Timeline of Key Dates
1500s
1700s
1800s
1862
A Growing Kingdom
Founding of Nilotic-speaking Bito dyanisties of Buganda, Bunyoro, and Ankole by immigrants from now southeastern Sudan
Buganda begins to dominate over Bunyoro and Ankole
Buganda gains control over western shores of Lake Victoria from the Victoria Nile to the Kagera river
British explorer, John Hanning Speke, becomes the first European to visit Buganda
Kabaka Muteesa I of Buganda (1854-1884) (i3).
1875s
Bugandan King Muteesa I allows Christian missionaries to enter his realm
Beginnings of Colonialism
After a three way struggle (Protestant, Catholic, Muslim) over four years, Britain and Germany sign a treaty giving rights to what would become Uganda to Britain
Uganda becomes a British protectorate. Winston Churchill visits the area, calling it "The Pearl of Africa"
Britain signs agreement with Buganda, giving it autonomy and turning it into a constitutional monarchy
1890
1894
1900
Shoreline of Lake Victoria, Uganda (i12)
1958
1962
1963
1966
Uganda becomes independent with Milton Obote as prime minister. Buganda remains autonomous
Uganda becomes a republic with Buganda's King Mutesa as president
Milton Obote ends Buganda's autonomy and promotes himself to the presidency, instates a constitution that vests considerable power in president in 1967
Independence
1971
Led by army chief Idi Amin, Milton Obote is toppled in a coup
The Reign of Idi Amin
Amin orders non-citizen Asians to leave the country (around 60,000 people). Uganda engages in border clashes with Tanzania
1972-73
Amin declares himself president for life
Uganda invades Tanzania
Tanzania invades Uganda, unifying various anti-Amin forces under the Uganda National Liberation Front, forcing Amin to flee
1976
1978
1979
Idi Amin (b.1924-2003) (i7)
After the overthrow of two others subsequent to Amin, Milton Obote is elected president
National Resistance Army rebels take Kampala and install Yoweri Museveni as president
1980
1986
1993
Museveni restores the traditional kings, including the king of Buganda, but without political power
Political Instability and Unrest
Yoweri Museveni (b.1944) (i22)
2001
2002
2004
Museveni wins another term in office
Sudan, Uganda sign agreement to contain LRA active along common border
Government and LRA hold first face-to-face talks with no breakthrough for peace
2005
Parliament approves a constitutional amendment that ends terms limits for presidency
2006
2008
August: The government and the LRA sign a truce. Subsequent peace talks are hindered by regular walk outs
November: Government rejects UN report accusing army of using indiscriminate and excessive force in north
Government and LRA sign what is meant to be a permanent ceasefire; Joseph Kony fails to turn up for signing of peace agreement
Another Decade of Museveni
Ugandan army begins to recede from DRC where it had pursued the LRA. Parliament votes to ban female circumcision
Somali Islamist group, Al-Shabab, claims responsibility for two bomb attacks
Museveni wins his fourth presidential election. Suspected rigging
2009
2010
2011
Leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, Joseph Kony (b.1961) (i9)
Government temporarily shuts down two newspapers after publishing a letter suspecting Museveni of grooming son for power
2013
Museveni signs tough anti-gay bill into law, receiving criticism from around globe. US imposes sanctions, World Bank postpones loan
Museveni wins re-election
2014
2016
Although initially blocked, Museveni eventually signed an anti-gay bill, an action that provoked many around the world (i10).
Museveni appoints son,General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as a presidential advisor
2017
April: Uganda withdraws forces from Central African Republic where is has been fighting the LRA for the past five years
December: Parliament votes to remove the age-limit for presidential candidates
2018