ful attempts by Egypt to obtain control. In the late 1870s the first missionaries reached Buganda. In 1888 British interests in East Africa were assigned by Royal Charter to the Imperial British East Africa Company, and in 1890 Captain (later Lord) Lugard was sent to represent the Company in Uganda. He concluded a treaty with the Kabaka of Buganda and established the Company's influence. The cost of the Company's operations was, however, prohibitive, and in 1893 an Imperial Commissioner, Sir Gerald Portal, assumed the obligations and rights of the Company on behalf of the British Government. Buganda was formally declared a Protectorate in 1894; Bunyoro, Tororo, Ankole and Busoga followed in 1896. New agreements were negotiated with Buganda, Toro and Ankole in 1900 and 1901. The basic pattern of Uganda's economic development was laid down before the First World War, in spite of the Administration's pre-occupation with the suppression of an outbreak of sleeping sickness which devastated the country. Cotton growing by peasant farmers, introduced in 1904, flourished, and the development of this sector of the economy stimulated the growth of transport and communications. The construction of a network of all-weather roads was begun, and a connection with the coast was obtained by a shipping service across Lake Victoria to Kisumu in Kenya, which was linked to Mombasa by rail in 1901. In 1913 the Busoga Railway was completed, and this, with the system of waterways radiating from the Nile basin, helped the development of the area of fine cotton-growing soil in the eastern part of the country. The 1914-18 War made considerable demands on manpower, and checked Uganda's economic progress, especially in the context of world depression in the early 1920s. Coffee was developed as an alternative cash crop, and the first sugar refinery was opened in 1924. By 1928 the railway from the coast had been extended as far as Jinja, and the completion of a bridge over the Nile in 1931 finally linked Kampala with the Indian Ocean. Under British administration land policy prohibited acquisition by nonAfricans of freehold title to land. As a result European settlement did not become a feature of Uganda's development; and in Buganda, where title to land was held almost exclusively by Africans, indiscriminate purchase and exploitation by non-Africans was eliminated. This was an important factor in the development of harmonious race relations in Uganda. The war of 1939-45 also made great demands on Uganda's resources and the emphasis of Government policy in the immediate post-war period was upon economic rehabilitation and development, a programme which was greatly helped by the high prices obtainable for cotton and coffee. CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT The Uganda Order in Council 1902 made provision for the government of the protectorate, and control was passed from the Foreign Office to the Colonial Office in 1905. By 1914 a series of boundary commissions had established the country's boundaries which remained unchanged until the present day except for the transfer of Rudolph Province to Kenya in 1926. In 1921 Executive and Legislative Councils were created, and the latter was expanded in 1953 to make it more representative. The Legislative Council was further increased in 1955, half the membership then being African. At the same time a ministerial system was introduced, a number of the ministers being non-officials. In 1958 direct elections of African Representative Members to the Legislative Council were held in a number of Districts. Buganda, however, did not take part and was consequently not represented in the new Council. The year 1960 saw further constitutional advance, with the general objects of broadening the composition of the Legislative Council and restricting its membership almost entirely to elected members, and of converting the Governor's Executive Council into a Council of Ministers. A Commission under Lord Munster considered the relationships between the Kingdoms and the Central Government. A general election under the new arrangements was held in March 1961 and resulted in a majority for the Democratic Party, led by Mr Benedicto Kiwanuka, who became Chief Minister. Following a constitutional conference in London later the same year Uganda attained internal self-government in March 1962 and Mr Kiwanuka became the first Prime Minister. The new Constitution provided for a Legislature of a single Chamber, styled the National Assembly, consisting of a Speaker, 82 Elected Members and 9 Specially Elected Members. Of the Elected Members, 21 were elected within Buganda (excluding the Municipality of Kampala) and the Buganda Lukiiko (Legislative Assembly) had the power to declare before each General Election that these Members should be elected by the Lukiiko itself. The executive power was to be exercised on behalf of Her Majesty by the Governor but, except in regard to certain reserved functions, he could assign responsibilities to Ministers and was normally required to act on the advice of the Cabinet which was collectively responsible to the National Assembly. Buganda's relationship with Uganda was defined as a federal one. A general election held in April 1962 resulted in a majority for the Uganda People's Congress, supported until 24th August 1964 by the Kabaka Yekka, a Buganda political organisation. Mr Milton Obote, leader of the U.P.C. became Prime Minister. At the opening of the new Parliament the Governor announced that his Ministers desired that Her Majesty should be Queen of independent Uganda and that Uganda would seek membership of the Commonwealth. Following a further Constitutional Conference in London in June 1962 Uganda became an independent sovereign country and a Member of the Commonwealth on the 9th October 1962. In 1963 the Uganda Parliament amended the Constitution so that from 9th October 1963 (the anniversary of Independence) Her Majesty The Queen would no longer be the Head of State of Uganda and instead Uganda would be a sovereign independent country with a citizen of Uganda as Head of State, to be known as 'President of Uganda'. The first holder of this office was the Kabaka of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa. At the same time Uganda expressed a desire to continue as a Member of the Commonwealth of which the Queen is the Head. On 24th February 1966, the Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr A. M. Obote, MP, announced that the Constitution had been suspended, except for certain specified subjects. On 2nd March 1966 it was announced that Dr Obote acting with the advice and consent of the Cabinet had declared that the executive authority of Uganda should vest in the Prime Minister (instead of the President) and that the duties, powers and other functions performed or exercisable by the President or Vice-President should vest in the Prime Minister. On 15th April in the National Assembly, Dr Obote announced the abrogation of the 1962 Constitu tion and moved a motion for the introduction of a new Constitution which was adopted by 55 votes to 4. Dr Obote was then sworn in as President. Under the 1966 Constitution, the President was both Head of State and Head of the Executive, advised by a Cabinet of Ministers of which he was a member. The National Assembly consisted of 82 elected members, all directly elected, including 21 from Buganda (exclusive of Kampala) and nine specially elected members. Parliament was to continue for five years unless sooner dissolved by the President, acting on the advice of the Cabinet. In June 1967 the National Assembly resolved itself into a Constituent Assembly to consider proposals submitted to it by the Government for the amendment of the 1966 constitution. After due consideration the proposals, as modified following debate, were adopted, and a new Constitution under which Uganda became a Republic was proclaimed on 8th September 1967. The main changes from the previous constitution were the abolition of the old kingdoms and the dissolution of Buganda into four districts for administrative purposes; and provision for specially elected members in number related to the strength of the party having greatest numerical strength in the National Assembly in order to give that party a majority of not more than ten. The number of elected members remained at 82. The powers of the President were defined and the rights and freedoms of the individual prescribed. It was decided that subject to the provisions of the Constitution for dissolution, the life of the Parliament should be five years from the introduction of the preceding constitution, viz. 15th April 1966. On 25th January 1971 the Commander of the Armed Forces, Major-General Idi Amin mounted a successful coup d'état against Dr Obote. A military government was set up headed by General Amin as President and consisting of a cabinet of ministers nearly all of whom are civilians. Parliament was dissolved and those Sections of the 1967 Constitution dealing with executive and legislative powers suspended. The President rules by decree, advised by his cabinet. Otherwise the provisions of the 1967 Constitution remain in force. Free elections and a return to civilian rule have been promised. HISTORICAL LIST Sir Edward Mutesa, 9th October 1963 to 24th February 1966 PRIME MINISTER Dr A. Milton Obote, MP, from 9th October 1962 to 15th April 1966 GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT His Excellency General Idi Amin Dada MINISTERS Minister of Foreign Affairs: Hon. Wanume Kibedi Minister of Internal Affairs: H.E. General Idi Amin Dada Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development: E. B. Wakhweya Minister of Commerce and Industry: Hon. W. Lutara Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Cooperatives: Hon. F. L. Okwaare Minister of Education: Hon. E. B. Rugumayo Minister of Culture and Community Development: Hon. Y. Engur Minister of Power and Communications: Hon. Lt. Col. E. A. T. Obitre Gama Minister of Public Service and Local Administrations: Hon. J. M. Byagagaire THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND As a result of the elections held on 18th June 1970, the Conservative Party, who had been in opposition since October 1964, were returned to power. The state of the parties was as follows: Conservatives 330, Labour 287, Liberals 6, Others 7. At subsequent by-elections the Conservative Party lost one seat to the Labour Party. At the time of going to press (October 1972) there were five byelections pending. |