By Faridah N Kulumba
Africa-Press-Uganda Uganda became the Republic of Uganda in 1963, after gaining its independence on 9th October in 1962, from colonial rule. The name Uganda originated from one of the largest kingdoms in the country called Buganda. Uganda is a landlocked country found in East Africa surrounded by Kenya to the East, by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west, by South Sudan to the north, by Tanzania to the south, and by Rwanda to the south-west. Uganda is also referred to as the Pearl of Africa as an attribute from the book My African Journey published in 1908, by the first explorer Winston Churchill with regards to his tour to Uganda in 1907.
Uganda’s major political challenges started way back between 1966 and 1971, after the independence when the first and last ceremonial president the Buganda Kabaka (King) Edward Muteesa II was overthrown by his executive prime minister Milton Obote. Since then Uganda has never had a peaceful transition of political power.
Background
In the 1960s, Uganda’s immediate post-independence years were dominated by the relationship between the central government and the largest region kingdom Buganda. After the British created the Uganda protectorate, the issue of how to manage the largest monarchy within the framework of a unitary state became a challenge. Colonial governors failed to come up with a solution to that problem. The issue was further complicated by Buganda’s nonchalant attitude to its relationship with the central government. Buganda never sought independence but appeared to be comfortable with a loose arrangement that guaranteed them privileges above the other subjects within the protectorate by the time the British left which angered other tribes.
Divisions
Due to the privileges which were enjoyed by Buganda, their non-Buganda politicians from Obote’s alliance took it as the regional inequality that favoured Buganda’s special status which they wanted to rectify. Vice president Obote gained more power from his politician supporters and allies, and the power struggle increased between him and the ceremonial president Muteesa II. Obote suspended the constitution and took overpower. In 1967, after Obote became president a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic and abolished kingdoms.
The transition of power challenge
All the past years since independence the peaceful transition of power is still elusive. Uganda is still entangled in cycles of bloodshed that have accompanied change from one regime to another. from. From President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the 1980s, the promise of national deliverance from the curse of violent government change is still alive. Some politicians, most especially from the opposition side have tried to debate about it for years but still, there is no change. President Museveni who has been in power for over 35 years believes that changing presidents is not the solution to Uganda’s problem.
On 5th February 2014, Uganda’s ruling party National Resistance Movement cadre Mr. Godfrey Sseruwagi Mitch wrote an open letter advising the president on peaceful transition, in his book titled, “Our Greatest Fear is the Transition of Power. The letter reflects on Uganda’s violent past and past lack of instruments of transition since 1962, He proposed a series of measures; political, economic, legislative, and social which, in his opinion, if embraced, could ensure an orderly and peaceful transition of power. Mitch advised Museveni to set a precedent for future leaders by preparing the country for an orderly and peaceful transition.
Elections
According to Human Rights Watch reports the campaign in Uganda are always characterized by widespread violence and human rights abuses, including killings by security forces, arrests, and beatings of opposition supporters and journalists, and the disruption of opposition rallies. Access to social media was severely limited before and several days over polling days.
