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 Monarch, who was the same person as the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Uganda by a Governor-General. Uganda became a republic under the Constitution of 1963 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by an executive President.

Monarch (1962–1963)

The succession to the throne of Uganda was the same as the succession to the throne of the United Kingdom, governed by the Act of Settlement 1701.

Monarch Reign Royal House Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Reign start Reign end Duration
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 9 October 1962 9 October 1963 1 year House of Windsor Obote

Governors-General

Standard of the Governor-General of Uganda

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
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
Governor-General Term of Office Monarch(s) Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Took Office Left Office Duration
1 Sir Walter Coutts
(1912–1988)		 9 October 1962 9 October 1963 1 year Elizabeth II Obote

Presidents

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 -year term. In the event of a vacancy the Prime Minister served as Acting President.

In 1966 the Presidency was modelled on the President of the United States but the same rules applied as to the vacancy of the President. It also applied to the 1967 and 1995 Constitutions.

Republic

Status
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President Term of office Political party
# Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1 Frederick Mutesa II
(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 Amin led a coup d'état which overthrown the 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
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
Head of State Term of Office Military
# Portrait Name Took Office Left Office Duration
3 Idi Amin
(1925–2003)		 25 January 1971 11 April 1979
(Deposed)		 8 years, 76 days Military

Republic restored

Status
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President Term of office Political party
(at time of election)
# Portrait Name 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 overthrown 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
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President Term of office Political party
(at time of election)
# Portrait Name 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

Republic restored

Status
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President Term of office Political party
(at time of election)
# Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
9 Yoweri Museveni
(1944–)		 26 January 1986 Incumbent 29 years, 95 days
(as of 1 May 2015)		 National Resistance Movement

Living former heads of state

Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1962–1963 Queen of Uganda 21 April 1926

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