List of heads of state of Uganda

Uganda
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Uganda
Constitution Human rights
Government President (List) Yoweri Museveni Vice President Edward Ssekandi Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda Cabinet
Parliament Speaker Rebecca Kadaga
Judiciary Supreme Court
Administrative divisions Regions Districts Counties Sub-counties Local Council
Elections Recent elections General: 2011 2016 Electoral Commission Political parties
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic missions of Uganda to Uganda Passport Visa requirements
Other countries Atlas

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 monarch of 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.

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

  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government

№	Governor-general (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Monarch	Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
1	Walter Coutts (1912–1988)		9 October 1962	9 October 1963	Elizabeth II	Obote
2	Ware Cooper (?-1980)		9 October 1963	1 August 1976
3	Donald McCart (1901-1978)		1 August 1976	7 December 1978

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 4-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

  Denotes Prime Minister acting as President

№	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Elected	Political affiliation (at time of appointment)		Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
1	Edward Mutesa (1924–1969)		9 October 1963	2 March 1966 (deposed.)	–		Kabaka Yekka	Obote
2	Milton Obote (1925–2005)		2 March 1966	15 April 1966	–		Uganda People's Congress	Himself
			15 April 1966	25 January 1971 (deposed.)				Position abolished

Military rule (1971–1979)

General Idi Amin led a 1971 coup d'état that overthrew President Obote and his government and installed Amin as president.

№	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Military		Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
3	General Idi Amin (1925–2003)		25 January 1971	11 April 1979 (deposed.)		Ugandan Armed Forces	Position abolished

Second Republic (1979–1985)

№	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Elected	Political affiliation (at time of appointment)		Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
4	Yusuf Lule (1912–1985)		13 April 1979	20 June 1979 (deposed.)	–		Independent (UNLF)	Position abolished
5	Godfrey Binaisa (1920–2010)		20 June 1979	12 May 1980 (deposed.)	–		Uganda People's Congress (UNLF)
6	Paulo Muwanga (1921–1991)		12 May 1980	22 May 1980 (resigned.)	–		Uganda People's Congress (UNLF)
—	Presidential Commission		22 May 1980	15 December 1980	—
(2)	Milton Obote (1925–2005)		17 December 1980	27 July 1985 (deposed.)	1980		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.

№	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Military		Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
7	General Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929–1990)		27 July 1985	29 July 1985 (resigned.)		Ugandan Armed Forces	Position vacant
8	General Tito Okello (1914–1996)		29 July 1985	26 January 1986 (deposed.)		Ugandan Armed Forces	Muwanga Waligo

Third 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 served as acting president.

Status

  Denotes Vice President acting as President

№	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure		Elected	Political affiliation (at time of appointment)		Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office
9	Yoweri Museveni (1944–)		26 January 1986	Incumbent	1996 2001 2006 2011 2016		National Resistance Movement	Kisekka Adyebo Musoke Nsibambi Mbabazi Rugunda

References

External links

• World Statesmen – Uganda
• Rulers.org – Uganda