In the 15th century the kingdoms of Buganda, Toro, Bunyoro and Ankole are founded in present-day Uganda. From these kingdoms originally Bunyoro is dominant but in the beginning of the eighteenth century Buganda rules large parts of the area. Buganda is visited by European explorers for the first time in 1862. The area is considered to be part of the British sphere of influence in 1885 and the British East Africa Company starts administering the area. The bankrupcy of this company in 1893 leads to Buganda becoming a British protectorate in 1894, following by Bunyoro-Kitara, Toro, Ankole, and Busoga. The protectorate becomes part of British East Africa.

The Uganda Protectorate is seperated from British East Africa in 1905. Inside the protectorate the kingdoms remain in existence. In 1921 the protectorate gets limited self-government (whites only) and it lasts until 1945 when the first African is appointed member of the legislative council. Britain grants internal self-government to Uganda in 1961, with the first elections held that year. Benedicto Kiwanuka of the Democratic Party (DP) becomes the first chief minister. He is succeeded in 1962 by Apollo Milton Obote of the socialist Uganda People's Congress (UPC).

Uganda becomes independent in 1962 as a parliamentary democratic monarchy in which the kingdoms remain separate entities. Uganda becomes the Republic of Uganda in 1963 with Mutesa II as president. In succeeding years, supporters of a centralized state contest with those in favor of a lose federation and a strong role for tribally-based local kingdoms. Political maneuvering climaxes in 1966, when prime minister Obote suspends the constitution, assumes all government powers and removes the president. Uganda becomes a one-party state controlled by his UPC. The kingdoms are abolished. When Obote is in 1971 at a Commonwealth conference in Singapore, Idi Amin Dada grabs power. Uganda becomes a military dictatorship under the cruel dictator Idi Amin Dada. Amin becomes president for life in 1976. His occupation of Tanzanian territory in 1978 leads to an invasion by Tanzania of Uganda.

The dictatorship is abolished and the Uganda National Liberation Front of Yusufu Lule is brought to power in 1979. Godfrey Binaisa, also member of the UNLF, succeeds Lule after a couple of months. In a continuing dispute over the powers of the interim presidency, Binaisa is removed in 1980 and replaced by a military commission chaired by Paulo Muwanga. The 1980 elections return the UPC to power and Obote to the presidency. Under Obote, the security forces have one of the world's worst human rights records. Obote rules until 1985, when a military rebellion brings Tito Okello to power. Massive human rights violations continue as the Okello government murders civilians and ravages the countryside in order to destroy the support of Yoweri Museveni's National Resistance Army (NRA).

In 1986 the NRA assumes control over the country. Museveni becomes president and he establishes a so called no-party democracy, governed by his National Resistance Movement. The government has largely put an end to the human rights abuses of earlier governments, initiated substantial political liberalization and general press freedom and instituted broad economic reforms. The traditoonal kingdoms are revived on 1993. The bizarre and cult-like Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) continues to harass government forces and murder and kidnap civilians in the north and east. In 1998 Uganda deploys a sizable military force to eastern Congo-Kinshasa, ostensibly to prevent attacks from Ugandan rebel groups operating there. In a 2000 referendum voters - but with a low turnout - endorse retention of the no-party system.