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 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 a ceremonial President, which was replaced by an executive presidency in 1966.

Monarch (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–)	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, and 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

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)

Under the 1963 Constitution of 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 5-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.

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
style="background:Template:Kabaka Yekka/meta/color; color:white;"| 1		Edward Mutesa (1924–1969)	1963	9 October 1963	2 March 1966 (deposed.)	2 years, 144 days	Kabaka Yekka	Obote
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Uganda People's Congress/meta/color; color:white;"| 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

Military rule (1971–1979)

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

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Military	Prime minister(s)
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
style="background:Template:Military rule/meta/color; color:black;"| 3		Idi Amin (1925–2003)	25 January 1971	11 April 1979 (deposed.)	8 years, 76 days	Ugandan Armed Forces	Position abolished

Second Republic (1979–1985)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
style="background:Template:Independent politician/meta/color; color:black;"| 4		Yusuf Lule (1912–1985)	—	13 April 1979	20 June 1979 (deposed.)	68 days	Independent (UNLF)	Position abolished
style="background:Template:Uganda People's Congress/meta/color; color:white;"| 5		Godfrey Binaisa (1920–2010)	—	20 June 1979	12 May 1980 (deposed.)	327 days	Uganda People's Congress (UNLF)
style="background: Template:Uganda People's Congress/meta/color; color:white;"| 6		Paulo Muwanga (1921–1991)	—	12 May 1980	22 May 1980 (resigned.)	10 days	Uganda People's Congress (UNLF)
—		Presidential Commission	—	22 May 1980	15 December 1980	207 days	—
style="background:Template:Uganda People's Congress/meta/color; color:white;"| (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
style="background:Template:Military rule/meta/color; color:black;"| 7		General Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929–1990)	27 July 1985	29 July 1985 (resigned.)	2 days	Ugandan Armed Forces	Position vacant
style="background:Template:Military rule/meta/color; color:black;"| 8		General Tito Okello (1914–1996)	29 July 1985	26 January 1986 (deposed.)	181 days	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

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister(s)
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
style="background:Template:National Resistance Movement/meta/color; color:black;"| 9		Yoweri Museveni (1944–)	1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021	26 January 1986	Incumbent	38 years, 282 days	National Resistance Movement	Kisekka Adyebo Musoke Nsibambi Mbabazi Rugunda

External links

• World Statesmen – Uganda
• Rulers.org – Uganda