1962 - Uganda’s First Post-Independence Cabinet Sworn In

On June 1, 1962, Uganda’s first indigenous post-independence cabinet was sworn in, just months before official independence from Britain. Prime Minister Milton Obote led the transitional government, representing a new era of African self-rule. This day marked the beginning of Uganda’s efforts to dismantle colonial structures and define national identity amid the Cold War and Pan-African momentum. The cabinet included figures from the Uganda People’s Congress and traditional kingdoms, reflecting a fragile but hopeful coalition. Despite tensions that would later erupt, this inaugural post-colonial government was seen as a model of African political maturity and nation-building. The cabinet\’s swearing-in on June 1 is still studied by scholars examining the complexities of decolonization, federalism, and ethnic pluralism in East Africa. It signaled the rise of Ugandan voices in shaping their destiny—a milestone in continental Black governance.