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220
Early Inhabitants
Nilotic people (ethnic African groups who speak many different tribal dialects) entered Uganda from the north, probably beginning about 220 CE. They were cattle herders and subsistence farmers, who mostly settled the northern and eastern parts of the country. -
500
Early Agriculture
Around 500 CE, south-eastern Asian crops such as yams and bananas were introduced to Uganda. Also, the Sanga, a breed of long-horned, big-humped cattle, originated in east Africa and were brought to Uganda by pastoralists, people who live off the land and tend to crops. -
Jan 1, 1150
Kitara Empire
The Empire of Kitara, also known as the Bachwezi Empire, formed around 1150 CE. The history of the Kitara Empire is a strong part of oral tradition in Uganda and some of its surrounding countries. The rulers of Kitara have been strongly associated with the gods of Ugandan myths. Since so little is known about this empire, people consider the ancient rulers of Kitara to be superhumans, or demi-gods. This thatched building houses the tombs of the three known rulers of Kitara. -
Jan 1, 1300
Cwezi States
By 1300 CE, the Uganda territory had been organized into several kingdoms known as the Cwezi States. The three main kingdoms were called Buganda, Bunyoro, and Ankole. Bunyoro was the dominant kingdom until the 1800s, when Buganda began to develop and soon became the largest and most powerful kingdom of the three. -
European Explorations
In 1862 a British explorer named J.H. Speke comes to Uganda in search of the source of the Nile River. He met with the kabaka (ruler) of Uganda, Mutesa I, and his quest was ultimately sucessful. He named the source Lake Victoria, which is the largest freshwater lake in Africa. -
Missionaries
The kabaka, Mutesa I, allows the first Christian missionaries into Buganda, wrongly believing they will help defend Uganda against Egyptian attackers. When Mutesa died in 1884, his sucessor, Mwanga II, believes Christiansa are a threat and persecutes them. -
Independence
Uganda gains its freedom from the United Kingdom and declares itself a republic. A constitution is written that gives the president almost all the power and abolishes the traditional kingdoms. -
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada, the infamous dictator, leads a military coup and overthrows current president Milton Obote. He would go on to be responsible for the deaths of roughly 100,000 to 500,000 people in Uganda. He was known for his erratic and random behavior. On April 11, 1979, Amin fled Uganda after practically destroying the country.
