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, 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 and 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

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

In 1966 the Presidency was modeled 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.

Status

  Denotes Vice President acting as President

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)

In December 1971 General Idi Amin led a coup d'état that overthrew President Obote and his government. Amin named himself president. 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			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

  Denotes Vice President acting as President

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)

In July 1985, General Bazilio Olara-Okello led a coup d'état that overthrew President Obote and his government. Olara-Okello was named president. 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 (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration
7		Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929–1990)	27 July 1985	29 July 1985 (Resigned)	2 days	Military
8	60px	Tito Okello (1914–1996)	29 July 1985	26 January 1986 (Deposed)	184 days	Military

Third Republic (1986–present)

Status

  Denotes Vice President acting as President

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	(as of 24 April 2024)	National Resistance Movement

Living former heads of state

Name	Term/Reign	Office	Date of birth
Elizabeth II	1962–1963	Queen of Uganda	(1926-04-21) April 21, 1926

External links

• World Statesmen – Uganda
• Rulers.org – Uganda

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