It was an amalgamation of a number of different kingdoms, the largest being Buganda from which the newly emerged nation took its name however, as with so many countries in the post-independence period, the agreed constitution lasted barely five years before the executive Prime Minister, Milton Obote changed it unilaterally removing the ceremonial president and vice-president and proclaiming Uganda a republic with himself as executive President.

Obote himself was overthrown in 1971 and replaced by Idi Amin, who not only murdered hundreds of thousands of Ugandans to secure his dictatorship but forcibly removed all Indians who were the backbone of the Ugandan economy leaving the country's finances in ruins. When Tanzanian forces aided by Ugandan exiles finally invaded Uganda in 1979 to attempt his overthrow, Amin was forced into exile to be replaced yet again by Obote whose second "reign" lasted six years before he was again ousted in 1985 by General Tito Okello who himself only lasted six months before being deposed with Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the current president who took up office on 29th January 1986 and has remained in power since that time winning all subsequent elections.