Editing Uganda (section)

==History==
{{main|History of Uganda}}

===Precolonial Uganda===
{{main|Early history of Uganda}}
[[File:Drawing showing a caesarean operation taking place in Uganda Wellcome M0001058.jpg|thumb|A [[caesarean section]] performed by indigenous healers in Kahura, in the kingdom of [[Bunyoro]]<ref name="How this African kingdom performed its cesarean section in 1879">{{cite web | url=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-this-african-kingdom-performed-its-first-cesarean-section-in-1879 | title=How this African kingdom performed its first cesarean section in 1879 | date=3 June 2018 | publisher=Face2Face Africa | access-date=29 March 2021 | archive-date=7 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407052810/https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-this-african-kingdom-performed-its-first-cesarean-section-in-1879 | url-status=live }}</ref> (present-day Uganda) as observed by medical missionary [[Robert William Felkin]] in 1879<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dunn|first=Peter M.|date=1 May 1999|title=Robert Felkin MD (1853–1926) and Caesarean delivery in Central Africa (1879)|journal=Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition|language=en|volume=80|issue=3|pages=F250–F251|doi=10.1136/fn.80.3.F250|issn=1359-2998|pmid=10212095|pmc=1720922|doi-access=free}}</ref> ]]

Much of Uganda was inhabited by [[central Sudanic languages|Central sudanic]]- and [[Kuliak languages|Kuliak]]-speaking farmers and herders until 3,000 years ago, when [[Bantu languages|Bantu speakers]] arrived in the south and [[Nilotic languages|Nilotic speakers]] arrived in the northeast. By 1500 AD, they had all been assimilated into [[Bantu peoples|Bantu-speaking cultures]] south of [[Mount Elgon]], the [[Nile River]], and [[Lake Kyoga]].<ref>{{Cite journal|url = https://www.jstor.org/stable/183030|jstor = 183030|title = We Are What We Eat: Ancient Agriculture between the Great Lakes|last1 = Schoenbrun|first1 = David L.|journal = The Journal of African History|year = 1993|volume = 34|issue = 1|pages = 1–31|doi = 10.1017/S0021853700032989|s2cid = 162660041|access-date = 28 February 2022|archive-date = 28 March 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220328154318/https://www.jstor.org/stable/183030|url-status = live | issn = 0021-8537 }}</ref> According to [[oral tradition]] and archeological studies, the [[Empire of Kitara]] covered an important part of the [[Great Lakes of Africa|Great Lakes Area]], from the northern lakes [[Lake Albert (Uganda)|Albert]] and [[Lake Kyoga|Kyoga]] to the southern lakes [[Lake Victoria|Victoria]] and [[Lake Tanganyika|Tanganyika]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Mwakikagile | first=Godfrey | title=Ethnicity and National Identity in Uganda: The Land and Its People | date=2009 | publisher=New Africa Press | page=87 | isbn=9789987930876 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uZFrWECQ-PgC&q=bachwezi+empire&pg=PA87 | access-date=22 November 2020 | archive-date=17 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417215009/https://books.google.com/books?id=uZFrWECQ-PgC&q=bachwezi+empire&pg=PA87 | url-status=live }}</ref> Kitara is claimed as the antecedent of the [[Tooro Kingdom|Tooro]], [[Ankole]], and [[Busoga]] kingdoms.<ref name="Mwambutsya">{{cite journal | author=Mwambutsya, Ndebesa | url=http://www.ossrea.net/eassrr/jan91/mwambuts.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131112357/http://www.ossrea.net/eassrr/jan91/mwambuts.htm | archive-date=31 January 2008 | title=Pre-capitalist Social Formation: The Case of the Banyankole of Southwestern Uganda | journal=Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review | volume=6 | issue=2; 7 no. 1 | date=June 1990 – January 1991 | pages=78–95}}</ref> Some [[Luo people#Uganda|Luo]] invaded Kitara and assimilated with the Bantu society there, establishing the Biito dynasty of the current [[Omukama of Bunyoro|Omukama]] (ruler) of [[Bunyoro|Bunyoro-Kitara]].<ref name="babito">{{cite web |url=http://www.bunyoro-kitara.com/history2.htm |title=Origins of Bunyoro-Kitara Kings |access-date=10 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210003812/http://www.bunyoro-kitara.com/history2.htm#The%20Babiito |archive-date=10 December 2006}}, bunyoro-kitara.com.</ref>

[[Arab]] traders moved into the land from the Indian Ocean coast of East Africa in the 1830s for trade and commerce.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Uganda journal|url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00080855/00026/28j|access-date=1 January 2021|website=ufdc.ufl.edu|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417220229/https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00080855/00026/28j|url-status=live}}</ref> In the late 1860s, [[Bunyoro]] in Mid-Western Uganda found itself threatened from the north by Egyptian-sponsored agents.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Uganda journal|url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00080855/00029/9j|access-date=2 January 2021|website=ufdc.ufl.edu|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417213343/https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00080855/00029/9j|url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike the Arab traders from the East African coast who sought trade, these agents were promoting foreign conquest. In 1869, [[Khedive]] [[Ismail of Egypt|Ismail Pasha]] of Egypt, seeking to annex the territories north of the borders of [[Lake Victoria]] and east of [[Lake Albert (Africa)|Lake Albert]] and "south of [[Gondokoro]]",<ref name="Baker 1879">{{Cite book|last=Baker|first=Samuel White|url=http://archive.org/details/ismailianarrativ00bake|title=Ismailia; a narrative of the expedition to Central Africa for the suppression of the slave trade, organized by Ismail, Khedive of Egypt|date=1879|publisher=London, Macmillan|others=Robarts - University of Toronto}}</ref> sent a British explorer, [[Samuel Baker]], on a military expedition to the frontiers of Northern Uganda, with the objective of suppressing the slave-trade there and opening the way to commerce and "civilization". The Banyoro resisted Baker, who had to fight a desperate battle to secure his retreat. Baker regarded the resistance as an act of treachery, and he denounced the Banyoro in a book (''Ismailia – A Narrative Of The Expedition To Central Africa For The Suppression Of Slave Trade, Organised By Ismail, Khadive Of Egypt'' (1874))<ref name="Baker 1879"/> that was widely read in Britain. Later, the British arrived in Uganda with a predisposition against the kingdom of [[Bunyoro-Kitara|Bunyoro]] and sided with the kingdom of [[Buganda]]. This eventually cost Bunyoro half of its territory, which was given to Buganda as a reward from the British. Two of the numerous "lost counties" were [[1964 Ugandan lost counties referendum|restored to Bunyoro after independence]].

In the 1860s, while Arabs sought influence from the north, British explorers searching for the source of the [[Nile]]<ref name="Stanley">Stanley, H. M., 1899, Through the Dark Continent, London: G. Newnes, {{ISBN|0486256677}}</ref> arrived in Uganda. They were followed by British Anglican missionaries who arrived in the kingdom of Buganda in 1877 and French Catholic missionaries in 1879. This situation gave rise to the death of the [[Uganda Martyrs]] in 1885—after the conversion of [[Muteesa I of Buganda|Muteesa I]] and much of his court, and the succession of his [[Anti-Christian sentiment|anti-Christian]] son [[Mwanga II of Buganda|Mwanga.]]<ref name="Background" /> The British government chartered the [[Imperial British East Africa Company]] (IBEAC) to negotiate trade agreements in the region beginning in 1888.<ref name="Snakes">{{Cite book | title=Two Kingdoms of Uganda: Snakes and Ladders in the Scramble for Africa | last=Pulford | first=Cedric | publisher=Ituri Publications | year=2011 | location=Daventry}}</ref>

From 1886, there was a series of religious wars in Buganda, initially between Muslims and Christians and then, from 1890, between "ba-Ingleza" Protestants and "ba-Fransa" Catholics, factions named after the imperial powers  with which they were aligned.<ref>{{Cite journal | title=The Arms Trade in East Africa in the Late Nineteenth Century | last=Beachey | first=R. W. | date=1962 | journal=The Journal of African History | volume=3 | issue=3 | page=451 | doi=10.1017/s0021853700003352| s2cid=162601116 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mamdani |first=Mahmood |date=1984 |title=Nationality Question in a Neo-Colony: A Historical Perspective |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4373383 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=19 |issue=27 |pages=1046–1054 |jstor=4373383 |issn=0012-9976 |access-date=31 March 2023 |archive-date=31 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331153027/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4373383 |url-status=live }}</ref> Because of civil unrest and financial burdens, IBEAC claimed that it was unable to "maintain their occupation" in the region.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1893/feb/06/adjourned-debate | title=House of Commons: Address In Answer To Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech – Adjourned Debate | date=6 February 1893 | access-date=17 January 2017 | author=J. H. Kennaway | publisher=Commons and Lords Hansard | archive-date=28 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128200240/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1893/feb/06/adjourned-debate | url-status=live }}</ref> British commercial interests were ardent to protect the trade route of the Nile, which prompted the British government to annex Buganda and adjoining territories to create the Uganda Protectorate in 1894.<ref name="Snakes" />{{rp|3–4}}<ref>Gordon Martel, "Cabinet politics and African partition: The Uganda debate reconsidered." ''Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History'' 13.1 (1984): 5–24.</ref>

===Uganda Protectorate (1894–1962)===
{{main|Protectorate of Uganda}}

[[File:Flag of the Uganda Protectorate.svg|thumb|Flag of the [[Protectorate of Uganda]]]]

The [[Protectorate of Uganda]] was a [[protectorate]] of the [[British Empire]] from 1894 to 1962. In 1893, the [[Imperial British East Africa Company]] transferred its administration rights of territory consisting mainly of the Kingdom of [[Buganda]] to the British government. The [[Imperial British East Africa Company|IBEAC]] relinquished its control over Uganda after Ugandan internal religious wars had driven it into bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Griffiths|first=Tudor|date=2001|title=Bishop Alfred Tucker and the Establishment of a British Protectorate in Uganda 1890-94|url=https://brill.com/view/journals/jra/31/1/article-p92_4.xml|journal=Journal of Religion in Africa|volume=31|issue=1|pages=92–114|doi=10.1163/157006601X00040|issn=0022-4200|access-date=2 January 2021|archive-date=28 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128203602/https://brill.com/view/journals/jra/31/1/article-p92_4.xml|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1894, the Uganda Protectorate was established, and the territory was extended beyond the borders of Buganda by signing more treaties with the other kingdoms ([[Toro (kingdom)|Toro]] in 1900,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Steinhart|first=Edward I.|date=1973|title=Royal Clientage and the Beginnings of Colonial Modernization in Toro, 1891-1900|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/216778|journal=The International Journal of African Historical Studies|volume=6|issue=2|pages=265–285|doi=10.2307/216778|jstor=216778|issn=0361-7882|access-date=2 January 2021|archive-date=25 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425033247/https://www.jstor.org/stable/216778|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Ankole]] in 1901, and [[Bunyoro]] in 1933<ref>{{Cite web|title=A Thousand Years of Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom - The People and the Rulers (Fountain Publishers, 1994, 153 p.): Appendix III: The Bunyoro Agreement 1955|url=http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-00000-00---off-0unescoen--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00-0--4----0-0-11-10-0utfZz-8-00&cl=CL1.10&d=HASHc3697d0c37be5024d365b7.14&x=1|access-date=2 January 2021|website=www.nzdl.org|archive-date=2 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202021216/http://www.nzdl.org/cgi-bin/library?e=d-00000-00---off-0unescoen--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00-0--4----0-0-11-10-0utfZz-8-00&cl=CL1.10&d=HASHc3697d0c37be5024d365b7.14&x=1|url-status=live}}</ref>) to an area that roughly corresponds to that of present-day Uganda.<ref>{{Cite web|last=joz|first=Jaynnielaw|date=22 March 2015|title=The Wars of Religion 1888-1892|url=https://v2040rc.wordpress.com/uganda-country-facts/education-cultural-transformation/the-wars-of-religion-1888-1892/|access-date=2 January 2021|website=DISCOVER UGANDA, TOUR UGANDA, VOLUNTEER UGANDA & SERVE UGANDA|language=en|archive-date=29 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129063759/https://v2040rc.wordpress.com/uganda-country-facts/education-cultural-transformation/the-wars-of-religion-1888-1892/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The status of [[Protectorate]] had significantly different consequences for Uganda than had the region been made a colony like neighboring [[Kenya]], insofar as Uganda retained a degree of self-government that would have otherwise been limited under a full colonial administration.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Dietz|first1=A. J.|last2=Studiecentrum|first2=Afrika|date=2017|title=Uganda Protectorate 1895-1902|url=https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/handle/1887/52081|access-date=2 January 2021|website=African Postal Heritage (APH) papers|archive-date=31 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331012511/https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/handle/1887/52081|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the 1890s, 32,000 labourers from British India were [[Indian diaspora in East Africa|recruited to East Africa]] under indentured labour contracts to construct the [[Uganda Railway]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/762515.stm | title=Kenya's Asian heritage on display | publisher=[[BBC]] | last=Evans | first=Ruth | date=24 May 2000 | access-date=18 January 2017 | archive-date=28 September 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928151943/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/762515.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Most of the surviving Indians returned home, but 6,724 decided to remain in East Africa after the line's completion.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theeagora.com/the-lunatic-express-a-photo-essay-on-the-uganda-railway/ | title=THE LUNATIC EXPRESS – A PHOTO ESSAY ON THE UGANDA RAILWAY. | publisher=[[Thee Agora]] | last=Chao | date=26 October 2014 | access-date=18 January 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422095958/http://www.theeagora.com/the-lunatic-express-a-photo-essay-on-the-uganda-railway/ | archive-date=22 April 2016 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Subsequently, some became traders and took control of cotton ginning and sartorial retail.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/ferguson-centre/working-papers/working-paper-draft-3-stewart-west.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930230140/http://www.open.ac.uk/Arts/ferguson-centre/working-papers/working-paper-draft-3-stewart-west.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 September 2015 | title=Policing, Colonial Life and Decolonisation in Uganda, 1957–1960 | publisher=The Ferguson Centre for African and Asian Studies, Working Paper No. 03 | last=West | first=Stewart | date=February 2012 | pages=3–4}}</ref>

From 1900 to 1920, a [[African trypanosomiasis|sleeping sickness]] epidemic in the southern part of Uganda, along the north shores of Lake Victoria, killed more than 250,000 people.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Reanalyzing the 1900–1920 Sleeping Sickness Epidemic in Uganda | publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | location=US | journal=Emerging Infectious Diseases | last1=Fèvre | first1=E. M. | last2=Coleman | first2=P. G. | last3=Welburn | first3=S. C. | last4=Maudlin | first4=I. | date=April 2004 | volume=10 | issue=4 | pages=567–573 | doi=10.3201/eid1004.020626 | pmid=15200843 | doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[World War II]] encouraged the colonial administration of Uganda to recruit 77,143 soldiers to serve in the [[King's African Rifles]].{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} They were seen in action in the [[Western Desert campaign]], the [[East African campaign (World War II)|Abyssinian campaign]], the [[Battle of Madagascar]] and the [[Burma campaign]].

===Independence (1962 to 1965)===
Uganda gained independence from the UK on 9 October 1962 with [[Queen Elizabeth II]] as head of state and [[Queen of Uganda]]. In October 1963, Uganda became a republic but maintained its membership in the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].

The first post-independence election, held in 1962, was won by an alliance between the [[Uganda People's Congress]] (UPC) and [[Kabaka Yekka]] (KY). UPC and KY formed the first post-independence government with [[Milton Obote]] as executive prime minister, with the Buganda Kabaka (King) [[Mutesa II of Buganda|Edward Muteesa II]] holding the largely ceremonial position of president.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=3 |title=History of Parliament |access-date=18 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220164706/http://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=3 |archive-date=20 February 2010}} (Website of the Parliament of Uganda)</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.buganda.com/crisis66.htm | title=Buganda Kingdom: The Uganda Crisis, 1966 | publisher=Buganda.com | access-date=3 May 2010 | archive-date=24 March 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324164117/http://www.buganda.com/crisis66.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Buganda crisis (1962–1966)===
{{main|Mengo Crisis}}
[[File:Owen Falls Dam construction.jpg|thumb|right|Construction of the [[Nalubaale Hydroelectric Power Station|Owen Falls Dam]] in [[Jinja District|Jinja]]]]

Uganda's immediate post-independence years were dominated by the relationship between the central government and the largest regional kingdom – [[Buganda]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=J. M.|title=Uganda's first year of Independence|journal=The Political Quarterly|date=January 1964|volume=35|issue=1|pages=35–45|doi=10.1111/j.1467-923X.1964.tb01966.x}}</ref>
[[File:Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II ne Nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda.jpg|thumb|Kabaka Muwenda Mutebi II ne nnaabagereka Sylvia Nagginda]]
From the moment the British created the Uganda protectorate, the issue of how to manage the largest monarchy within the framework of a unitary state had always been a problem. Colonial governors had failed to come up with a formula that worked. This was further complicated by Buganda's nonchalant attitude to its relationship with the central government. Buganda never sought independence but rather appeared to be comfortable with a loose arrangement that guaranteed them privileges above the other subjects within the protectorate or a special status when the British left. This was evidenced in part by hostilities between the British colonial authorities and Buganda prior to independence.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Young|first1=Crawford|title=The politics of cultural pluralism|date=1979|publisher=University of Wisconsin Press|location=Madison|isbn=9780299067441|pages=248–250}}</ref>

Within Buganda, there were divisions between those who wanted the [[Kabaka of Buganda|Kabaka]] to remain a dominant monarch and those who wanted to join with the rest of Uganda to create a modern secular state. The split resulted in the creation of two dominant Buganda based parties – the Kabaka Yekka (Kabaka Only) KY, and the [[Democratic Party (Uganda)|Democratic Party]] (DP) that had roots in the Catholic Church. The bitterness between these two parties was extremely intense especially as the first elections for the post-Colonial parliament approached. The Kabaka particularly disliked the DP leader, [[Benedicto Kiwanuka]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mutibwa|first1=Phares|title=Uganda since independence, a story of unfulfilled hopes|date=1992|publisher=Hurst|location=London|isbn=9781850650669}}</ref>

Outside Buganda, a soft-spoken politician from Northern Uganda, [[Milton Obote]], had forged an alliance of non-Buganda politicians to form the Uganda People's Congress (UPC). The UPC at its heart was dominated by politicians who wanted to rectify what they saw as the regional inequality that favoured Buganda's special status. This drew in substantial support from outside Buganda. The party however remained a loose alliance of interests, but Obote showed great skill at negotiating them into a common ground based on a federal formula.<ref name="Kasozi">{{cite book|last1=Kasozi|first1=A. B. K.|title=The social origins of violence in Uganda, 1964–1985|date=1994|publisher=McGill-Queens's University Press|location=Montreal|isbn=9780773512184}}</ref>
[[File:Uganda Printers Kampala 1950s.jpg|thumb|left|The Uganda printers building on Kampala Road, Kampala, Uganda]]
At Independence, the Buganda question remained unresolved. Uganda was one of the few colonial territories that achieved independence without a dominant political party with a clear majority in parliament. In the pre-Independence elections, the UPC ran no candidates in Buganda and won 37 of the 61 directly elected seats (outside Buganda). The DP won 24 seats outside Buganda. The "special status" granted to Buganda meant that the 21 Buganda seats were elected by proportional representation reflecting the elections to the Buganda parliament – the Lukikko. KY won a resounding victory over DP, winning all 21 seats.

The UPC reached a high at the end of 1964 when the leader of the DP in parliament, [[Basil Kiiza Bataringaya]], crossed the parliamentary floor with five other MPs, leaving DP with only nine seats. The DP MPs were not particularly happy that the hostility of their leader, Benedicto Kiwanuka, towards the Kabaka was hindering their chances of compromise with KY.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bade|first1=Albert|title=Benedicto Kiwanuka : the man and his politics|date=1996|publisher=Fountain Publ.|location=Kampala|isbn=978-9970020089}}</ref> The trickle of defections turned into a flood when 10 KY members crossed the floor when they realised the formal coalition with the UPC was no longer viable. Obote's charismatic speeches across the country were sweeping all before him, and the UPC was winning almost every local election held and increasing its control over all district councils and legislatures outside Buganda.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ciment|first1=James|title=Encyclopedia of conflicts since World War II|date=2006|publisher=Routledge|location=London|isbn=9780765680051|page=311|edition=2nd}}</ref> The response from the Kabaka was mute – probably content in his ceremonial role and symbolism in his part of the country. However, there were also major divisions within his palace that made it difficult for him to act effectively against Obote. By the time Uganda had become independent, Buganda "was a divided house with contending social and political forces"<ref name=Kasozi63>{{cite book|last1=Kasozi|title=The social origins of violence in Uganda, 1964–1985|date=1994|page=63}}</ref> There were however problems brewing inside the UPC. As its ranks swelled, the ethnic, religious, regional, and personal interests began to shake the party. The party's apparent strength was eroded in a complex sequence of factional conflicts in its central and regional structures. And by 1966, the UPC was tearing itself apart. The conflicts were further intensified by the newcomers who had crossed the parliamentary floor from DP and KY.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YSa7Wxuw50YC&pg=PA71 |last1=Kasozi |title=The social origins of violence in Uganda, 1964–1985 |date=1994 |page=71 |publisher=McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP |isbn=9780773512184 |access-date=5 May 2020 |archive-date=17 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417204140/https://books.google.com/books?id=YSa7Wxuw50YC&pg=PA71 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The UPC delegates arrived in [[Gulu]] in 1964 for their delegates conference. Here was the first demonstration as to how Obote was losing control of his party. The battle over the Secretary-General of the party was a bitter contest between the new moderate's candidate – [[Grace Ibingira]] and the radical John Kakonge. Ibingira subsequently became the symbol of the opposition to Obote within the UPC. This is an important factor when looking at the subsequent events that led to the crisis between Buganda and the Central government. For those outside the UPC (including KY supporters), this was a sign that Obote was vulnerable. Keen observers realised the UPC was not a cohesive unit.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kasozi|title=The social origins of violence in Uganda, 1964–1985|date=1994|page=70}}</ref>

The collapse of the UPC-KY alliance openly revealed the dissatisfaction Obote and others had about Buganda's "special status". In 1964, the government responded to demands from some parts of the vast Buganda Kingdom that they were not the Kabaka's subjects. Prior to colonial rule, Buganda had been rivalled by the neighbouring [[Bunyoro]] kingdom. Buganda had conquered parts of Bunyoro and the British colonialists had formalised this in the Buganda Agreements. Known as the "lost counties", the people in these areas wished to revert to being part of Bunyoro. Obote decided to allow a referendum, which angered the Kabaka and most of the rest of Buganda. The residents of the counties voted to return to Bunyoro despite the Kabaka's attempts to influence the vote.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lamwaka|first1=Caroline|title=The Raging Storm: A Reporter's Inside Account of the Northern Uganda War, 1986–2005|date=2016|publisher=Fountain Publishers|location=Kampala|isbn=978-9970252213}}</ref> Having lost the referendum, KY opposed the bill to pass the counties to Bunyoro, thus ending the alliance with the UPC.

The UPC which had previously been a national party began to break along tribal lines when Ibingira challenged Obote in the UPC. The "North/South" ethnic divide that had been evident in economic and social spheres now entrenched itself in politics. Obote surrounded himself with mainly northern politicians, while Ibingira's supporters who were subsequently arrested and jailed with him, were mainly from the South. In time, the two factions acquired ethnic labels – "Bantu" (the mainly Southern Ibingira faction) and "Nilotic" (the mainly Northern Obote faction). The perception that the government was at war with the Bantu was further enhanced when Obote arrested and imprisoned the mainly Bantu ministers who backed Ibingira.<ref name="Otunnu">{{cite book|last1=Otunnu|first1=Ogenga|title=Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda, 1890 to 1979|date=2016|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|location=London|isbn=978-3319331553}}</ref>
[[File:SA18157-Crowned Crane - Żuraw Królewski.jpg|thumb|[[Grey crowned crane|Grey Crowned Crane]] – a symbol of Uganda|alt=]]
These labels brought into the mix two very powerful influences. First Buganda – the people of Buganda are Bantu and therefore naturally aligned to the Ibingira faction. The Ibingira faction further advanced this alliance by accusing Obote of wanting to overthrow the Kabaka.<ref name="Otunnu" /> They were now aligned to opposing Obote. Second – the security forces – the British colonialists had recruited the army and police almost exclusively from Northern Uganda due to their perceived suitability for these roles. At independence, the army and police was dominated by northern tribes – mainly Nilotic. They would now feel more affiliated to Obote, and he took full advantage of this to consolidate his power. In April 1966, Obote passed out eight hundred new army recruits at [[Moroto Town|Moroto]], of whom seventy percent came from the Northern Region.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kasozi|title=The social origins of violence in Uganda, 1964–1985|date=1994|page=83}}</ref>

At the time, there was a tendency to perceive central government and security forces as dominated by "northerners" – particularly the Acholi who through the UPC had significant access to government positions at national level.<ref name="LRA-MR">{{cite book|last1=Allen|first1=Tim|last2=Vlassenroot|first2=Koen|title=The Lord's Resistance Army: myth and reality|date=2010|publisher=Zed|location=London|isbn=9781848135635}}</ref> In northern Uganda there were also varied degrees of anti-Buganda feelings, particularly over the kingdom's "special status" before and after independence, and all the economic and social benefits that came with this status. "Obote brought significant numbers of northerners into the central state, both through the civil service and military, and created a patronage machine in Northern Uganda".<ref name="LRA-MR" /> However, both "Bantu" and "Nilotic" labels represent significant ambiguities. The Bantu category for example includes both Buganda and Bunyoro – historically bitter rivals. The Nilotic label includes the Lugbara, Acholi, and Langi, all of whom have bitter rivalries that were to define Uganda's military politics later. Despite these ambiguities, these events unwittingly brought to fore the northerner/southerner political divide which to some extent still influences Ugandan politics.

The UPC fragmentation continued as opponents sensed Obote's vulnerability. At local level where the UPC dominated most councils discontent began to challenge incumbent council leaders. Even in Obote's home district, attempts were made to oust the head of the local district council in 1966. A more worrying fact for the UPC was that the next national elections loomed in 1967 – and without the support of KY (who were now likely to back the DP), and the growing factionalism in the UPC, there was the real possibility that the UPC would be out of power in months.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Obote went after KY with a new act of parliament in early 1966 that blocked any attempt by KY to expand outside Buganda. KY appeared to respond in parliament through one of their few remaining MPs, the terminally ill Daudi Ochieng. Ochieng was an irony – although from Northern Uganda, he had risen high in the ranks of KY and become a close confidant to the Kabaka who had gifted him with large land titles in Buganda. In Obote's absence from Parliament, Ochieng laid bare the illegal plundering of ivory and gold from the Congo that had been orchestrated by Obote's army chief of staff, Colonel [[Idi Amin]]. He further alleged that Obote, Onama and Neykon had all benefited from the scheme.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Somerville|first1=Keith|title=Ivory: Power and Poaching in Africa|date=2017|publisher=Hurst|location=London|isbn=9781849046763}}</ref> Parliament overwhelmingly voted in favour of a motion to censure Amin and investigate Obote's involvement. This shook the government and raised tensions in the country.

KY further demonstrated its ability to challenge Obote from within his party at the UPC Buganda conference where Godfrey Binaisa (the Attorney General) was ousted by a faction believed to have the backing of KY, Ibingira and other anti-Obote elements in Buganda.<ref name=Kasozi63 /> Obote's response was to arrest Ibingira and other ministers at a cabinet meeting and to assume special powers in February 1966. In March 1966, Obote also announced that the offices of President and vice-president would cease to exist – effectively dismissing the Kabaka. Obote also gave Amin more power – giving him the Army Commander position over the previous holder (Opolot) who had relations to Buganda through marriage (possibly believing Opolot would be reluctant to take military action against the Kabaka if it came to that). Obote abolished the constitution and effectively suspended elections due in a few months. Obote went on television and radio to accuse the Kabaka of various offences including requesting foreign troops which appears to have been explored by the Kabaka following the rumours of Amin plotting a coup. Obote further dismantled the authority of the Kabaka by announcing among other measures:
* The abolition of independent public service commissions for federal units. This removed the Kabaka's authority to appoint civil servants in Buganda.
* The abolition of the Buganda High Court – removing any judicial authority the Kabaka had.
* The bringing of Buganda financial management under further central control.
* Abolition of lands for Buganda chiefs. Land is one of the key sources of Kabaka's power over his subjects.

The lines were now drawn for a showdown between Buganda and the Central government. Within Buganda's political institutions, rivalries driven by religion and personal ambition made the institutions ineffective and unable to respond to the central government moves. The Kabaka was often regarded as aloof and unresponsive to advice from the younger Buganda politicians who better understood the new post-Independence politics, unlike the traditionalists who were ambivalent to what was going on as long as their traditional benefits were maintained. The Kabaka favoured the neo-traditionalists.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kasozi|title=The social origins of violence in Uganda, 1964–1985|date=1994|page=64}}</ref>

In May 1966, the Kabaka asked for foreign help, and the Buganda parliament demanded that the Uganda government leave Buganda (including the capital, Kampala). In response Obote ordered Idi Amin to attack the Kabaka's palace. The battle for the Kabaka's palace was fierce – the Kabaka's guards putting up more resistance than had been expected. The British trained Captain – the Kabaka with about 120 armed men kept Idi Amin at bay for twelve hours.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kasozi|title=The social origins of violence in Uganda, 1964–1985|date=1994|page=85}}</ref> It is estimated that up to 2,000 people died in the battle which ended when the army called in heavier guns and overran the palace. The anticipated countryside uprising in Buganda did not materialise and a few hours later a beaming Obote met the press to relish his victory. The Kabaka escaped over the palace walls and was transported into exile in London by supporters. He died there three years later.

===1966–1971 (before the coup)===
In 1966, following a power struggle between the Obote-led government and King Muteesa, Obote suspended the constitution and removed the ceremonial president and vice-president. In 1967, a new constitution proclaimed Uganda a republic and abolished the traditional kingdoms. Obote was declared the president.<ref name="Background">{{cite web | url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm | title=Background Note: Uganda | publisher=Bureau of African Affairs, United States Department of State | date=November 2008 | access-date=21 January 2017 | archive-date=28 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128192054/https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2963.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

===1971 (after the coup) –1979 (end of Amin regime)===
{{Main|Second Republic of Uganda}}
After a [[1971 Ugandan coup d'état|military coup on 25 January 1971]], Obote was deposed from power and General [[Idi Amin]] seized control of the country. Amin ruled Uganda as dictator with the support of the military for the next eight years.<ref name="loc">[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ugtoc.html "A Country Study: Uganda"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627004743/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/ugtoc.html |date=27 June 2015 }}, ''[[Library of Congress]] Country Studies''</ref> He carried out mass killings within the country to maintain his rule. An estimated 80,000–500,000 Ugandans died during his regime.<ref>{{cite news | last=Keatley | first=Patrick | title=Obituary: Idi Amin | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/aug/18/guardianobituaries | work=The Guardian | date=18 August 2003 | access-date=18 March 2008 | archive-date=27 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727231321/http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2003/aug/18/guardianobituaries | url-status=live }}</ref> Aside from his brutalities, he [[Expulsion of Asians in Uganda in 1972|forcibly removed]] the entrepreneurial [[Indian people|Indian]] minority from Uganda.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/uk-indians-taking-care-of-business/2006/03/07/1141701511987.html "UK Indians taking care of business"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119151852/http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/uk-indians-taking-care-of-business/2006/03/07/1141701511987.html |date=19 January 2018 }}, ''The Age'' (8 March 2006). Retrieved 24 March 2013.</ref> In June 1976, Palestinian terrorists hijacked an [[Air France]] flight and forced it to land at [[Entebbe International Airport|Entebbe airport]]. One hundred of the 250 passengers originally on board were held hostage until an [[Operation Entebbe|Israeli commando raid]] rescued them ten days later.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/4/newsid_2786000/2786967.stm | title=1976: Israelis rescue Entebbe hostages |work=BBC News | access-date=27 December 2012 | archive-date=23 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023233100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/july/4/newsid_2786000/2786967.stm |url-status=live |date=4 July 1976}}</ref> Amin's reign was ended after the [[Uganda–Tanzania War]] in 1979, in which Tanzanian forces aided by Ugandan exiles invaded Uganda.

===1979–present===
{{Main|History of Uganda (1979–present)}}
[[File:Second Congo War Africa map en.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|Belligerents of the Second Congo War. On 19 December 2005, the [[International Court of Justice]] found against Uganda, in a case brought by the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]], for illegal invasion of its territory, and violation of human rights.<ref>"[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/dec/20/congo.uganda Court orders Uganda to pay Congo damages] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102143450/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/dec/20/congo.uganda |date=2 January 2021 }}". ''[[The Guardian]]''. 20 December 2005</ref>]]

In 1980, the [[Ugandan Bush War]] broke out resulting in [[Yoweri Museveni]] became president since his forces toppled the previous regime in January 1986.{{sfn|Reid|2017|p=75}}

[[List of political parties in Uganda|Political parties in Uganda]] were restricted in their activities beginning that year, in a measure ostensibly designed to reduce sectarian violence. In the [[non-partisan democracy|non-party]] "Movement" system instituted by Museveni, political parties continued to exist, but they could operate only a headquarters office. They could not open branches, hold rallies, or field candidates directly (although electoral candidates could belong to political parties). A constitutional referendum cancelled this nineteen-year ban on multi-party politics in July 2005.

In 1993, [[Pope John Paul II]] visited Uganda during his six-day [[List of pastoral visits of Pope John Paul II|pastoral trip]] to urge Ugandans to seek reconciliation.

In the mid-to-late 1990s, Museveni was lauded by western countries as part of a new generation of African leaders.<ref>"'New-Breed' Leadership, Conflict, and Reconstruction in the Great Lakes Region of Africa: A Sociopolitical Biography of Uganda's Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Joseph Oloka-Onyango," ''Africa Today'' – Volume 50, Number 3, Spring 2004, p. 29</ref>

His presidency has been marred, however, by invading and occupying the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the [[Second Congo War]], resulting in an estimated 5.4 million deaths since 1998, and by participating in other conflicts in the [[Great Lakes (Africa)|Great Lakes region of Africa]]. He had struggled for years in the civil war against the Lord's Resistance Army, which resulted it numerous crimes against humanity, including [[child slavery]], the [[Atiak massacre]], and other mass murders. Conflict in northern Uganda has killed thousands and displaced millions.<ref>{{cite news | title=No End to LRA Killings and Abductions | publisher=Human Rights Watch | date=23 May 2011 | url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/05/23/no-end-lra-killings-and-abductions | access-date=4 December 2016 | archive-date=28 July 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728162000/https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/05/23/no-end-lra-killings-and-abductions | url-status=live }}</ref>

Parliament abolished presidential term limits in 2005, allegedly because Museveni used public funds to pay US$2,000 to each member of parliament who supported the measure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/23/uganda-term-limits-bill-grandfathers-museveni/|title=Uganda term-limits bill grandfathers Museveni|website=The Washington Times|access-date=5 May 2020|archive-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230227180913/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/23/uganda-term-limits-bill-grandfathers-museveni/|url-status=live}}</ref> Presidential [[2006 Ugandan general election|elections]] were held in February 2006. Museveni ran against several candidates, the most prominent of them being [[Kizza Besigye]].

On 20 February 2011, the Uganda Electoral Commission declared the incumbent president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the winning candidate of the 2011 [[2011 Ugandan general election|elections]] that were held on 18 February 2011. The opposition however, were not satisfied with the results, condemning them as full of sham and rigging. According to the official results, Museveni won with 68 percent of the votes. This easily topped his nearest challenger, Besigye, who had been Museveni's physician and told reporters that he and his supporters "downrightly snub" the outcome as well as the unremitting rule of Museveni or any person he may appoint. Besigye added that the rigged elections would definitely lead to an illegitimate leadership and that it is up to Ugandans to critically analyse this. The European Union's Election Observation Mission reported on improvements and flaws of the Ugandan electoral process: "The electoral campaign and polling day were conducted in a peaceful manner. However, the electoral process was marred by avoidable administrative and logistical failures that led to an unacceptable number of Ugandan citizens being disfranchised."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eueom.eu/files/pressreleases/english/press_release_preliminarystatement_uganda_20_february_en.pdf | title=Uganda 2011 Elections | date=20 February 2011 | publisher=European Union Election Observation Mission | access-date=18 October 2011 | archive-date=3 April 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403173129/http://www.eueom.eu/files/pressreleases/english/press_release_preliminarystatement_uganda_20_february_en.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref>

Since August 2012, hacktivist group [[Anonymous (group)|Anonymous]] has threatened Ugandan officials and hacked official government websites over its anti-gay bills.<ref>Roberts, Scott (13 November 2012) [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/13/hacktivists-target-ugandas-anti-gay-lawmakers/ Hacktivists target Ugandan lawmakers over anti-gay bill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115235902/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/13/hacktivists-target-ugandas-anti-gay-lawmakers/ |date=15 November 2012 }}. pinknews.co.uk</ref> Some international donors have threatened to cut financial aid to the country if anti-gay bills continue.<ref>Roberts, Scott (14 November 2012) [http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/14/pressure-on-uganda-builds-over-anti-gay-law/ Pressure on Uganda builds over anti-gay law] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115234405/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/11/14/pressure-on-uganda-builds-over-anti-gay-law/ |date=15 November 2012 }}. pinknews.co.uk</ref>

Indicators of a plan for succession by the president's son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, have increased tensions.<ref>Article 19. (2013). [http://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/37201/en/uganda:-public-order-management-bill Uganda: Public Order Management Bill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016144056/https://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/37201/en/uganda:-public-order-management-bill |date=16 October 2017 }}.</ref><ref>Masereka, Alex. (2013). [http://www.redpepper.co.ug/m7-okays-public-order-bill/ M7 Okays Public Order Bill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023062551/http://www.redpepper.co.ug/m7-okays-public-order-bill/ |date=23 October 2013 }}. ''Red Pepper''.</ref><ref name="Uganda 2012 Human Rights Report">United States Department of State (Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor). (2012). [https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/204390.pdf Uganda 2012 Human Rights Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326170131/https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/204390.pdf |date=26 March 2017 }}.</ref><ref>Natabaalo, Grace. (2013). Ugandan Police Shutdown Papers Over 'Plot'. ''Al Jazeera''.</ref>

President Yoweri Museveni has ruled the country since 1986 and he was latest re-elected in January 2021 presidential [[2021 Ugandan general election|elections]].<ref>{{cite web |date=30 January 2019 |title=Uganda |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/uganda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929074232/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/uganda |archive-date=29 September 2019 |access-date=22 May 2019 |website=freedomhouse.org}}</ref> According to official results Museveni won the elections with 58% of the vote while popstar-turned-politician [[Bobi Wine]] had 35%. The opposition challenged the result because of allegations of widespread fraud and irregularities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/uganda-election-bobi-wine-challenges-result-in-court/a-56405583|title=Uganda election: Bobi Wine challenges result in court &#124; DW &#124; 01.02.2021|website=Deutsche Welle|access-date=12 March 2021|archive-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301143714/https://www.dw.com/en/uganda-election-bobi-wine-challenges-result-in-court/a-56405583|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55675887|title=Uganda elections 2021: Museveni takes lead as Bobi Wine cries foul|work=BBC News|date=16 January 2021|access-date=12 March 2021|archive-date=10 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310035143/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55675887|url-status=live}}</ref> Another opposition candidate was 24 year old John Katumba.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Independent |first1=The |title=Presidential candidate John Katumba publishes his memoir |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/presidential-candidate-john-katumba-publishes-his-memoir/ |website=The Independent Uganda |date=9 January 2021 |access-date=12 April 2022 |archive-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701070601/https://www.independent.co.ug/presidential-candidate-john-katumba-publishes-his-memoir/ |url-status=live }}</ref>