Uganda celebrated 55 years of independence on 9th October 2017. Uganda is one of the countries that make up East Africa the others being Kenya and Tanzania. lately we have had new entrants like Rwanda and Burundi. If you have interested yourself in History, then you have heard of the scramble for Africa. I will endeavor to break it down, the white man, as a result of the industrial revolution began to seek for more natural resources and labor, as fate would have it, they landed on Africa a land rich with untapped natural resources and hence the scramble for Africa. The super powers of Britain, Germany, France and Italy began to partition Africa into colonies, hence the colonization of Africa. that is why you will find some Africans speak French or English as their national language. The partition and bordering of Africa was done by the white for the whites. the African was not considered or consulted when their borders were being drawn. It is for this reason that to date, we have the same tribe living in different countries separated by the white man’s border. case in point the Bafumbirwa in Uganda and their relatives in Kenya, the Bagisu of Uganda and Kenya, the Hutu and Tutsi of Burundi and Rwanda.
Uganda was colonised by the British, who had their own method of governance. we must note that the white man found very organised and established kingdoms in place, the most prominent being the Buganda Kingdom and the Bunyoro Kingdom contrary to popular belief that the African was illiterate and disorganized, he was indeed superior and did not require any colonization. the British quickly realized this and to conquer Uganda, they came up with a methodical plan of divide and rule and they used religion to do this. They sent missionaries who began to teach religion and also provide the white man’s education is now called formal education. We must note that the Arabs had been living in Africa long before the white man. however, they had no interest in colonization, they were strictly traders, but they had converted to Islam, which therefore was the first religion here. The white man brought with him Catholicism and Anglicanism making three prominent religions in competition. They drew distinct lines on this .one had to attend school in line with their religion, association was by religion and eventually politics was introduced on religious fronts.
That is why when the time came for the British to leave, religion still played a major role. Democratic Party which was and still is predominantly Catholic was the popular party of the time, Kabaka Yeka and Milton Obote’s Uganda People’s Congress who were both Anglican joined forces in order to beat the Democratic Party all this orchestrated by the British who eventually handed over power to them with the Kabaka as president to preside over ceremonial events and Milton Obote as the Vice and political head. On 9th October 1962, Uganda was declared independent amidst much jubilation and pomp. As we celebrate our independence, one wonders whether we are ready for a president of a different religion to govern us, point to note is that we have had the same Anglican President in charge for the last 31 years! I have heard people refusing to vote or support someone of a different religion.
Tribalism is also rife, though on the surface one may not see this, when shove comes to push, most people will stand by someone from the same tribe or region. politicians capitalize in these sentiments to get voted and that is why most of them in office are not there on merit.
Are we really Independent or are we still under the shadow of the British empire? One cannot deny the strong influence Britain still has in our affairs.
