Brief History of Uganda

Uganda before Colonisation (Pre-Colonisation)
Before the arrival of the British, there were as many as 30 ethnic different groups in the area that now forms modern Uganda each with its own language, culture and social organization. These societies i.e. those without a central leadership, included the Langi, Lugbara, Acholi, Karimojong , Bakiga , Itesot , Bagishu , Sebei and the various Bantu and Padhola groups of Bukedi. Power in these societies was wielded by clan leaders. On the other hand, societies of the present-day Bunyoro, Buganda, Ankole and Toro were organized as Kingdoms with a central leadership under a king who exercised power through chiefs and clan leaders.

Nilotic people, including Luo and Ateker entered the area from the north probably beginning about AD 100. They were cattle herders and subsistence farmers who settled mainly the northern and eastern parts of the country. Some Luo invaded the area of Bunyoro and assimilated with the Bantu there, establishing the Babiito dynasty of the current Omukama (ruler) of Bunyoro-Kitara. Luo migration proceeded until the 16th century, with some Luo settling amid Bantu people in Eastern Uganda, and proceeding to the western shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya and Tanzania. The Ateker (Karimojong and ITeso peoples) settled in the north-eastern and eastern parts of the country, and some fused with the Luo in the area north of lake Kyoga.

It’s important to note that the British were not the first people to unite Uganda. Before the British united Uganda, the Bachwezi dynasty controlled parts of Uganda between 1100 AD and 1600 AD. This is evidenced by historical sites like Bigo bya Mugenyi and Omunsa in Bunyoro (Hoima). The Bachwezi dynasty collapsed around 1600. It was replaced by kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro, Toro and Busoga.The Buganda Agreement of 1900Buganda agreement was signed between Sir Harry Johnston and the Baganda regents with negotiations being under taken by the missionaries. Clauses mainly touched the administrative structure, Buganda’s position in the region, matters of finance and others that were more general.Additionally, the Lukiiko was created with its function defined and, above all, it was subjected to the overall control of the colonial government. Buganda lost its independence through the agreement.

Colonial Uganda The first foreigners to arrive in Uganda were Arab traders from their enclaves along the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa and reached the interior of Uganda in the 1830s, they found several kingdoms with well-developed political institutions. These Arab traders were followed by British explorers John Hannington Speke arriving in 1862 searching for the source of the Nile River, Grant in 1865,and by Henry Morton Stanley . Protestant missionaries entered the country in 1877, followed by Catholic missionaries in 1879. Stanley helped Buganda raid the Islands of Buvuma and extracted a letter of invitation from Kabaka Mutesa I, inviting the white men to come to his kingdom. In his letter of March 24 1876, inviting missionaries, Kabaka explained that he wanted to be “a friend to the white man” This letter was published in London in the Daily TelegraphThe colonisation of Uganda took different forms and different methods were used and these include anthropology, the Bible and the gun. The gun, assisted by the Bible and the Koran were the most effective means through which Uganda was colonized. The recommendations of Captain Lugard had argued that Britain should colonize Uganda for commercial purposes. Lugard’s advocacy of colonial rule was ultimately victorious. The British government sent Sir Harry Johnston as a special commissioner to implement Britain’s plans for the new colony.

In 1888, control of the emerging British "sphere of interest" in East Africa was assigned by royal charter to the Imperial British East Africa Company, an arrangement strengthened in 1890 by an Anglo-German agreement confirming British dominance over Kenya and Uganda. The high cost of occupying the territory caused the company to withdraw in 1893, and its administrative functions were taken over by a British commissioner. In 1894, the Kingdom of Buganda was declared a British protectorate. Similar status was given to Bunyoro, Toro and Ankole in 1896.

It was named Uganda by the British in 1890 which was derived from the ancient Kingdom of Buganda. The period of British rule in Uganda saw dramatic changes in the politics and economy of the country. The country was divided into Districts which were headed by a District Commissioner, and the Districts into counties (saza), sub-counties (gombolola), Parishes (Miruka) and Sub-Parishes (batongole). A system of indirect rule was developed, with local people used at all levels. Britain encouraged the production of cash crops i.e. cotton, tea, sugar and cocoa. The Christian missionaries’ impact was enormous. Islam was also introduced into Uganda but never made the same impact.

The first schools in Uganda were built by the missionaries: Gayaza High School and Kings College Buddo were the first to be established by the Protestants; St. Mary’s College Kisubi by Catholic White Fathers; and Mill Hill Mission from London. Hospitals were all built and run by missionaries: Lubaga for the Catholics and Namirembe for the Protestants.
Britain granted internal self-government to Uganda in 1961, with the first elections held on March 1, 1961. Benedicto Kiwanuka of the Democratic Party became the first Chief Minister. And, on October 9 1962, Uganda became independent with Obote as the executive Prime Minister. Uganda maintained its Commonwealth membership.

Obote I

As premier of Uganda, Obote spoke of the need for a unity with of purpose, mutual understanding and respect to place a country above tribe, party and self. In succeeding years, supporters of a centralized state competed with those in favor of a loose federation and a strong role for tribally-based local kingdoms. Political maneuvering climaxed in February 1966, when Prime Minister Milton Obote suspended the constitution, assumed all government powers, and removed the president (Kabaka) and vice president transferring all powers to himself. In September 1967, a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers, and abolished the traditional kingdoms.

Uganda under Amin

On January 25, 1971, Obote's government was ousted in a military coup led by armed forces commander Idi Amin Dada. Amin declared himself president, dissolved the parliament, and amended the constitution to give himself absolute power.
Idi Amin's eight-year rule produced economic decline, social disintegration, and massive human rights violations. In August 1972, Amin expelled the Indian community (about 75,000), which controlled a major propotion of the country’s economic activities. Most went to Britain, while many others went to Canada and the States. This move of expelling Asians hurt the economy and the businesses that had been owned by Asians were Africanized, that is, given to various cronies of Amin. However many businesses collapsed and the sudden and dramatic loss of technical skills brought other enterprises to a standstill. The Acholi and Langi ethnic groups were particular objects of Amin's political persecution because they had supported Obote and made up a large part of the army. In 1978, the International Commission of Jurists estimated that more than 100,000 Ugandans had been murdered during Amin's reign of terror; some authorities place the figure much higher.

In October 1978, Tanzanian armed forces repulsed an incursion of Amin's troops into Tanzanian territory. The Tanzanian army, backed by Ugandan exiles waged a war of liberation against Amin's troops and the Libyan soldiers sent to help him. On April 11, 1979, Kampala was captured, and Amin fled to exile first to Libya and there after went to Saudi Arabia where he lived till his demise in 2003.

Uganda since 1979 – Obote II

After Amin's removal, the Uganda National Liberation Front formed an interim government with Yusuf Lule as president (April 1979). This government adopted a ministerial system of administration and created a quasi-parliamentary organ known as the National Consultative Commission (NCC). The NCC and the Lule cabinet reflected widely differing political views. In June 1979, following a dispute over the extent of presidential powers, the NCC replaced Lule with Godfrey Binaisa. In a continuing dispute over the powers of the interim presidency, Binaisa was removed in May 1980. Thereafter, Uganda was ruled by a military commission chaired by Paulo Muwanga. The December 1980 elections returned the UPC to power under the leadership of President Milton Obote, for the second time with Muwanga serving as vice president. Under Obote II, the country was once again plunged into political and economic chaos .Extra- judicial likkings became the order of the day as Obote failed to control the army (UNLA), which took the law into its own hands in its fight against the NRA guerillas. Places like Room 211 at the former Nile Hotel (Kampala Serena Hotel), Katikamu (Luwero area north of Kampala), Kireka and any military barracks, became killing centers.

There was no protection of property or even right to life.
Obote ruled until July 27, 1985, when an army brigade, composed mostly of ethnic Acholi troops and commanded by Lt. Gen. Bazilio Olara-Okello and General Tito Okello Lutwa, took Kampala and proclaimed a military government. Obote fled to exile in Zambia. The new regime, headed by former defense force commander Gen. Tito Okello (no relation to Lt. Gen. Olara-Okello), opened negotiations with Museveni's insurgent forces and pledged to improve respect for human rights, end tribal rivalry, and conduct free and fair elections. In the meantime, massive human rights violations continued as the Okello government carried out a brutal counterinsurgency in an attempt to destroy the NRA's support.
Negotiations between the Okello government and the NRA were conducted in Nairobi in the fall of 1985, with Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi seeking a cease-fire and a coalition government in Uganda. Although agreeing in late 1985 to a cease-fire, the NRA continued fighting, and seized Kampala and the country January 26 1986, forcing Okello's forces to flee north into Sudan. Museveni's forces organized a government with Museveni as president. Some of the remains arising out of the killings were buried in mass graves in Luwero Triangle; altogether about 70,000 skeletons were buried.

In August 2005, Parliament voted to change the constitution to lift presidential term limits, allowing Museveni to run for a third term if he wishes to do so. In a referendum in July, 2005, 92.5% supported restoring multiparty politics, thereby scrapping the no-party or "movement" system. Kizza Besigye, Museveni's political rival, returned from exile in October 2005, and was a presidential candidate for the 2006 elections. In the same month, Milton Obote died in South Africa. Museveni won the February 2006 presidential election.