History of Uganda in Timeline

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa, bordered by Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. A significant portion of Lake Victoria lies within its southern border. Located in the African Great Lakes region and the Nile basin, Uganda experiences a varied equatorial climate. Its population exceeds 49 million as of 2024, with Kampala serving as the capital and largest city, home to 8.5 million people.

1900: Sleeping sickness epidemic begins

In 1900, a sleeping sickness epidemic began in southern Uganda.

1900: Treaty with Toro

In 1900, a treaty was signed with Toro.

1901: Treaty with Ankole

In 1901, a treaty was signed with Ankole.

1920: Sleeping sickness epidemic ends

In 1920, the sleeping sickness epidemic ended in southern Uganda, having killed more than 250,000 people.

1933: Treaty with Bunyoro

In 1933, a treaty was signed with Bunyoro.

October 1962: Uganda gains independence

In October 1962, Uganda gained independence from the UK with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

1962: Uganda gains independence

In 1962, Uganda gained independence with Milton Obote as the first prime minister.

1962: End of the Protectorate of Uganda

In 1962, the Protectorate of Uganda ended.

1962: First post-independence election

In 1962, the UPC-KY alliance won the first post-independence election with Milton Obote as prime minister.

October 1963: Uganda becomes a republic

In October 1963, Uganda became a republic, remaining in the Commonwealth.

1964: UPC Delegates Conference in Gulu

In 1964, the UPC delegates arrived in Gulu for their delegates conference.

1964: UPC reaches a high

In 1964, the UPC reached a high when the leader of the DP in parliament, Basil Kiiza Bataringaya, crossed the parliamentary floor with five other MPs.

1964: Government responds to demands from Buganda

In 1964, the government responded to demands from some parts of the Buganda Kingdom that they were not the Kabaka's subjects.

February 1966: Obote assumes special powers

In February 1966, Obote arrested Ibingira and other ministers, assuming special powers.

March 1966: Obote dismisses the Kabaka

In March 1966, Obote announced the offices of President and vice-president would cease to exist – effectively dismissing the Kabaka.

April 1966: New army recruits

In April 1966, Obote passed out eight hundred new army recruits at Moroto, of whom seventy percent came from the Northern Region.

May 1966: Obote orders Idi Amin to attack the Kabaka's palace

In May 1966, Obote ordered Idi Amin to attack the Kabaka's palace, leading to a fierce battle.

1966: UPC tears itself apart

By 1966, the UPC was tearing itself apart.

1966: Ochieng lays bare the illegal plundering

In 1966, Daudi Ochieng laid bare the illegal plundering of ivory and gold from the Congo.

1966: Obote suspends the constitution

In 1966, Obote suspended the constitution and removed the ceremonial president and vice-president.

1966: Discontent begins to challenge incumbent council leaders

In 1966, at local level where the UPC dominated most councils discontent began to challenge incumbent council leaders.

1966: Mengo Crisis

In 1966, the Mengo Crisis marked a conflict with the Buganda kingdom and Uganda's conversion to a presidential system.

1967: Uganda proclaimed a republic

In 1967, Uganda was proclaimed a republic, abolishing the traditional kingdoms, and Obote was declared president.

1967: National elections loomed

In 1967, the next national elections loomed.

1968: Medals at the Summer Olympics

From 1968 to 1980, the Uganda national boxing team won four medals at the Summer Olympics.

1969: Population count

In 1969, Uganda's population was 9.5 million people.

January 1971: Idi Amin seizes control

On 25 January 1971, Idi Amin seized control of Uganda in a military coup.

1971: Idi Amin's coup

In 1971, Idi Amin's military coup led to a brutal regime.

1972: John Akii-Bua wins Olympic gold

At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, John Akii-Bua won the 400m hurdles race with a world record time of 47.82 seconds, earning the first Olympic gold medal for Uganda.

1972: Expulsion of Ugandan-Asians

In 1972, Idi Amin required the expulsion of Ugandan-Asians, reducing the Indian population significantly.

1972: Simba SC Final of African Cup

In 1972, Simba SC reached the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs.

1974: Medals at the World Amateur Boxing Championships

In 1974, the Uganda national boxing team won two medals at the World Amateur Boxing Championships.

1975: East Africa team qualified for the Cricket World Cup

In 1975, Uganda was part of the East Africa team that qualified for the Cricket World Cup.

June 1976: Hijacking at Entebbe airport

In June 1976, Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France flight and forced it to land at Entebbe airport.

1978: African Cup of Nations

In 1978, the Uganda national football team finished second in the African Cup of Nations.

1979: Amin's reign ends

In 1979, Amin's reign was ended after the Uganda–Tanzania War.

1979: Overthrow of Idi Amin

In 1979, Idi Amin was overthrown.

1979: Return of Indians after Amin's ouster

Many Indians returned to Uganda after Amin's ouster in 1979.

1980: Medals at the Summer Olympics

From 1968 to 1980, the Uganda national boxing team won four medals at the Summer Olympics.

1980: Ugandan Bush War broke out

In 1980, the Ugandan Bush War broke out.

January 1986: Museveni became president

In January 1986, Yoweri Museveni became president.

1986: Museveni Begins Rule

In 1986, Yoweri Museveni began his rule as President of Uganda.

1986: NRM takes power

In 1986, Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) took power.

1986: Agriculture accounts for 56 percent of the economy

In 1986, agriculture accounted for 56 percent of Uganda's economy, with coffee being its main export.

1986: Children attending primary school

In 1986, only two million children were attending primary school in Uganda.

1990: Economic growth

Since the 1990s, the economy in Uganda is growing.

1991: SC Villa Final of African Cup

In 1991, SC Villa reached the final of the African Cup of Champions Clubs.

1992: Poverty incidence

In 1992, 56 percent of the population in Uganda was living in poverty.

1993: Pope John Paul II visited Uganda

In 1993, Pope John Paul II visited Uganda to urge Ugandans to seek reconciliation.

1996: Davis Kamoga wins Olympic bronze

In 1996, 400 metres runner Davis Kamoga earned the bronze medal at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

1996: Uganda securities exchanges established

In 1996, the Uganda securities exchanges were established, facilitating government privatization and listing of treasury issues.

1997: Universal primary education introduced

Following significant gains in access to primary education since 1997 when universal primary education (UPE) was introduced.

1997: Davis Kamoga wins silver at World Championships

In 1997, Davis Kamoga earned the silver medal at the World Championships.

1997: Free primary school

In 1997, the government of Uganda declared that primary school would be free for all children.

1998: Second Congo War

In 1998, Uganda invaded and occupied the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the Second Congo War, which resulted in an estimated 5.4 million deaths.

1998: Sector reforms in the period

Sector reforms in Uganda in the period 1998–2003 included the commercialisation and modernisation of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation operating in cities and larger towns, as well as decentralisation and private sector participation in small towns.

1999: Children attending primary school

By 1999, six million children were attending primary school in Uganda, as compared to two million in 1986.

2000: Poverty levels increased

Between 2000 and 2003, despite average annual growth of 2.5 percent, poverty levels in Uganda increased by 3.8 percent.

2000: Contraceptive use among unmarried women

From 2000 to 2011, less than half of all sexually active unmarried women used a modern contraceptive method, a fraction that barely changed.

2001: Elimination of user fees at state health facilities

In 2001, Uganda eliminated user fees at state health facilities, leading to an 80 percent increase in visits, with the poorest 20 percent of the population accounting for over half of this increase.

2001: Energy market unbundled

Since 2001, Uganda's generation, transmission and supply segments were unbundled.

2001: PEAP

The PEAP estimated that from 2001 to 2015, about US$1.4 billion, or US$92 million per year, was needed to increase water supply coverage up to 95 percent.

September 2002: Inter-censal period population increase

With respect to the inter-censal period from September 2002, Uganda's population increased by 10.6 million people in the past 12 years.

2002: Literacy rate

At the 2002 census, Uganda had a literacy rate of 66.8 percent.

2002: Traditional Religions Census

In 2002, 1% of the population followed traditional religions.

2002: Religious affiliation percentages

In 2002, the Roman Catholic Church had the largest number of adherents at 41.6% and Islam represented 12.1% of the population.

2003: Poverty levels increased

Between 2000 and 2003, despite average annual growth of 2.5 percent, poverty levels in Uganda increased by 3.8 percent.

2003: Sector reforms in the period

2004: Water and sanitation sector recognised

In 2004, the water and sanitation sector was recognised as a key area under the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP).

May 2005: British Government Withholds Aid

In May 2005, the British government decided to withhold part of its aid to Uganda due to attacks on political freedom.

July 2005: Multi-party politics reinstated

In July 2005, a constitutional referendum cancelled the nineteen-year ban on multi-party politics.

2005: Female headed households

In 2005, 26% of households in Uganda were headed by women only (FHH).

2005: Dorcus Inzikuru wins World Championship

In 2005, Dorcus Inzikuru won the 3000 m steeplechase at the World Championships.

2005: Release of Feelings Struggle

In 2005, Feelings Struggle, directed and written by Hajji Ashraf Ssemwogerere, was released as the first publicly recognised film produced solely by Ugandans.

2005: Swahili approved as second national language

In 2005, Swahili was approved as Uganda's second official national language.

2005: Abolishment of Presidential Term Limits

In 2005, the Ugandan Parliament abolished presidential term limits. It was alleged that Museveni used public funds to pay US$2,000 to each member of parliament who supported the measure.

2005: Public spending on education

Public spending on education in Uganda was at 5.2 percent of the 2002–2005 GDP.

February 2006: Arrest of Opposition Leader and Siege of High Court

Before the February 2006 elections, the arrest of opposition leader Kizza Besigye and the siege of the High Court by security forces during a hearing of Besigye's case led to condemnation.

February 2006: Presidential Elections Held

In February 2006, presidential elections were held in Uganda. Museveni ran against several candidates, including Kizza Besigye.

2006: Expenditure framework introduced

According to a 2006 published report, a comprehensive expenditure framework had been introduced to co-ordinate financial support by external donors, the national government, and nongovernmental organisations.

2006: Ugandan water supply and sanitation report

According to a 2006 published report, the Ugandan water supply and sanitation sector had made substantial progress in urban areas since the mid-1990s.

2006: Dorcus Inzikuru wins Commonwealth Games

In 2006, Dorcus Inzikuru won the 3000 m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games.

2006: Non-Governmental Organizations (Amendment) Act Passed

In 2006, the Non-Governmental Organizations (Amendment) Act was passed in Uganda, stifling the productivity of NGOs by erecting barriers to entry, activity, funding and assembly within the sector.

2006: Pregnancy-related deaths estimate

The 2006 Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) indicated that roughly 6,000 women die each year from pregnancy-related complications.

2007: Pension sector reform

In 2007, pension sector reform in Uganda was the center of attention as a way of increasing formal domestic savings.

2007: Newspaper Publishes List of Allegedly Gay Men

In 2007, the Red Pepper, a newspaper, published a list of allegedly gay men, leading to harassment of those listed.

2007: Violations of Refugee Rights

In 2007, the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants reported several violations of refugee rights in Uganda, including forcible deportations and violence against refugees.

2007: Service sector surpasses agriculture

In 2007, the services sector in Uganda accounted for 52 percent of GDP, surpassing agriculture.

2007: Universal secondary education introduced

Uganda became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to introduce universal secondary education (USE) in 2007.

2008: Research funding as percentage of GDP

Between 2008 and 2010, research funding in Uganda climbed from 0.33% to 0.48% of GDP.

2008: HIV infection rates fall

By the end of 2008, HIV infection rates in Uganda had fallen to 6.4 percent of the population from 30 percent in the 1980s.

February 2009: UN Official Accuses LRA of Brutality

In February 2009, a UN official accused the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) of "appalling brutality" in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

September 2009: Riots After Museveni Refuses King's Visit

In September 2009, Museveni refused Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi permission to visit areas of Buganda Kingdom, leading to riots and over 40 deaths.

October 2009: Anti-Homosexuality Bill Submitted

In October 2009, MP David Bahati submitted the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, which sought to broaden the criminalisation of homosexuality and introduce the death penalty in certain cases.

2009: Poverty incidence

In 2009, 24.5 percent of the population in Uganda was living in poverty.

2009: National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy

The National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy dates from 2009.

October 2010: Rolling Stone Publishes Names and Photos of Homosexuals

On 9 October 2010, the Ugandan newspaper Rolling Stone published a front-page article listing the names, addresses, and photographs of 100 homosexuals with a banner reading "Hang Them."

2010: Increase in researchers

Between 2008 and 2010, the number of researchers in Uganda doubled.

2010: Population access to improved water source

In 2010, 38 percent of the population in Uganda still had no access to an improved water source.

2010: East African Common Market Protocol

In 2010, Uganda entered into the East African Common Market Protocol, aiming to guarantee free trade and movement of people within the East African Community.

2010: Unsafe abortion maternal deaths estimate

In 2010, the Ugandan Ministry of Health estimated that unsafe abortion accounted for 8% of the country's maternal deaths.

January 2011: Murder of David Kato

In January 2011, gay rights activist David Kato was murdered in Uganda following the publication of names and pictures of alleged homosexuals.

February 2011: Museveni Declared Winner of Disputed Election

In February 2011, the Uganda Electoral Commission declared incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the winner of the 2011 elections held on February 18, 2011. The opposition condemned the results due to alleged sham and rigging.

April 2011: "Walk to Work" Demonstrations

In April 2011, nine people were killed during the "Walk to Work" demonstrations in Uganda.

July 2011: Kampala, Uganda qualifies for Little League World Series

In July 2011, Kampala, Uganda qualified for the Little League World Series for the first time, although visa complications prevented them from attending.

2011: Museveni elected president

In 2011, Museveni was elected president.

2011: Access to improved sanitation

In 2011, access to improved sanitation was 70 percent in rural areas and 81 percent in urban areas in Uganda according to government figures.

2011: Contraceptive use among married women

In 2011, only approximately 26% of married women in Uganda used contraceptives. According to the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), more than 40% of births are unplanned.

July 2012: Ebola Outbreak in Kibaale District

In July 2012, an Ebola outbreak occurred in the Kibaale District of Uganda.

August 2012: Anonymous Threatens Ugandan Officials

Starting in August 2012, hacktivist group Anonymous threatened Ugandan officials and hacked official government websites over the country's anti-gay bills. Some international donors threatened to cut financial aid.

September 2012: Torture Allegations

According to a 2012 US State Department report, between January and September 2012, there were numerous allegations of torture against police, the UPDF, and other security personnel in Uganda.

October 2012: End of Ebola Outbreak Declared

On 4 October 2012, the Ministry of Health officially declared the end of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda, after at least 16 deaths.

2012: US State Department Human Rights Report on Corruption

According to the United States Department of State's 2012 Human Rights Report on Uganda, corruption was a severe problem and that the country annually loses 768.9 billion shillings ($286 million) to corruption.

2012: Increase in lower secondary enrolment

Between 2007 and 2012, there was an increase in lower secondary enrolment of nearly 25% in Uganda.

2012: Poverty rate

In 2012, 37.8 percent of the population in Uganda lived on less than $1.25 a day.

2012: Little League teams attend World Series

In 2012, Little League teams from Uganda qualified for and attended the Little League World Series.

2012: Stephen Kiprotich wins Olympic marathon

In 2012, Stephen Kiprotich won the marathon at the Summer Olympics in London.

2012: Embezzlement of Donor Funds

In 2012, Uganda faced a scandal involving the embezzlement of $12.6 million of donor funds from the Office of the Prime Minister, leading to the suspension of aid by several countries.

2012: Pilot studies for health service voucher scheme

In 2012, pilot studies by Future Health Systems showed that a voucher scheme for health services and transport to clinics could significantly reduce pregnancy-related deaths.

2012: Passage of the Petroleum Bill

In 2012, the Ugandan parliament passed the Petroleum Bill, which was intended to bring transparency to the oil sector but was criticized by political commentators and economists. Global Witness reported that Uganda's oil reserves could potentially double the government's revenue within six to ten years.

2012: Uganda listed on Heavily Indebted Poor Countries list

In 2012, the World Bank listed Uganda on the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries list.

2012: Infant mortality rate

In 2012, the infant mortality rate in Uganda was approximately 61 deaths per 1,000 children.

2012: Tourism Contribution to GDP

In the financial year 2012–13, tourism contributed 4.9 trillion Ugandan shillings to Uganda's GDP.

April 2013: Launch of Uganda Vision 2040

In April 2013, Uganda Vision 2040 was launched to transform Ugandan society from a peasant to a modern and prosperous country within 30 years.

August 2013: Tourism contribution to GDP

As of August 2013, tourism contributed 4.9 trillion Ugandan shillings (US$1.88 billion or €1.4 billion) to Uganda's GDP in the financial year 2012–13.

August 2013: Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak

In August 2013, the Health Ministry announced that three people had died in northern Uganda from a suspected outbreak of Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever.

December 2013: Anti-Homosexuality Bill Passed

On 20 December 2013, the Ugandan parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

2013: UNICEF report on FGM prevalence

According to a 2013 UNICEF report, the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Uganda is low, with only 1 percent of women having undergone FGM, and the practice is illegal in the country.

2013: Lack of Investigation into Killings

According to the Humans Rights Watch 2013 World Report on Uganda, the government has failed to investigate the killings associated with both the September 2009 riots and the April 2011 "Walk to Work" demonstrations.

2013: Stephen Kiprotich wins World Championships marathon

In 2013, Stephen Kiprotich won the marathon at the World Championships.

February 2014: Museveni Signs Anti-Homosexuality Bill

On 24 February 2014, President Museveni signed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law, sparking international condemnation.

June 2014: Protests Against Parliamentary Corruption

In June 2014, protests occurred in Uganda due to parliamentarians earning 60 times more than most state employees. Two piglets were smuggled into parliament to highlight corruption, and the protesters were arrested.

August 2014: Constitutional Court Rules Anti-Homosexuality Bill Invalid

On 1 August 2014, the Constitutional Court of Uganda ruled the Anti-Homosexuality Bill invalid due to a lack of quorum during its passage. On 13 August 2014, the attorney general dropped plans to appeal.

2014: Census results for traditional religions

According to the 2014 census, 0.1 percent of the population followed traditional religions.

2014: Population count

In 2014, Uganda's population was 34.9 million people.

2014: Regulations for Ugandan television content

In 2014, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) began preparing regulations that require Ugandan television to broadcast 70 percent Ugandan content.

2014: GDP growth recorded

In fiscal year 2014-15, Uganda recorded gross domestic product growth of 5.0 percent in real terms.

2015: Stephen Kiprotich Second at Tokyo Marathon

In 2015, Stephen Kiprotich finished second at the Tokyo Marathon.

2015: World Bank Governance Ranking

In 2015, The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators ranked Uganda in the worst 12 percentile of all countries.

2015: Uganda's export income

In 2015, Uganda generated export income from merchandise like coffee, oil re-exports, base metals, fish, maize, cement, tobacco, tea, sugar, hides and skins, cocoa beans, beans, simsim, and flowers.

2015: National basketball team debut

In 2015, the Uganda national basketball team made its debut at the FIBA Africa Championship.

2015: GDP growth recorded

In fiscal year 2015–16, Uganda recorded gross domestic product growth of 4.6 percent in real terms and 11.6 percent in nominal terms.

2015: Economic growth

Since the 1990s, the economy in Uganda is growing. Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an average of 6.7% annually during the period 1990–2015, whereas real GDP per capita grew at 3.3% per annum during the same period.

2015: PEAP

The PEAP estimated that from 2001 to 2015, about US$1.4 billion, or US$92 million per year, was needed to increase water supply coverage up to 95 percent.

September 2016: Uganda and Tanzania sign oil pipeline deal

In September 2016, Uganda and Tanzania signed a deal to build a 1,445 km crude oil pipeline.

November 2016: Inflation rate

In November 2016, the Ugandan Bureau of Statistics announced the inflation rate was 4.6 percent.

2016: Museveni elected president

In 2016, Museveni was elected president.

2016: Corruption Ranking

In 2016, Transparency International ranked Uganda 151st out of 176 countries, with a score of 25, indicating a high level of perceived corruption in the public sector.

2016: Uganda receives over US$1 billion in remittances

In 2016, Uganda received an estimated US$1.099 billion in remittances from abroad, according to the World Bank.

2017: Airport traffic at Entebbe International Airport

In 2017, Entebbe International Airport's traffic was 1.53 million passengers.

2017: Inflation rate

In the financial year 2016/17, Uganda recorded an inflation rate of 5.7 percent.

June 2018: Inflation rate drops

On 29 June 2018, Uganda's statistics agency reported that the country registered a drop in inflation to 3.4 percent in the financial year ending 2017/18.

2018: Number of telecom subscribers

As of 2018, Uganda had over 24 million telecom subscribers.

2018: Evangelical/Pentecostal/Born-Again growth

Between 2002 and 2018, the Evangelical/Pentecostal/Born-Again category showed the most growth, rising from 4.7% to 11.1%.

2018: Asuman Basalirwa becomes a member of parliament

In 2018, Asuman Basalirwa became a member of parliament representing Bugiri Municipality on Justice Forum party ticket.

2019: Slow Progress on LGBTQ+ Rights

As of 2019, progress on LGBTQ+ rights on the African continent was slow, with South Africa being the only country where same-sex marriages are recognized.

2019: Halimah Nakaayi wins World Championships

In 2019, Halimah Nakaayi won the 800 meters race at the World Championships.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

In 2019, Uganda had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.36/10, ranking it 128th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Global Innovation Index Ranking

In 2019, Uganda was ranked 102nd in the Global Innovation Index.

2019: Life expectancy estimate

In 2019, life expectancy at birth in Uganda was estimated to be 63.4 years.

2020: Uganda at the Olympics

As of 2020, Uganda at the Olympics has won a total of two gold, three silver, and two bronze medals.

2020: Accredited universities

As of 2020, the NCHE website listed 46 private accredited universities, including Makerere University, Mbarara University of science and technology, Kyambogo University, Gulu University, Uganda Christian University, Kampala international University.

January 2021: Museveni Re-elected Amidst Controversy

In January 2021, President Yoweri Museveni was re-elected in presidential elections. The opposition challenged the results due to allegations of widespread fraud and irregularities.

August 2021: Refugee population count

As of August 2021, Uganda hosts over 1.4 million refugees, mostly from South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Uganda also received some refugees from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August 2021.

2021: Museveni elected president

In 2021, Museveni was elected president.

2022: Uganda divided into four regions and 136 districts

As of 2022, Uganda is divided into four regions and 136 districts, with further subdivisions into sub-counties, parishes, and villages in rural areas.

March 2023: Parliament passes anti-homosexuality bill

In March 2023, the Ugandan parliament rapidly passed the anti-homosexuality bill with overwhelming support.

March 2023: International condemnation of anti-homosexuality bill

On 22 March 2023, the United States and other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and the European Union, strongly condemned Uganda's anti-homosexuality bill.

March 2023: Tabling of anti-gay law

On 9 March 2023, Asuman Basalirwa introduced a bill to criminalize gay sex and its promotion, sparking debate about human rights versus cultural values in Uganda.