Uganda before independence, was led by the monarch (Queen Elizabeth II), who was represented in the country by the a governor general and Uganda later became a Republic under the constitution of 1963 when the monarch and governor general were replaced by an executive President.
In this case therefore , since 1962, Uganda has always been led by a number of Presidents respectively and they include the following.
1. Sir Edward Luwangula Walugembe Muteesa II
Leading from 9th October 1962 to 2nd March 1966, Sir Edward Muteesa II was the first post independence President of Uganda.
Born on 19th November 1924, he was the son of Kabaka Daudi Chwa II and under the then new Uganda’s constitution, Buganda became a semi autonomous part of a new Ugandan federation.
2. Apollo Milton Obote
He ruled from 15th April 1966 to 25th January 1971 where by he was overthrown by Iddi Amin Dada but later regained his Presidential seat on 17th December 1980 to 27th July 1985 making him the first Ugandan President to sit in the State House on two different tenures.
3. Iddi Amin Dada
It should be noted that Iddi Amin Dada overthrew Milton Obote from his Presidential seat as he had travelled for a meeting and he was therefore the third President of Uganda who served from 25th January 1971 to 11th April 1979.
Iddi Amin Dada largely captured power because Milton Obote had lost popularity.
4. Yusuf Kironde Lule
Ruling from 13th April 1979 to 20th June 1979 he holds the record among Uganda’s Presidents for serving for the shortest period of time. He is believed to have served for 68days only.
Yusuf Kironde Lule had plans of reforming recruitment into the armed forces which was viewed as one way of undermining the army and threat to the dominance of the army’s traditional areas for army recruits such as Acholi and Lango. Therefore, on 20th June 1979, the National Consultative Council staged a coup removing Lule as President for allegedly making wide ranging appointments in government without consulting them.
5. Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa
Being Uganda’s 4th President, he ruled from 20th June 1979 to 12th May 1980. He has been referred to as Uganda’s accidental President provided the way he ascended into power.
Godfrey Binaisa rose into power at a time when Uganda was going through very tough times and many people at the time weren’t pleased by the fact that he had replaced their favorite Yusuf Lule and also the internal acrimony against him being President.
6. General Tito Okello Lutwa
He ruled from 29th July 1985 to 26th January 1986. Tito Okello Lutwa was amongst the group which fought off the Langi soldiers at Karuma falls which later named him as President of the military council which was not an easy Presidency.
By Late December, the NRA had cut off most of the South and West of Uganda advancing as far as Mpigi and Tito Okello Lutwa was overthrown on January 26th and went into exile.
7. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Born in Ntungamo District South Western Uganda in 1944 to Amos Kagutta, He is thw longest and Current serving President to the Republic of Uganda.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is believed to have joined the intelligence service of Dr. Milton Obote and he in his own account said that he did not join the government because he likes Obote but rather to see how government is ran.
It should be noted that before Museveni became president, him and his allies refused to share power with generals and with General Salim Saleh as the field commander, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was the overall commander who later captured power on 26th January 1986.
H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had therefore been the longest serving President of Uganda since the country gained her Independence.
