i ABSENTEE LANDLORDS AND LAND UTILIZATION IN UGANDA: THE CASE OF KIBAALE DISTRICT, 1894 – 1995. BY MAGEZI JAMES WILSON C 82 / 10709 / 2006 A THESIS PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY JUNE 2015 ii DECLARATION This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for the award of a PhD degree in any other University. Signature …………………………………….. Date…………………………… Magezi James Wilson B.A, M.A (History) MUK Department of History, Archeology and Political Studies SUPERVISORS We confirm that the work reported in this thesis was carried out by the candidate and has been submitted with our approval as university supervisors. Signature …………………………………….. Date…………………………… Dr. Edwin Gimode Department of History, Archeology and Political Studies Signature …………………………………….. Date…………………………… Dr. Felix Kiruthu Department of History, Archeology and Political Studies iii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to my late parents Mr. Zekeriya Maguru and Mrs. Bakunzi Maguru who educated me to Masters Level. May their souls rest in eternal peace. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS My sincere acknowledgements first and foremost go to my supervisors Dr. Edwin Gimode and Dr. Felix Kiruthu of the Department of History, Archaeology and Political Studies, Kenyatta University, for their academic guidance that enabled me to write this PhD thesis. My sincere gratitude goes to Kyambogo University Management who funded my PhD studies at Kenyatta University. I am also grateful to the academic staff of the History Department, Kyambogo University for their academic guidance. I whole heartedly thank Mr. Javier Kakuru, Mr. Charles Kirabira, Mr. Donozio Sabiiti and Ms. Christine Nambi who worked as my research assistants. Special thanks go to management of Entebbe National Archive and more especially to Roscoe who availed me with the necessary documents for my research. I am indebted to Mr. Henry Ford Miirima, the spokesperson to Omukama of Bunyoro for the documents he availed to me on the history of Bunyoro Kingdom in general and Kibaale District in particular. I am also grateful to Mr. Kyabangi Katta-Musoke who is the current chairperson of the Mubende-Banyoro Committee for all the information he availed to me and also to all the respondents who participated in this study. Last but not least, I thank my family members for the courage and support they accorded to me during my PhD studies. May the almighty God reward all of you abundantly. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration --------------------------------------------------------------------- (ii) Dedication ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (iii) Acknowledgements ------------------------------------------------------------ (iv) Table of contents --------------------------------------------------------------- (v) List of tables -------------------------------------------------------------------- (ix) List of maps -------------------------------------------------------------------- (ix) Definition of terms ----------------------------------------------------------- (x) Abbreviations ------------------------------------------------------------------ (xii) Glossary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (xiv) Abstract ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (xvii) CHAPTER ONE 1.0 INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 1.1 Background of the study ------------------------------------------------------ 1 1.2 Statement of the problem ---------------------------------------------------- 6 1.3 Research questions ----------------------------------------------------------- 6 1.4 Objectives of the study -------------------------------------------------------- 7 1.5 Research premises ------------------------------------------------------------- 7 1.6 Significance and Justification of the study ------------------------------ 8 1.7 Scope of the study-------------------------------------------------------- 9 1.8 Limitations of the study -------------------------------------------------- 10 1.9 Review of related literature -------------------------------------------- 10 1.10 Theoretical framework ------------------------------------------------ 22 1.11 Research methodology--------------------------------------------------- 27 1.12 Research design --------------------------------------------------- ------ 28 1.13 Area of study ------------------------------------------------------------ 28 1.14 Study population --------------------------------------------------------- 30 1.15 Sampling techniques and sample size -------------------------------- 30 1.16 Research instruments --------------------------------------------------- 31 vi 1.17 Data collection ---------------------------------------------------------- - 31 1.18 Data analysis ------------------------------------------------------------- 34 1.19 Validity and reliability ------------------------------------------------- 35 1.20 Ethical considerations -------------------------------------------------- 35 CHAPTER TWO 2.0 ADVENT OF BRITISH COLONIALISM AND ITS IMPACT ON BUNYORO KINGDOM UP TO 1900 2.1 Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36 2.2 Origin of Bunyoro Kingdom ----------------------------------------------------- 37 2.3 Geographical setting --------------------------------------------------------------- 38 2.4 Political and social organization ------------------------------------------------- 40 2.5 Economic organization ------------------------------------------------------------ 43 2.6 Land-tenure in pre-colonial Bunyoro ------------------------------------------- 47 2.7 Pre-colonial Bunyoro‟s relations with the neighbouring communities --- 50 2.8 Evolution of Kibaale District ----------------------------------------------------- 51 2.9 Early attempts at the colonization of Uganda 1862-1882 ------------------- 53 2.10 Occupation of Uganda from the East Coast 1862-1894 -------------------- 58 2.11 The British invasion of Bunyoro 1890-1899 --------------------------------- 64 2.12 The political events that called for the signing of the 1900 Buganda Agreement, 1894-1899 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 74 2.13 Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 77 vii CHAPTER THREE 3.0 THE 1900 BUGANDA AGREEMENT AND CHANGE IN LAND TENURE IN KIBAALE 1900-1939 3.1 Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 78 3.2 Colonial motives behind the signing of the 1900 Buganda Agreement ----- 79 3.3 The 1900 Buganda Agreement ----------------------------------------------- 82 3.4 Land allocation during the signing of the 1900 Buganda Agreement ---- - 85 3.5 Evolution of new land tenure system and the rise of absentee landlords-- 90 3.6 Landlord-tenant relations, 1900-1927 ------------------------------------------ 92 3.6.1 Land distribution and ownership --------------------------------------------- 92 3.6.2 Cash crop growing as a new type of land use in Kibaale District ------- 109 3.7 Justification for the enactment of the Busulu and Nvujjo law of 1927 -- 121 3.8 The impact of Busulu and Envujjo Law on land use, 1928- 1939 --------- 125 3.10 Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 132 CHAPTER FOUR 4.0 ABSENTEE LANDLORDS AND LAND USE IN KIBAALE (DISTRICT) 1939-1962 4.1 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 133 4.2 Relations between absentee landlords and tenants 1939-1958-------------- 134 4.3 Relations between the Baganda and Banyoro on the eve of Uganda‟s independence 1958-1962 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 140 4.4 Impact of Absentee landlords on land use in Kibaale District --------------- 145 4.5 Political Parties and the Kibaale land question 1952-1962-------------------- 148 4.5 Conclusion -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 155 viii CHAPTER FIVE 5.0 THE POST-INDEPENDENT STATE AND LAND USE IN KIBAALE DISTRICT 1962-1995 5.1 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------- 156 5.2 The Obote I regime and land use in Kibaale District 1962-1971--------- 158 5.2.1 The 1964 Referendum and the return of Buyaga and Bugangaizi to Bunyoro Kingdom -- ------------------------------------------------------------------ 165 5.2.2 Relations between the Banyoro and the Baganda absentee landlords 1965-1971---- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 169 5.3 Amin‟s Regime and land use in Kibaale District 1971-1979 ------------ 171 5.3.1 The 1975 Land Reform Decree and its impact on land use in Kibaale District------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 173 5.4 Land use in Kibaale District, 1979-1995 -------------------------------------- 177 5.4.1 From Amin to Museveni and the Kibaale land question 1979-1985------ 178 5.4.2 Museveni‟s NRM Government and land use in Kibaale 1986-1995 ------ 180 5.4.3 The 1995 Uganda Constitution and land ownership in Kibaale District--- 181 5.5 Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 187 CHAPTER SIX 6.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.1Summary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------