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First European Visitor
British explorer John Hanning Speke becomes the first European to visit Buganda. -
Christian Missionaries
Bugandan King Mutesa I allows Christian missionaries to enter his realm. -
British Missionary Society
Members of the British Missionary Society arrive in Buganda. -
Catholic Influence
Members of the French Roman Catholic White Fathers arrive. -
Religion War
Beginning of a four year period with a three-way struggle (Protestant, Catholic, and Muslim) within Uganda. -
Treaty
Britain and Germany sign treaty giving Britain rights to what was to become Uganda. -
Protestants Win
The Protestants triumph as the main religion in Uganda and Buganda. -
British Protectorate
Uganda was declared a British protectorate largely to protect the source of the Nile. -
Autonomy
Britain signs agreement with Buganda giving it autonomy and turning it into a constitutional monarchy controlled mainly by Protestant chiefs. -
Eastern Uganda Province
The Eastern province of Uganda transferred to the Kenya. -
Cotton Cultivation
Commercial cultivation of cotton begins. -
Uganda Legislature
Uganda given a legislative council, but its first African member not admitted till 1945. -
Hydroelectric Power
Introduction of hydroelectric power with construction of Ownes Falls Dam at present day Jinji, where Lake Victoria is the source of the Nile. -
Self-Government
Uganda is given internal self-government. -
Milton Obote
Uganda becomes independent with Milton Obote as prime minister and with Buganda enjoying considerable autonomy. -
Independence
Uganda gains independence after nearly 70 years of British rule. -
United Nations
Uganda is admitted as a member State to the United Nations -
Mutesa I
Uganda becomes a republic with Mutesa as president. -
New Constitution
A new constitution came into effect which made Uganda a republic. -
Overthrow of Obote
A former private in the Ugandan army, Idi Amin, seizes power in a military coup and overthrows Milton Obote. Eventually he declares himself President for life. Slowly but surely, Uganda slips into an abyss as Amin expels the Asian population, many of whom had been born in Uganda, and kills anyone and everyone who opposes him or who is even perceived as a threat. Estimates of over 300,000 people, mostly Christians, were killed. -
Expel the Asians
President Idi Amin begins a three month long process to expel from Uganda 50,000 Asians with British passports. Many left almost everything they owned behind to be pilfered by Amin's henchmen and handpicked supporters. People without one days experience in running a business were made business owners by Amin. Their lack of experience and understanding in business only lead to further decline of the economy of Uganda. -
Air France flight 139
Palestinian extremists hijacked Air France flight 139 in Greece with 246 passengers and 12 crew. The flight eventually landed at Entebbe Airport, as Idi Amin's government alone offered them safe passage. -
Britain Breaks Away
After four years of tension with the government of Idi Amin, Britain broke off diplomatic relations with Uganda. It had been 30 years since the British government had taken such a drastic step against another country. -
Tanzania Invasion
Tanzania invades Uganda, unifying the various anti-Amin forces under the Uganda National Liberation Front and forcing Amin to flee the country; Yusufu Lule installed as president, but is quickly replaced by Godfrey Binaisa. -
Godfrey Binaisa
Godfrey Binaisa overthrown by the army and Milton Obote becomes president after elections. -
Tito Okello
Obote deposed in military coup and is replaced by Tito Okello. -
National Resistance Army
After years of civil war in which hundreds of thousands are either killed or are displaced; Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army takes power. Under his leadership, Uganda has steadily achieved economic growth, the rebuilding of the shattered infrastructure, a free press and judiciary, and peace in most part of the country. -
Lord's Resistance Army
Joseph Kony, began to lead an armed struggle in the north against the Museveni government which had alienated many in that area. Kony's group is known as the "LRA" (Lord's Resistance Army) but his brutality eventually led to the loss of local support. There is much written about this today and the very well known The Invisible Children is about this issue. -
Museveni Restores Kings
Museveni restores the traditional kings, including the king of Buganda, but without giving them political power. -
New Constitution
New constitution adopted but maintains ban on political activity. -
1st Presidential Election
Uganda held its first presidential election in sixteen years and President Yoweri Museveni won in excess of 78% of the vote, a testimony to his 10 year effort to restore peace and democracy since the 1986 end of the civil war. -
UPDF
Ugandan Peoples Defense Force (UPDF = army) helps depose Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, who is replaced by Laurent Kabila. -
Overthrowing Kabila
Ugandan troops intervene in the Democratic republic of Congo on the side of rebels seeking to overthrow Kabila. -
Gorilla Trackers
Rwandan Hutu rebels killed eight foreign tourists (gorilla trackers at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest) they had kidnaped the day before. The U.S. Government arrested three rebels for this crime in March of 2003. -
Rwanda: a hostile nation. Museveni wins again.
March - Uganda classifies Rwanda, its former ally in the civil war in DR Congo, as a hostile nation because of fighting in 2000 between the two countries' armies in DR Congo. Museveni wins another term in office, beating his rival Kizza Besigye by 69% to 28%. -
Sudan signs agreement
Sudan, Uganda sign agreement aimed at containing Ugandan rebel group, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), active along common border. LRA wants to run Uganda along lines of biblical Ten Commandments. Led by "prophet" Joseph Kony they have kidnapped thousands of children and displaced many civilians. -
Children are rescued
Army evacuates more than 400,000 civilians caught up in fight against LRA which continues its brutal attacks on villages. -
UNRF
Peace deal signed with Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) rebels after more than five years of negotiations. -
Uganda pulls troops
Uganda pulls out last of its troops from eastern DR Congo. Tens of thousands of DR Congo civilians seek asylum in Uganda. Former dictator Idi Amin dies in hospital in Saudi Arabia. -
More LRA killings
LRA rebels slaughter more than 200 people at a camp for displaced people in the north. -
Govern. vs. LRA
Government and LRA rebels hold their first face-to-face talks, but there is no breakthrough in ending the insurgency. -
Multi-Party Politics
Parliament approves a constitutional amendment which scraps presidential term limits. Voters in a referendum overwhelmingly back a return to multi-party politics. -
Kony is Captured
International Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for five LRA commanders, including LRA leader Joseph Kony. -
Museveni wins again
President Museveni wins multi-party elections, taking 59% of the vote against the 37% share of his rival, Kizza Besigye. -
LRA sign truce
The government and the LRA sign a truce aimed at ending their long-running conflict. A ceasefire comes into force on 29 August. Subsequent peace talks are marred by regular walk-outs. -
Rain Forest Dispute
Protests over a prized rain forest explode into racial violence in Kampala, forcing police to protect Asian businesses and a Hindu temple. An Asian man and two other people are killed. -
Congo fights LRA
The leader of the rebel Lord's Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, again fails to turn up for the signing of a peace agreement. Ugandan, South Sudanese and DR Congo armies launch offensive against LRA bases. -
OIL
The UK oil explorer Heritage Oil says it has made a major oil find in Uganda. -
Homosexuality Bill
Rights activists condemn proposed anti-homosexuality Bill, which would prescribe execution for some gay people. The bill is condemned by the European Union and the United States. -
Bombings
Two bomb attacks on people watching the World Cup final at a restaurant and a rugby club in Kampala kill at least 74 people. The Somali Islamist group Al-Shabab says it was behind the blasts.
