history of Uganda

Introduction & Top Questions
Brief overview of the early history of Uganda
The kingdoms of Bunyoro and Buganda
The Uganda Protectorate
- Growth of a peasant economy
- Political and administrative development of Uganda
- World War II and its aftermath
The Republic of Uganda
- Obote’s first presidency and the 1971 coup
- Tyranny under Amin
- Obote’s second presidency
- Museveni in office
  - Domestic affairs
  - Foreign affairs

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images

Political map of Uganda and surrounding countries in East Africa, showing Uganda's borders, major cities including Kampala, Entebbe, Gulu, and Jinja, and the location of Lake Victoria along the southern border. Neighboring countries-South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-are also labeled. An inset locator map highlights Uganda's position within the African continent.

Thematic map of East Africa displaying major cultural and linguistic regions, with areas shaded for Bantu, Cushitic, and Nilotic language groups. Red lines mark cultural region boundaries and rift areas, with numbered labels identifying specific ethnic groups and languages across countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, and parts of neighboring nations.

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1850 showing major states such as Kefa, Buganda, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, along with minor states, stateless peoples, and the Maasai. Red lines trace major trade routes connecting inland regions to the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean, while green arrows indicate directions of expansion by groups like the Oromo and Maasai. Major lakes, rivers, and mountain landmarks are labeled throughout the region.

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1914, showing the region divided among British, German, French, and Italian colonial powers. Different territories are color-coded by colonial ruler, with key locations such as British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), German East Africa (including present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland labeled. Major lakes, rivers, and cities are also marked.

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Antique map from 1902 showing central Africa with colonial territories labeled as Kamerun, French Kongo, Kongo Free State, Portuguese West Africa, British East Africa, German East Africa, East Africa, and Rhodesia. The map details rivers, cities, and borders of the era, with an inset map of Madagascar in the lower right corner.

Map of Africa showing the territorial divisions and colonial possessions by European powers from the late 19th to early 20th century. Countries and regions are color-coded to indicate British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and German control, with independent countries and British-Egyptian condominium also marked. The map highlights the extent and timing of colonization, with most of the continent under European rule except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

history of Uganda: Media

Images

Uganda

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Political map of Uganda and surrounding countries in East Africa, showing Uganda's borders, major cities including Kampala, Entebbe, Gulu, and Jinja, and the location of Lake Victoria along the southern border. Neighboring countries-South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo-are also labeled. An inset locator map highlights Uganda's position within the African continent.

Uganda

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Thematic map of East Africa displaying major cultural and linguistic regions, with areas shaded for Bantu, Cushitic, and Nilotic language groups. Red lines mark cultural region boundaries and rift areas, with numbered labels identifying specific ethnic groups and languages across countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi, and parts of neighboring nations.

Cultural and linguistic regions of East Africa

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1850 showing major states such as Kefa, Buganda, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, along with minor states, stateless peoples, and the Maasai. Red lines trace major trade routes connecting inland regions to the Red Sea, Arabian Peninsula, and Indian Ocean, while green arrows indicate directions of expansion by groups like the Oromo and Maasai. Major lakes, rivers, and mountain landmarks are labeled throughout the region.

Major states, peoples, and trade routes of eastern Africa, c. 1850

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Historical map of eastern Africa around 1914, showing the region divided among British, German, French, and Italian colonial powers. Different territories are color-coded by colonial ruler, with key locations such as British East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), German East Africa (including present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), Italian Somaliland, and French Somaliland labeled. Major lakes, rivers, and cities are also marked.

Imperial partitions of eastern Africa, 1881–1925

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Antique map from 1902 showing central Africa with colonial territories labeled as Kamerun, French Kongo, Kongo Free State, Portuguese West Africa, British East Africa, German East Africa, East Africa, and Rhodesia. The map details rivers, cities, and borders of the era, with an inset map of Madagascar in the lower right corner.

Uganda, c. 1902

Historical map of Central Africa showing Uganda, from the 10th edition of the Encyclopædia...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of Africa showing the territorial divisions and colonial possessions by European powers from the late 19th to early 20th century. Countries and regions are color-coded to indicate British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Belgian, and German control, with independent countries and British-Egyptian condominium also marked. The map highlights the extent and timing of colonization, with most of the continent under European rule except for Ethiopia and Liberia.

Colonization of Africa by European countries

Map showing the colonization of Africa by European countries in the 19th and early...

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Nalubaale dam

Nalubaale dam

A view of Nalubaale (formerly Owen Falls) dam at Owen Falls, near Jinja, Uganda.

Shostal Associates

Milton Obote

Milton Obote

Ugandan leader Milton Obote, pictured here in 1969, helped his country achieve independence...

AP Images

Ugandan Pres. Idi Amin, shown here at the United Nations, New York, October 2025.

Ugandan Pres. Idi Amin, shown here at the United Nations, New York, October 2025.

Bernard Gotfryd Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (reproduction no. LC-DIG-gtfy-05843)

Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, speaks at a podium with the United Nations emblem during a meeting at the UN General Assembly.

Yoweri Museveni

Ugandan Pres. Yoweri Museveni, 2005.

Paulo Filgueiras/UN Photo

Major General Muhoozi Kainerugaba in Ugandan military uniform with gold cords and a peaked cap, looking to the side during a promotion ceremony.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Ugandan military general Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Pres. Yoweri...

Peter Busomoke—AFP/Getty Images

Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, wears a red beret and raises his fist while seated outdoors after a press conference at his home in Magere, Uganda.

Bobi Wine

Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, after a press conference outside his...

Sumy Sadurni—AFP/Getty Images

Interactives

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Learn about the colonization of Africa, the process of decolonization that led to...

© Encyclopaedia Britannica