Uganda, A Number One Tourist Destination

The present-day Uganda was forged by thethe pages started giving respect to the
British between 1890 and 1926. The name Ugandapreachers; they started questioning the Kabaka,
was derived from the Buganda Kingdom. It isdenouncing authoritarian rule and preaching what
important to note that the British were not thethey regarded as the new 'democracy'. This
first people to unite Uganda.marked the decline in the traditional system of
Before the British united Uganda, the Bachwezigovernance.
dynasty controlled or influenced parts of Uganda,INDEPENDENCE
Rwanda, Congo and Tanzania between 1100 ADWith the impending self-government elections in
and 1600AD. Names like Ndahura (Ndawula),April 162, UPC made an alliance with the KY in
Mulindwa, Wamala, Kagoro, Kyomya, Mugashaorder to defeat DP. One of the terms of the
(Mukasa), which are Bachwezi names are foundalliance, which was later adopted in the 1962
throughout these areas.Constitution, was for Buganda to hold indirect
Further evidence is provided by historical sites likeelections for Buganda's representatives in
Bigo bya Mugyenyi and Omunsa. Also, the LuoParliament.
were linked to the Banyoro and Batoro throughThis was opposed by DP but to no avail.
the Babiito dynasty.Benedicto Kiwanuka in particular took a principled
Before colonialism, present-day Uganda was madestand against it. Both the UPC and the colonial
up of Kingdoms and societies that were headedadministration had objected to Buganda's demand
by chiefs or clan leaders.for indirect elections in the 1961 elections.
These societies i.e. those without a centralHowever, now that this move was to block the
leadership, included the langi, Lugbara, Acholi,Catholics from leadership, both UPC and Colonial
Karimojong, Bakiga, Iteso, Bagishu, Sebei and theSecretary accepted it. In the February 1962
various Bantu and Padhola groups of Bukedi.Lukiiko elections, KY decampaigned DP in Buganda
Power in these societies was wielded by clansaying that voting for the DP was disloyal to the
leaders. Inter-clan feuds were common amongKabaka.
the non-kingdom societies. Land was ownedAs expected, KY won 65 Lukiiko seats with DP
communally under clan leaderships.winning three. One of the terms of the UPC-KY
On the other hand, societies of the present-dayalliance was that UPC would not field candidates in
Bunyoro, Buganda, Ankole and Toro wereBuganda. In the April 1962 national elections, UPC
organized as Kingdoms each with a centralwon 37 seats while DP secured 24 seats outside
leadership under a king who exercised powerBuganda.
through chiefs and clan leaders.On top of the UPC seats were added the 21
The kingdom areas had developed into smallBuganda's nominees to the National Assembly. On
states that had at times fought each other forOctober 9 1962, Uganda became independent
supremacy and expansion of territory. This statewith Obote as the executive Prime Minister. In
of affairs was to change with the arrival ofNovember 1963, Mutesa was elected by
foreigners.Parliament as ceremonial head of state.
POLITICAL TURMOIL DUE TO CONTACT WITHTHE 1966 CRISIS
FOREIGNERSFrom the start, the alliance between KY and UPC
The first foreigners to arrive in Uganda werewas bound to collapse because Obote and Mutesa
Arab traders in 1845. In 1862, John Hanningtonhad different agendas. The issue of the 'lost
Speke arrived in Buganda followed by Grant incounties' of Buyaga, Buwekula and Bugangaizi
1865, and by Henry Morton Stanley in 1865.became a hot issue and a referendum was held in
These Europeans were referred to as 'explorers' -those counties, to resolve it.
exploring territory for British expansion. StanleyThe Kabaka and the Lukiiko opposed this
helped Buganda raid the Islands of Buvuma andreferendum and tried to organize a boycott
extracted a letter of invitation from Kabakaagainst it but to no avail. This created tension
Mutesa I, inviting the white men to come to hisbetween Obote and the Mengo establishment.
kingdom.Especially when the Kabaka refused to sign the
Mutesa felt threatened by the spread of Egyptianinstruments transferring the two counties of
imperialism and the old rivalry from the KingdomBuyaga and Bugangaizi, which opted to return to
of Bunyoro. He wanted guns to defend hisBunyoro.
kingdom and invited the whites thinking that theyTHE NATIONAL RESISTANCE MOVEMENT
would help him in this task.A new political group that wanted to change the
In his letter of March 24 1876, invitingpolitics of Uganda started an armed struggle on
missionaries, Kabaka Mutesa explained that heFebruary 6 1981. This group formed the National
wanted to be "a friend to the white man".ThisResistance Movement, which was supported by
letter was published in London in the Dailythe peasants and lead by the intelligentsia. The
Telegraph.armed wing of the Movement the National
After the publication of the letter, a follow upResistance Army (NRA) fought a protracted
article was published a week later in the sameguerilla struggle and overthrew reactionary and
paper enjoining missionaries who might respond tooppressive elements of the UNLA in January
Mutesa's invitation to "teach the natives to wear1986. It established a broad-based Movement
clothes" and design such clothing to be "slightlygovernment under Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
longer than the normal" with the assertion that "ifThe activities of political parties were suspended
the Africans increase their clothing by even twoand are still proscribed under the new Constitution,
inches longer than the normal that would keep thewhich was promulgated in 1995. Presidential
Lancaster Mills in operation for a full year."elections were held in 1996 under universal adult
The two extra inches on African clothes showedsuffrage.
how colonialism was the battering ram for theThe economy has made tremendous progress
expansion of European economic interests in theand most parts of the country are experiencing
search for markets.peace and stability and the rule of the law prevails
The colonization of Africa took different formsin most parts of the country. The country held a
and different methods were used in differentreferendum on the system of government in
places. These included the use of anthropology,June 2000 and voted to keep the Movement
the Bible and the gun.system of government.
The gun, assisted by the Bible and the KoranThe second presidential elections were held on
were the most effective means through whichMarch 12 2001. The incumbent Yoweri Kaguta
Uganda was colonized.won 69.3% of the votes. The runner up Colonel
With the coming of the missionaries and their idea(retired) Doctor Kiiza Besigye (27%) petitioned
of a supreme God, the influence of the Kabakathe outcome and process of the election in the
started waning and the 'readers' (abasomi) wereSupreme Court and lost by a split decision of
gaining ground.(3-2).
Religion started spreading to the entire kingdom;