UGANDA

CENTRAL CONFLICTS
issue remains a thorn in Uganda’s political side, and is still considered unresolved because
the area remains home to a large number of Baganda absentee landlords who refused to
leave the confiscated land following the referendum.
Bitterness and tension between the communities continues to exist over the “lost
counties” and there have been no efforts at reconciliation. The conflict continues to
manifest itself in various forms in the politics of Buganda and Bunyoro.
BUGANDA Struggle for autonomy
The 1950s were characterised by the Uganda’s preparation for Independence,
after more than half a century under British colonial administration. With the
prospect of autonomy from the British, political forces within the Buganda
Kingdom, which had enjoyed a special status within the Uganda Protectorate,
rose up to militate for the continuation of some level of autonomy within
Uganda. They favoured federal status or secession over integration into a unitary
Ugandan state. Forces outside Buganda, however, alarmed by the prospect of
domination by Buganda, also organised themselves politically. The British initially
favoured the integration of Buganda in a unitary Uganda, which contributed
to the political manoeuvring by pre-Independence Ugandan politicians who
sought a transition to Independence whilst not losing sight of the implications of
Buganda’s relationship with the state. The contentious status of Buganda within
Uganda has remained a pertinent factor in post-Independence Uganda’s political
history, inspiring resentment that continues to exist to date and contributing to
several insurgencies against the state.
112. London Constitutional Conference and KY/UPC Alliance (1961 –
1966)
The London Constitutional Conference of September – October 1961, also referred to
as the ‘Lancaster Conference’, was convened to prepare Uganda for Independence. It
did not resolve the contentious relationship between the Kingdom of Buganda and the
State of Uganda. Indeed, Buganda’s desire for the creation of a federalist system of
governance in which it would enjoy a higher degree of political autonomy within the
State remained an issue of contestation. These unresolved disputes set the stage for
many of Uganda’s conflicts following Independence.
The Kabaka (King) emerged as a formidable force in demanding Buganda’s independence.
When negotiations regarding Buganda’s autonomy during the initial pre-Independence
discussions failed, the Kabaka’s supporters boycotted the March 1961 election that was
organised in preparation for self-rule. Many Catholic Baganda, on the other hand, chose
to participate in the election, and overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party (DP).
Largely thanks to Baganda support, the DP defeated the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC)
in a landslide, winning 20 out of 21 Buganda seats in the National Assembly. The defeat
of the UPC encouraged the Baganda separatists to form a political party in the King’s
name, referred to as Kabaka Yekka (KY) (The King Only).
217