Reaction to colonial rule

Some Ugandans did not accept the laws that the British used to administer Uganda. The laws favoured the British politically, economically and socially.

 

Ugandans therefore, protested against the political, social, economic policies in many ways. For instance, traditional leaders like Omukama Kabalega, Kabaka Mwanga and Chief Awich as discussed earlier resisted the colonial rule by staging rebellions but were fought and defeated.

 

Kabalega and Mwanga were even exiled to Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean. Ugandans also started protesting against the unfair colonial laws to buy goods from Indian shops.

 

Farmers protested against the low prices for the cash crops. 

The clan heads protested and rioted demanding for the political changes in Buganda. Protesters were always arrested and imprisoned.

Ugandans also demanded for representation on the Legislative Council (LEGCO) which was the law making body in Uganda. This body was made up of the British and the laws in Uganda were made in Britain.

Factors that led to the formation of LEGCO

The British found an established system 0 Buganda. The Kabaka for instance had a the law making body for the Kingdom. It had members from all parts of the Kingdom.

When the British declared Uganda a British Protectorate in 1984, they applied British laws to govern the natives and to disputes.

In 1900, the British signed the Buganda Agreement to address taxation, land and governance issues. The laws passed in that agreement applied to all parts of Uganda. People were however not contented with the laws and demanded for more favourable laws to apply to all parts of the protectorate.

In 1921, Sir Robert Thone Coryndon, the British Governor, set up the Legislative council. (LEGCO). The major duty of the Legislative Council was to make laws and to advise the colonial government. The council could also discuss issues affecting the natives and acted as a court of Appeal.

The council at that time was made up of the British and Asians. Africans were not represented on the LEGCO at that time and the laws made were not favourable to natives. The natives struggled a lot of to be represented on the LEGCO.

In 1945, Sir John Hathon Hall, nominated the first three Ugandans to the LEGCO.

They were Kawalya Kaggwa representing the central region, 

Yekoniya Zirabamuzaale the Eastern Region,

Petero Nyangabyaki Akiiki, Western.

Yekosofat Innyon was later in 1946 nominated to represent the Northern Region.

However, Ugandans were not contented with the way representatives were chosen and the number of Ugandans on the LEGCO was still limited. This caused a lot of disagreement between the British and Ugandans.

In 1958, Sir Fredrick Crawford, the British Governor, arranged for the direct elections of the African members of the LEGCO for the first time. Eight representatives were elected to the LEGCO.

They felt that they were still few. Led by one member, Apollo Milton Obote, the Ugandans demanded for more African representation. This demand led to the formation of the Wild constitutional Committee.

The committee recommended direct elections. The direct elections were organised and the two major political parties at that time were the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and the Democratic Party (DP).

Why do you think it was necessary for more Africans to be represented on the LEGCO? 

Ugandans struggled for independence because of the following reasons; 

i) To free themselves from colonialism and govern themselves. Colonial rule denied Ugandans full participation in managing their affairs. 

ii) To run the economic policies of their country and overcome economic exploitation. The low prices affected the economic development of many Africans.

iii) To have social freedom in their culture and traditions. The British regarded every custom as backward and evil. This did not go on well with traditional leaders.

iv) To promote unity among the people. People wanted to promote values and their interests that bind them together in society.

Leaders such as Apollo Milton Obote were encouraged by countries which had got independence to struggle for their independence. The influence of the First and second world wars where former fighters encouraged others back home to struggle for their independence.

First World War 

World war is fought in all parts of the world. All countries of the world are involved. The First World War broke out in Austria with the help of Germany attacking Serbia. Serbia which was supported by British also fought back.

Italy joined and fought on the side of Austria and Germany while France also joined the war and fought alongside Serbia and a Britain.

European countries got people from their fight on their side. In East Africa for example from Uganda and Kenya to go and fight the Germans in Tanganyika.

When the first war ended, Germany which had been defeated was made to lose Tanganyika as her colony. The League of Nations, an international body was set up to ensure world peace.

Second World War. 

The Second World War broke out in 1939. It was started by Germany and Italy. They fought against British, France and Russia. Countries like United States of America also joined the war.

European countries that had colonies in Africa forced natives of those colonies to join the war. In this way, many Ugandans were taken to fight on their side. 

They went to fight the Italians in Somalia and Ethiopia. They also fought in Mauritius, Madagascar and Burma. The recruited army was called the Kings Africans Rifles (KAR) and these people were later referred to as ex - service men or ex - soldiers after the Second World War. 

The experience during the war made the ex- service men to lead other Ugandans to demand for independence.

They met other Africans from Ghana and Nigeria who told them that the British would grant independence to their countries if they were organized.

They had also seen Europeans dying just like Africans. They therefore, knew that Europeans were not more superior and should not continue ruling the Africans just because of being of the white race.

These war veterans started opposing colonialism by demanding for independence through demonstrations and riots. This was a true sign of nationalism in Uganda.

It was then that other Ugandans saw the need to organize themselves in political parties and fight for independence. 

The struggle for Independence in Uganda The demand for independence in Uganda was led by nationalists.

A nationalist is someone who supports nationalism. These nationalists included both traditional leaders and political leaders. Traditional leaders such as Omukama Kabalega, Chief Awich, Kabaka Mwanga and Kabaka Muteesa II had also struggled to protect their independence.

When the British formed the East African High Commission in 1948, they wanted to create the East African Federation. A federation is a group of states or countries in the same region under the same central government or president. Kabaka Mutesa II Edward refused to agree to join the East African Federation.

As a result, Muteesa II was exiled to Britain in 1953 by Sir Andrew Cohen, who was the governer at that time. People in most parts of Buganda demonstrated and staged riots protesting the Kabaka's exile. Augustine Kamya, used the Uganda National Movement to mobilise people to boycott
buying goods that were being sold in European shops.

The Namirembe conference was called to stop the crisis in 1954. The conference was called to plan for the return of Kabaka Muteesa II from exile.

The Namirembe Agreement was signed between Britain and Buganda. Sir Keith Hancock signed on behalf of the British Colonial Government while Mr. Micheal Kintu signed on behalf of the Buganda Government. Kabaka Muteesa II returned to Uganda on 17th October, 1954. His return showed that the British were willing to listen to Uganda's demands. Other political leaders were encouraged to push forward thestruggle for independence through formation of political parties.