born Dec. 28, 1924, Akoroko village, Lango, Uganda
First prime minister (1962–70) and president (1966–71, 1980–85) of Uganda.
Elected to the legislative council in 1958, he led his country to independence in 1962. As prime minister he accepted a constitution that granted federal status to five traditional kingdoms, including Buganda , but in 1966 he sent troops under Gen. Idi Amin to subdue Buganda's ruler, Mutesa II, and abolished all the kingdoms. He was overthrown in a coup led by Amin in 1971 but returned after Amin was deposed in 1979 to establish a repressive government. Having neglected, despite his own often brutal policies, to quell the ethnic strife between northern and southern ethnic groups, he was again ousted in 1985. He settled in Zambia.
Obote
Marion Kaplan