On October 9, 1962, Uganda gained independence from British colonial rule, with Apollo Milton Obote as its first Prime Minister.

However, like many former colonies, Uganda experienced significant political upheaval in the decades following independence. In 1966, Prime Minister Obote suspended the constitution and illegally overthrew President Edward Mutesa, who was also the King of Buganda, the largest kingdom in Uganda and East Africa. The instability worsened when Idi Amin seized power in a military coup in 1971. His regime plunged Uganda into economic ruin and saw widespread atrocities that claimed the lives of up to 500,000 civilians. Amin is remembered as one of the most brutal dictators in modern history. His annexation of Tanzanian territory in 1979 triggered a Tanzanian invasion, which eventually ousted him.

Uganda endured continued political instability, marked by frequent coups, until 1986, when Yoweri Museveni took power through military means. He has remained president since. While Museveni is credited with restoring relative stability and promoting economic growth, he has faced criticism for clinging to power. In 2017, Uganda’s parliament removed presidential age limits, paving the way for Museveni to remain in office indefinitely. He has already been endorsed by his party for the upcoming 2026 elections.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), the national poverty rate in 2019/20 was about 30 percent. While this is lower than the international rate of about 42 percent, more must be done to uplift Ugandans from poverty.

Happy Independence Day, Uganda!