57 years of Independence: Tales of the First Sons

Uganda has had nine heads of state post-independence, but no head of state has ruled for as long as President Museveni.

This sustained rule has brought with it unique elements such as some of the former first sons serving in this current government.

We caught up with some of them to understand how they lived their life under a new president.

On October 9, 1962, when Uganda got her independence, Sir Edward Mutesa II became the first president of the new born country.

On 21 November 1969, upon his death, he was succeeded by his heir Kabaka Ronald muwenda Mutebi, the son as the Head of the Royal House of Buganda and the 36th Kabaka of Buganda.

He returned to Uganda in 1988, following the removal of the Obote II regime and the military junta that briefly replaced Obote II.

Following Uganda's independence in 1962, the Buganda kingdom was abolished by Uganda's first Prime Minister Milton Obote in 1966.

The kingdom was officially restored in 1993 and Kabaka Mutebi the son of the first president has been at its helm since.

Jimmy Akena (Obote's son)

Milton Obote was born in a small village, called Akokoro.and he had 5 children.

Out of those, is now current UPC party leader Jimmy Akena.

Akena said he does not have clear memories of the father’s first rule because he was a toddler, but even for the second rule from 1980-85, he had issues returning to Uganda.

He recalled his first memories in Uganda.

As expected, the first family is always protected even at private functions, Akena said that all this made him uncomfortable as he needed to live a simple life.

Jaffar Amin

Uganda’s history cannot be written without mention of Idi Amin who ruled from 1971 to 1979.

Amin had an estimate of about 43 children. Out of all these was Jaffar Amin one of the youngest who has written a book trying to correct what he called a wrong impression created about his father.

Wasswa Lule

After Idi Amin was over thrown, Yusuf Lule took over starting 13 April 1979 but ruled for only 68 days.

His prominent son, Wasswa Lule stayed at his job with Deloitte Haskins and Sell in London where he was a trainer of newly recruited staff.

While this would have been a good opportunity for him to return to the country, he didn’t. He didn’t even get a chance to step inside state house.

On June 20, 1979, the NCC staged a coup, removing Lule as president for allegedly making wide ranging appointments in government without consulting them.

Subsequently, Godfrey Binaisa was named as his successor.

Out of office, Lule went to exile in Tanzania, where he was put under house arrest by Nyerere.

His son Wasswa said he put up a good fight for his liberation.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba

Kainerugaba was only 12 years old when his father Yoweri Museveni took over power.

He is the only military officer among all his siblings.

Muhooozi is a Lieutenant General in the UPDF and has in the past served as the commander of the Special Forces Group, an elite force of the army.

His rise through the ranks has attracted attention with some thinking that the moves are intended to prepare him to fit in his father’s shoes as president.