1953    Edward Mutesa II, the ''kabaka'' (king) of Buganda is deposed and exiled to London by Sir Andrew Cohen, Governor of Uganda.

1961    Uganda becomes self-governing and holds its first elections.

1962    Uganda becomes an independent Commonwealth realm.

1962    Uganda joins the United Nations.

1971    Idi Amin leads a coup deposing Milton Obote and becomes Uganda's president.

1971    Idi Amin replaces President Milton Obote as leader of Uganda.

1976    Air France Flight 139 (Tel Aviv-Athens-Paris) is hijacked en route to Paris by the PLO and redirected to Entebbe, Uganda.

1976    Israeli commandos raid Entebbe airport in Uganda, rescuing all but four of the passengers and crew of an Air France jetliner seized by Palestinian terrorists.

1979    Ugandan dictator Idi Amin is deposed.

1986    The National Resistance Movement topples the government of Tito Okello in Uganda.

2000    More than 800 members of the Ugandan cult Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God die in what is considered to be a mass murder and suicide orchestrated by leaders of the cult.