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This is a list of theheads of state of Uganda, from the independence ofUganda in 1962 to the present day.
From 1962 to 1963, the head of state under theConstitution of 1962 was thequeen of Uganda,Elizabeth II, who was also the monarch of otherCommonwealth realms. The queen was represented in Uganda by a governor-general. Uganda removed Elizabeth II as head of state under a 1963 constitutional amendment and the monarch and governor-general were replaced by a ceremonialpresident. The president under the 1963 constitution was anelective monarch, chosen by theparliament from among Uganda's five traditional kings. Uganda became arepublic within the Commonwealth when this system was replaced by an executive presidency in 1966.
The succession to the throne was the same as thesuccession to the British throne.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign | Royal house | Prime minister(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign start | Reign end | Duration | |||||
| 1 | _(cropped)_(3-to-4_aspect_ratio).jpg) | QueenElizabeth II (1926–2022) | 9 October 1962 | 9 October 1963 | 1 year | Windsor | Obote |
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-autonomousdominion and later promoted to independence as defined by theStatute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was to be always appointed solely on the advice of theCabinet 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, thechief justice would have served as theofficer administering the government under adormant commission.
| 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 |
Under the 1963Constitution of the Sovereign State of Uganda, the British monarch was replaced as ceremonial head of state by anelective monarch with the title of president. The president was elected by theParliament for a 5-year term from among the kings of Uganda’s five kingdoms and constitutional heads of districts, which were the monarchs of the non-federated entities.[a] In the event of a vacancy theVice President served asacting president.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Reign | Royal house | Prime minister(s) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reign start | Reign end | Duration | |||||
| 1 |  | Edward Mutesa II (1924–1969) | 9 October 1963 | 2 March 1966 (Deposed in a coup) | 2 years, 144 days | Abalasangeye | Obote |
Under the 1966 "pigeon hole" constitution, the Sovereign State was abolished and replaced by the Republic of Uganda. The presidential office was transformed from a monarchical to an executive republican one. The president and vice-president were elected by theNational Assembly.[2] 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.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Term of office | Political party | Prime minister(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
| — |  | Milton Obote (1925–2005) | — | 2 March 1966 | 15 April 1966 | 44 days | UPC | Himself | |
| 2 | 15 April 1966 | 25 January 1971 (Deposed in a coup) | 4 years, 285 days | Position abolished | |||||
General (laterfield marshal)Idi Amin led acoup d'état that overthrew President Obote and his government and installed himself as president.
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Military | Prime minister(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| 3 | _gtfy.00132_(cropped).jpg) | Field Marshal Idi Amin (1928–2003) | 25 January 1971 | 11 April 1979 (Deposed by Tanzanian invasion) | 8 years, 76 days | Uganda Army | Position abolished | |
| No. | Portrait | 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 in a coup) | 68 days | Independent (UNLF) | Position abolished | |
| 5 | | Godfrey Binaisa (1920–2010) | — | 20 June 1979 | 12 May 1980 (Deposed in a coup) | 327 days | UPC (UNLF) | ||
| 6 | | Paulo Muwanga (1924–1991) | — | 12 May 1980 | 22 May 1980 (Resigned) | 10 days | UPC (UNLF) | ||
| — | | Presidential Commission | — | 22 May 1980 | 15 December 1980 | 207 days | — | ||
| (2) | | Milton Obote (1925–2005) | 1980 | 17 December 1980 | 27 July 1985 (Deposed in a coup) | 4 years, 222 days | UPC | Allimadi | |
GeneralBazilio 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 | ||||||
| — | | General Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929–1990) | 27 July 1985 | 29 July 1985 (Resigned) | 2 days | UNLF | Position vacant | |
| 7 | | General Tito Okello (1914–1996) | 29 July 1985 | 26 January 1986 (Deposed by civil war) | 181 days | UNLF | Muwanga Waligo | |
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, thevice president serves asacting president under adormant commission.[3]
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Elected | Term of office | Political party | Prime minister(s) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
| 8 |  | Yoweri Museveni (born 1944) | 1996 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 | 26 January 1986 | Incumbent | 40 years, 19 days | NRM | Kisekka Adyebo Musoke Nsibambi Mbabazi Rugunda Nabbanja | |
