INTRODUCTION
This post discusses the past leaders and presidents of Uganda starting from the Monarch, Governor General, Military Rule and First to fourth republic of Uganda.
The president of the Republic of Uganda is the head of state and the head of government of Uganda. The president leads the executive branch of the government of Uganda and is the commander-in-chief of the Uganda People’s Defense Force.
EARLY HISTORY
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.
This is a list of the heads of state of Uganda, from the independence of Uganda in 1962 to the present day.
MONARCHY (1962–1963)
| No. | 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.
| No. | 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)
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.
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.
| 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)
General (later field marshal) Idi Amin led a coup d’état that overthrew President Obote and his government and installed himself as president. He took office in January 25, 1971 and left office on the 11th of April 1979. He spent 8years and 76 days in Office.
THIRD REPUBLIC (1979–1985)
| No. | 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 (1921–1991) |
— | 12 May 1980 | 22 May 1980 (resigned.) |
10 days | ||
| 7 | 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 | Allimad |
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 he president.
| No. | 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.
The president leads the executive branch of the government of Uganda and is the commander-in-chief of the Uganda People’s Defense Force. The incumbent Yoweri Museveni came to power in 1986 and is the longest serving president of Uganda, ahead of Idi Amin who ruled from 1971 to 1979. Bobi Wine has not conceded the 2021 election and claims his victory is disputed for the 2021 Ugandan general election