1. The Executive
The Government
Uganda is a Sovereign State and a Republic. It is a sitting member of the United Nations, African
Union, The East African Community and the Commonwealth.
The Government of the Republic of Uganda is a Democracy made up of three arms: The Executive –
comprising of The President, The Vice President, The Prime Minister, The Cabinet; The Legislature –
The Parliament; and The Judiciary - Magistrates' Courts, High Court, Court of Appeals (Constitutional
Court), Supreme Court. The Constitution of Uganda was promulgated October 8, 1995 on the eve of
Uganda’s Independence Day anniversary held annually on October 9 since 1962.
The Executive
The power of the Executive Branch is vested in the President of Uganda, who also acts as head of state
and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and
enforcing the laws written by Parliament and, also appoints the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part

2. of the Executive Branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.
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The President
President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is the current president of Uganda.
The President is both the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Uganda, and
Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni became President of the Republic of Uganda on January 29, 1986 after
leading a successful five-year liberation struggle. He went to the bush with 26 other young men and
organized the National Resistance Movement and National Resistance Army (NRM/NRA) to oppose
the tyranny that previous regimes had unleashed upon the population.
After victory, he formed a broad-based government that helped to unite the country's political groups.
Previous to the struggle of 1981-1986, Museveni had been one of the leaders in the anti-Amin
resistance of 1971-1979 that had led to the fall of that monstrous regime.
Museveni, who has been politically active since his student days at Ntare School, Mbarara, in south
west Uganda, studied political science at the University of Dar es Salaam, graduating in 1970 with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science.
After Idi Amin's coup in 1971, Museveni was instrumental in forming Fronasa (the Front for National
Salvation). Fronasa made up the core of one of the Ugandan fighting groups which, together with the
Tanzanian People's Defence Forces, ousted Amin's regime in April 1979.
The office of President is contested for after every five years when the constitutional term of office
expires. In March 2006, Uganda had the first presidential and parliamentary elections in 25 years. The
NRM party won the election under the Chairmanship of Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
He was first elected president in 1996 and re-elected in 2001 and 2006. He was elected for a fourth
consecutive term in office in February 2011 and sworn in on 12 May 2011.
He came to power after a successful five year guerrilla struggle. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has now
been President of Uganda for 26 years. He has stood for democratic elections four times and won and
he is still going strong.
Museveni was born in Ntungamo in south-western Uganda in 1944 to Amos Kaguta, a cattle keeper.
His mother was According to his own testimony in his book “sowing the Mustard Seed”; he was given
the name Museveni in honor of the ‘Seventh Regiment of the King's African Rifles, the British colonial
army in which many Ugandans served during World War II. At the time of his birth, many of them were
returning home.
He attended Kyamate Primary School in Ntungamo, Mbarara High School, and Ntare School. It was
while at high school that he became a born-again Christian and a student leader.
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The Vice President
The current Vice President is Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi since 24th May 2011. He is a lawyer and

3. politician. Prior to that, he served as the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, a position he served in from
2001 until 2011. He is also the current Member of Parliament, representing Bukoto County Central, a
constituency he has continuously represented since 1996.
The primary responsibility of the Vice President of Uganda is to be ready at a moment's notice to
assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his duties. This can be because of the
President's death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation, or if the Vice President and a majority of the
Cabinet judge that the President is no longer able to discharge the duties of the presidency.
The Vice-President is second in Uganda’s command chain. Below the Vice President is the Prime
Minister who is Co-Coordinator of Government and Head of Cabinet in Parliament.
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The Prime Minister
Patrick Amama Mbabazi is the current Prime Minister, a position he has held since 24 May 2011.
Prior to his current position, he served as the Minister for Security in the Ugandan Cabinet, from
February 2009 until May 2011.
He also served as the Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement political party from June
2010 until June 2011. Amama Mbabazi also serves as the Member of Parliament for Kinkiizi West
constituency in Kanungu District, a position he has held since 2003. He is the tenth Prime Minister in
Uganda's history.
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The Cabinet
The Cabinet of Uganda, according to the Constitution of Uganda, "shall consist of the President, the
Vice President and such number of Ministers as may appear to the President to be reasonably
necessary for the efficient running of the State.”
Cabinet Ministers are deputized by Ministers of State.
First Lady
Hon. Janet K. Museveni
Janet Kataaha Museveni born June 24, 1948 is the First Lady of Uganda since May 1986. She is
married to Yoweri Museveni, with whom they four children. She is the current Minister for Karamoja
Affairs in Uganda's Cabinet. She was appointed to that position on 27 May 2011. She is also the