The 1966 Kabaka crisis and the defeat of Buganda
1.
The Battle of the Palace on 24 May 1966 lasted only a few hours and
does not constitute a full-scale civil war. But the issue of centralism
versus regionalism in Uganda was decided by military means. After the
pre-independence elections of 1962 Uganda came to be governed by an
unlikely coalition between Milton Obote's radical and centralist Uganda
People's Congress (UPC) and the regionalist and sub-nationalist Kabaka
Yekka party (KY) of the Kabaka of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa. Obote
became Prime Minister and Mutesa President. This alliance was
inherently unstable and based purely on tactical calculations by both
sides.
2. The coalition was undermined in the early years of independence as
Obote skilfully used parliamentary manoeuvres to strengthen his party's
position and undermine the Kabaka's parliamentary support.
3. The period witnessed several upheavals in the political and
constitutional development of Uganda leading to conflicts and divisions
among the top leaders.
4. The conflict between Prime Minister Obote and President Edward
Mutesa emanated from the struggle for power and the need to appear more
important than the other.
5. Obote accused Mutesa for the requisitioning of military aid from
foreign countries with the intention of overthrowing the government.
6. There was a division with UPC party. This was between Ibingira's feudalist faction and Obote's nationalist forces.
7. The situation was worsened by the gold allegation scandal in which
Obote, Amin, Adoko Nekyon and Onama were accused of stealing gold from
Zaire.
8. February 22, 1966, Obote ordered for the arrest of five of his
cabinet ministers. These ministers were accused of conniving with the
monarchist to overthrow the government.
9. Two days after the arrests, Obote suspended the 1962 constitution,
abolished the posts of vice president and assumed powers through a
decree and a defence council.
10. Constitutional president of Uganda Sir Freddie Edward Mutesa
Walugembe who was also Kabaka of Buganda and the vice president Sir
William Wilberforce Nadiope the Kyabazinga of Busoga were dismissed.
This was because Sir Edward was suspected of being in league with those
who wanted to replace the leadership of the Uganda People's Congress
and thus change the Prime Minister of the country.
11. An interim constitution of "one country one nation" was introduced
and hurriedly passed by some MPs who found copies in their pigeonholes.
That is why this constitution was nicknamed the "pigeonhole"
constitution.
12. The Buganda Lukiiko vehemently opposed this constitution. Mutesa
faced with shrewd Obote appealed to the United Nations to intervene.
When the UN failed, Obote's central government was served with an
ultimatum to quit Buganda soil within 10 days.
13. Obote reacted by arresting several chiefs whom he suspected to have
influenced the Lukiiko to take such a decision. May 20-22, Baganda
ex-servicemen mobilised seriously to defend Kabaka in case Obote
decided to attack the palace. A state of emergency was declared all
over Buganda and the army arrested three chiefs namely Lutaya of Singo,
Ssebanakita of Kyaggwe and Matovu of Buddu. They were accused of
inciting people to revolt against central government.
14. There was an attack on the Kabaka's palace at Mengo by the Central
government forces. Heavy artillery was used to destroy the King's
palace. The King who earlier put in much resistance had to jump over
the fence and ran to Rubaga, walked through the bush to Mubende until
he crossed to Rwanda and Burundi for an air ticket to London.
15. Mutesa fled into exile in London where he lived a miserable and unhappy life and later died like a common man in 1969.
16. Later in 1967, the ancient kingdoms of Toro, Bunyoro and Ankole were abolished, and Uganda became a republic.
National Movements and New States in Africa