Office | Duration | |
3 | Idi Amin (1925–2003) |
25 January 1971 | 11 April 1979 (Deposed) |
8 years, 76 days | Military | |
Second Republic (1979–1985)
- Status
President | Term of office | Political party (at time of election) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Duration | |
4 | Yusuf Lule (1912–1985) |
13 April 1979 | 20 June 1979 (Deposed) |
70 days | Independent (UNLF) | |
5 | Godfrey Binaisa (1920–2010) |
20 June 1979 | 12 May 1980 (Deposed) |
327 days | Uganda People's Congress (UNFL) | |
6 | Paulo Muwanga (1921–1991) |
12 May 1980 | 22 May 1980 (Resigned) |
10 days | Uganda People's Congress (UNFL) | |
— | Presidential Commission | 22 May 1980 | 15 December 1980 | 207 days | — | |
(2) | Milton Obote (1925–2005) |
17 December 1980 | 27 July 1985 (Deposed) |
4 years, 222 days | Uganda People's Congress | |
Military rule (1985–1986)
General Olara-Okello led a coup d'état which overthrew the President Obote and his government. In 1985 Olara-Okello was given the presidency. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President served as Acting President.
- Status
President | Term of office | Political party (at time of election) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Duration | |
7 | Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929–1990) |
27 July 1985 | 29 July 1985 (Resigned) |
2 days | Military | |
8 | Tito Okello (1914–1996) |
29 July 1985 | 26 January 1986 (Deposed) |
184 days | Military | |
Third Republic (1986–present)
- Status
President | Term of office | Political party (at time of election) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
№ | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Duration | |
9 | Yoweri Museveni (1944–) |
26 January 1986 | Incumbent | 30 years, 314 days (as of 5 December 2016) |
National Resistance Movement | |
Living former heads of state
Name | Term/Reign | Office | Date of birth |
---|---|---|---|
Elizabeth II | 1962–1963 | Queen of Uganda | April 21, 1926 |