Uganda’s History

A Timeline
1894 Uganda was declared a British Protectorate.

1962 After nearly 70 years of British rule, it achieved independence. Milton Obote became the prime minister.

1966 Milton Obote suspended the constitution and gave the executive position greater powers.

1971 Obote was removed from power by Idi Amin’s armed forces in a military coup. Amin dissolved parliament and gave himself absolute power. This produced economic decline within the country and many violations to human right laws.

1986 The National Resistance Army (NRA) took the capital, Kampala, and appointed Yoweri Museveni as president. His presidency has been unique. It started out by seizing power, but Museveni’s administration has stood for elections, redacted a constitution, and introduced many policies regarding health and education. See also Uganda's official website.

Since the NRA took power, Uganda has been under constant strife with insurgents, particularly the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Although this prolongued civil war has killed thousands and left millions displaced, Uganda’s government has recently been in talks with the LRA in order to establish peace within the country. See also this 2007 Time Magazine article on the process of reconciliation with the LRA.