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Violent constitutionalism in Uganda

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2014

G. F. Engholm  and
Ali A. Mazrui
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Extract

From the country's independence until May 1966 two factors profoundly affected the nature of politics in Uganda. These were, first, a latent violence between groups and, secondly, a vigorous constitutionalism as a style of political contest. Both factors were, inevitably, connected with events and tendencies which went back to well before independence.

The possibility of political violence in the country was linked to a few key issues. These included, first, the degree of autonomy to be enjoyed by Buganda as the largest and most developed region in the country; secondly, the unresolved problem of the Lost Counties of Bunyoro; thirdly, relations between the Baganda and other tribes, an issue which later culminated into an alleged Bantu/Nilotic cleavage; and fourthly, the tensions of party allegiances within the parliamentary system. We shall discuss these issues more fully later in this analysis.

Type
Articles
Information
Government and Opposition , Volume 2 , Issue 4 , 01 December 1967 , pp. 585 - 599
Copyright
Copyright © Government and Opposition Ltd 1967

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References

1 Apter, David E., The Political Kingdom in Uganda, Princeton, N. J., 1961, p. 27 Google Scholar.

2 See the Molson Report, Cmnd 1717, May 1962.

3 13,602 voted for union with Bunyoro, 3,542 for remaining with Buganda, and 112 for a separate district.

4 Uganda Argus, 12 November 1964.

5 The Kabaka's government and another v. Attorney‐General of Uganda and another. Privy Council Appeal No. 56 of 1964. See also the original report of the Commission of Privy Councillors on the dispute between Buganda and Bunyoro, Cmnd 1717. The final referendum resulted in the Constitution of Uganda (Third Amendment) Act No. 36 of 1964.

6 Buganda’s Position in Federal Uganda, Journal of Commonwealth Political Studies, Vol. III, No. 3 11 1965 , pp. 175–6Google Scholar.

7 Clauses 3, 5, 6, 11 and 12 of the 1900 Agreement gave Buganda the status of a province; provided for the superiority of the Agreement in the event of a conflict with Protectorate law; gave legal recognition to the Kabaka, his courts, chiefs and council; and restricted taxation to narrow limits. Further concessions were made in 1944 when the European provincial administration narrowed its role to advice and guidance.

8 Uganda Argus, 1 June 1964.

9 See Uganda Argus, 31 March 1966.

10 See Uganda Argus, 15 and 16 July 1966.

11 See Uganda Argus, 9 December 1966.