A Historical Analysis of the Impact of the 1966 Ugandan Constitutional Crisis on Buganda’S Monarchy
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A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THE 1966 UGANDAN CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS ON BUGANDA’S MONARCHY by Fred Musisi Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor in The Faculty of Arts at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Promoter: Dr R.O. Herbst (NMMU) Co- Promoter: Professor P. Cunningham (NMMU) 2017 DECLARATION NAME: Fred Musisi STUDENT NUMBER: 211062847 QUALIFICATION: Philosophiae Doctor TITLE OF PROJECT: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF THE 1966 UGANDAN CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS ON BUGANDA’S MONARCHY In accordance with Rule G4.6.3, I hereby declare that the above-mentioned thesis is my own work and that it has not previously been submitted for assessment to another University or for another qualification. ……………………………………….. SIGNATURE DATE: 2017 i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The completion of this thesis is owed to the insightful help and direction of various people who provided encouragement and love. I am greatly indebted to Dr. R. O. Herbst, my Promoter for his professional guidance, motivation and dedication in pursing this study and eventual writing of the thesis. I would like in a special way thank my Co-Promoter Professor P. Cunningham whose continuous encouragement gave me immeasurable impetus to complete this study. Without the steadfast support of my Promoters this research would not have materialised. This thesis therefore represents almost as much the culmination of their hard work and energy as well as mine. I also wish to thank my family: My wife, Allen Musisi and children; Matovu Nathan, Sserugga Elijah and Namatovu Nicole who for the purpose of pursuing the Ph.D. studies to fruition, I denied them sufficient company, love and affection. Their patience and understanding are rare qualities that were undeniably central to my success. I owe great gratitude to Nsibambi Xavier Francis and Nabbira Jackline for the enormous work they did as my research assistants during the early stages of this study. Words will never be able to express my thanks and appreciation but I hope my actions will also inspire you in the academic world. My colleagues, staff and Management at Muteesa Royal University (MRU) deserve special thanks for the encouragement and support you gave me. In particular, I would wish to thank colleagues at the Faculty of Education; Namazzi Winfred, Mahajubu Abudul and Kyankuzire Zubedah who often stood in for me while I was away. Finally, my gratitude extends to my fellow Doctoral students at NMMU for the encouragement, comradeship and with whom we have been pursuing our academic goals, namely; Wasswa Hannington, Kyagulanyi Ronald, Sekiswa Peter, Jagwe Aisha, Ddungu Rachael, Sebuliba Natumbwe and Kiggundu Joseph. You made the journey bearable. ii To the Family of Professor Vincent Kakembo; the warm hospitality you always gave whenever we came to South Africa was immensely rewarding and unparalled. Our stay at your home reflected a home away from home. May Almighty abundantly bless you all. ` iii ABSTRACT 1966 was a particularly tumultuous year in the East African country of Uganda. After an era of relative peace and stability, the country was plagued by a range of tragedies that resulted in a constitutional crisis after the 24 May attack on the palace of the King of Buganda. This was the first time in Uganda's short history that the state had deliberately and systematically turned its guns on its own people. As a point of departure the study advances that existing historical analyses on the crisis lack detail. Consequently, the core of the study was to provide a more focused detailed and multi-faceted historical account of the 1966 crisis on the Buganda’s monarchy. The study yielded insights into the political and socio-economic impacts of the 1966 political turmoil on the people of Buganda. Using the historical method to inform the research design; the study employed an archival history methodology to examine how both the colonial legacy and the internal dynamics of the Ugandan society combined to lead to a serious and dramatic conflict between the kingdom of Buganda and State of Uganda. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the political turmoil left an indelible scar on the Kingdom of Buganda. The study offers clarity on why and how the crisis occurred and contributes a better understanding of the ‘grey area’ of knowledge and insights into what the abolition of the Kingdom meant to the Baganda. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION .......................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... ii ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................. iv LIST OF APPENDICES ............................................................................................. x LIST OF UGANDAN TERMS .................................................................................... xi ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER 1 THE NATURE AND CONDITIONING INFLUENCE OF BRITISH COLONIALISM ON BUGANDA 1.1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................. 1 1.2 POLITICAL ORGANIZATION IN THE PRE-COLONIAL ERA ......................... 1 1.3 ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION ......................................................................... 2 1.4 EARLY FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN UGANDA.................................................. 2 1.5 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BRITISH COLONIAL RULE IN UGANDA ......... 12 1.6 THE IMPACT OF THE NATURE OF BRITISH COLONIAL RULE ON BUGANDA ..................................................................................................... 16 1.7 THE EFFECTS OF THE SYSTEM OF INDIRECT RULE ON BUGANDA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER REGIONS ................................................... 22 1.8 THE PROBLEM OF LOST COUNTIES ......................................................... 25 1.9 SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 33 CHAPTER TWO A DECADE TO INDEPENDENCE: AN ERA OF POLITICAL TURMOIL 2.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 34 v 2.2 THE 1953 DEPORTATION OF THE KABAKA AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL PATH ................................................................ 36 2.3 THE EMERGENCE OF POLITICAL PARTIES AS ALTERNATIVE POWER CENTRES TO THE MENGO ESTABLISHMENT ............................ 44 2.4 ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF BUGANDA’S REGIONAL NATIONALISM .............................................................................................. 49 2.5 THE FORMATION OF UGANDA PEOPLES’ CONGRESS/ KABAKA YEKKA ALLIANCE ........................................................................................ 53 2.6 THE LEGACIES OF THE 1961 AND 1962 LONDON CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCES ........................................................................................... 58 2.6.1 The 1959 Wild Committee Report ..................................................... 58 2.6.2 The Munster Commission ................................................................. 60 2.6.3 The Molson Commission ................................................................... 61 2.6.4 The Conference Deliberations .......................................................... 63 2.7 THE 1962 INDEPENDENCE CONSTITUTION: A PRELUDE TO POLITICAL INSTABILITY .............................................................................. 70 CHAPTER THREE POLITICAL DISORDER FROM 1962 TO 1966: PRELUDE TO THE ATTACK ON BUGANDA 3.1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 77 3.2 THE FORMATION OF THE KABAKA YEKKA-UGANDA PEOPLE’S CONGRESS COALITION GOVERNMENT ................................................... 77 3.3 KABAKA MUTEESA II BECOMES PRESIDENT OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT ............................................................................................. 83 3.4 AN INTENSIFICATION OF POLITICAL RIVALRY: THE CONFLICTING ROLES OF PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER ........................................ 87 3.5 THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE STRUGGLE TO CONTROL THE UGANDA PEOPLE’S CONGRESS IN BUGANDA ........................................................ 90 vi 3.6 COLLAPSE OF THE UGANDA PEOPLE’S CONGRESS-KABAKA YEKKA ALLIANCE AND THE EFFECTS THEREOF ON BUGANDA ........... 94 3.7 THE RISE OF THE MILITARY AS A FACTOR IN THE CRISIS .................. 104 3.8 THE 1965 LOST COUNTIES REFERENDUM............................................. 110 CHAPTER FOUR THE UNEASY PATH TO OBOTE’S DICTATORSHIP 4.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 118 4.2 IDI AMIN AND THE POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE GOLD SCANDAL MOTION ON 4 FEBRUARY 1966 .............................................. 118 4.3 OBOTE’S PATH TO DICTATORSHIP ......................................................... 127 4.3.1 The 22 February 1966 Arrest of Cabinet Ministers ......................... 127 4.3.2 The Suspension of the 1962 Independence Constitution ................ 129 4.3.3 Abolition of the Offices of the President and Vice President ........... 132 4.3.4 The Abrogation of 1962 Independence Constitution ....................... 136 4.4 KABAKA MUTEESA II’S REACTION .........................................................