Commonwealth realm of Uganda

Uganda, 1962–1963. Draft, not yet reviewed

Uganda became an independent sovereign state on 9 October 1962. As a Commonwealth realm, the British monarch, Elizabeth II, remained head of state as Queen of Uganda until the link with the British monarchy was severed on 9 October 1963 and the Kabaka (King) of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa II, became the first President of Uganda. In 1963, Uganda adopted a new constitution which abolished the links with the British monarchy. Milton Obote held office as prime minister and head of government.

Seat of power: Kampala

Rulers

Elizabeth II

monarch of the commonwealth realm of Uganda, 1962–1963

Elizabeth II remained head of state as Queen of Uganda until the link with the British monarchy was severed on 9 October 1963. Her constitutional roles as head of state were mostly delegated to the Governor-General of Uganda Sir Walter Coutts, who was the only holder of the office.

Portrait of Elizabeth II: Donald McKague, Public domain, file

Culture

Following the proclamation of the State of Uganda on 9 October 1963, the Kabaka (King) of Buganda, Edward Mutesa II, became the first President of Uganda.
Uganda remained in the Commonwealth of Nations, but became a federal elective monarchy under the name State of Uganda in which the office of the President of Uganda was elected by parliament from among the 5 subnational monarchs.
The first post-independence election, held in 1962, was won by an alliance between the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and Kabaka Yekka (KY).

Picture

Apollo Milton Obote served as the Prime Minister of Uganda from 1962 to 1966 and as president of Uganda from 1966 to 1971 and later from 1980 to 1985.

Image: Warren K. Leffler, Public domain, file

Sources

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.