Prime Minister Apollo Milton Obote meets United States President John F. Kennedy at the White House on October 22, 1962, in a diplomatic milestone for the newly independent East African nation, which had gained independence from Britain 13 days earlier.
Obote was accompanied by members of his government, including Justice Minister Grace Ibingira and Finance Minister James Simpson, as Uganda sought to establish relations with Washington and explore opportunities for economic cooperation, education and development assistance.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of one of the most dangerous confrontations of the Cold War. On the same day, Kennedy was preparing to address the American public about the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, setting the stage for the Cuban Missile Crisis.
For Uganda, the meeting marked an early step in establishing relations with a major world power as the country began navigating its position in international diplomacy following independence.