Figure 1.--These National Resistance Army (NRA) boy soldiers may look like they beklong on the school plsyground, but they are equipped with AK-47s, giving them more fire power than most World War II soldiers. Thet are are about to be demobilize with the NRA victory and the end of the Ugandan Civil War. The press caption read, "Monday is a back-to-school Ugandan bakadoga, child soldiers, whonbinterupted their formal education to take up arms and fight in President Yoweri Museveini's National Resistance Army. The children have received trheir demobilization orders from RRA geadquarters." The photograph is dated Janusary 18, 1987. Children recruited into giovernment and rebel armies has been a continuing problem throughout Africa since the decolinization era. We are not sure how children like the boys here fared when they went back to school.

Steps toward local autonomy began (1921). British auhorities established a legislative and an executive council. At first only a few Africans were included on council, but half the membership of the legislative council were Africans (1955). A party political system began to develop. The executive council evolved into a ministerial system. The first general election was held (1961). Benedicto Kiwanuka’s Democratic Party won. Uganda became internally self-governing with Kiwanuka as first Prime Minister. A second general election (April 1962) resulted in a victory for Milton Obote’s Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). Britain granted full independence (October 1962). Uganda adopted a democratic Constition and joind the Commonwealth. The Kabaka of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa (Kabaka Mutesa II), became the first (non-executive) President, essentially a constitutional monarch (1963). Prime-minister Obote abrogated the 1962 constitution and removed Mutessa (1966). He declared Uganda a 'unitary'" state (1967). The traditional kingdoms were abolished. Obote established himself as head of the executive as well as head of state. (The traditional kingdoms were later restored in 1993, and the 1995 constitution has a provision on traditional leaders.) Former Paratroop Seargeant Iddi Amin staged a military coup (1971). Obote's rule had become unpopular and Amin was at first popular. This did not last long. Amin proceeded to wage a reign of terror (1971). Amin's brutality and the collspse of any semblance of the rule of law had a devestating impact on the healthy Ugandan econonomy. Amin further damaged the economy by expelling South Asians and seizing their property (1972). The south Asians had played an important role in the commercial sector. Next he expropriated the property of the smaller Jewish community. And Amin began cooperating with Palistinian terrorits. This led to Israel's operation Entebbe (1976). Amin began terrorizing intellctuals. In Amin's mind intellectuals meant possession of books, eye glasses, and chess sets. Public order collapsed. Murder, destruction of property, looting, and rape became widespread. Amin declared himself President-for-life. Peole fled the country to refgugee camps set up in neighboring countries. Finally launched an invasion of Tanzania’s northern territories. Not encountering significant domestic opposition, Amin seems to have convincd himsel that he could forcibly act against other countries. The Tanzanian governmnt and press had been highly critical of Amin and his lawless regime, They saw the invasion as a declaration of war. The Tanzanian Army struck back and supported by the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) composed of Ugandan refugees drove the Ugandan Army out of the northern territories. And they continued to advance all the way to Kampala (April 1979). Amin fled the country and was taken in by Saudi Arabia because he was a Muslim and his persecution of Jews. Professor Yusuf Lule, a former Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General and Chairman of UNLF was set up as the priovisional President. He was replaced by Godfrey Binaisa. A Military Commission led by Paulo Muwanga organized elctions (1980). Commonwealth and others observed the election. The elections returned Dr. Obote’s UPC to power. The results, however, were disputed. Obote was unable to restore economic and political stability to the country devestated by Amin and war. The new government became bogged down in a civil war. The National Resistance Army (NRA), led by Yoweri Museveni launched a protracted resistance effort, accusing the government of rigging the 1980 elections. National Resistance Army (NRA) was formed and began the Bush War agsinst Onote (1981). Obote was overthrown by his own Uganda National Liberation Army in a coup led by General Tito Lutwa Okello (July 1985). Okello became President. This did not placate the NRA and their allies still fighting in the bush. The NRA finally won the civil war (1986), but fighing continued in the north. Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) took over a country whichb had suffered 1 million deaths, 2 million refugees, and more than 0.5 million seriously injured people. And Uganda was not a large country. In addition to the terrible bloodshed, the economy and physical infrastructure had been destroyed. The Ugandan economy and society in geneal has never fully recovered. Modern Uganda is engaged in a guerilla war with the nilhisic Lords Resistance Movement.

Preliminary Steps

Steps toward local autonomy began (1921). British auhorities established a legislative and an executive council. At first only a few Africans were included on council, but half the membership of the legislative council were Africans (1955). A party political system began to develop. The executive council evolved into a ministerial system. The first general election was held (1961). Benedicto Kiwanuka’s Democratic Party won. Uganda became internally self-governing with Kiwanuka as first Prime Minister. A second general election (April 1962) resulted in a victory for Milton Obote’s Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).

Britain Grants Independence (1962)

Britain granted full independence (October 1962). Uganda adopted a democratic Constition and joind the Commonwealth. The Kabaka of Buganda, Sir Edward Mutesa (Kabaka Mutesa II), became the first (non-executive) President, essentially a constitutional monarch (1963).

Obote Unitary State (1962-71)

Prime-minister Obote abrogated the 1962 constitution and removed Mutessa (1966). He declared Uganda a 'unitary' state (1967). The traditional kingdoms were abolished. Obote established himself as head of the executive as well as head of state. (The traditional kingdoms were later restored in 1993, and the 1995 constitution has a provision on traditional leaders.) Obote controlled Uganda for nearly a decade. He created many enemies during that decade.

Iddi Amin Era (1971-79)

Former Paratroop Seargeant Iddi Amin staged a military coup (1971). Obote's rule had become unpopular and Amin was at first popular. This did not last long. Amin proceeded to wage a reign of terror (1971). And he created a brutal secret police to terrorize Ugandans. Ther was no concentration camps, rather Amin simply tortured and killed thise who opposed him. The numnver of victims has never been calculated but is believed to be somewhere between 100,000-500,000 people an incredible number in such a small country. Amin's brutality and the collspse of any semblance of the rule of law had a devestating impact on the previously healthy Ugandan econonomy. Amin further damaged the economy by expelling South Asians and seizing their property (1972). It was a step taken to gain popularity. It was populr with the public. But neither Amin or other Ugandans considered the consequences. The south Asians had played an important role in the commercial sector. Britain took in some of the Asian refugees. Which began to collapse. Next he expropriated the property of the smaller Jewish community. And Amin began cooperating with Palistinian terrorits. This led to Israel's operation Entebbe (1976). Amin began terrorizing intellctuals which he suspected of disloyalty. In Amin's mind intellectuals meant possession of books, eye glasses, and chess sets. Public order collapsed. Murder, destruction of property, looting, and rape became widespread. Amin declared himself President-for-life. People began fleeing the country to refgugee camps set up in neighboring countries, many to Tanzania. Finally Amin launched an invasion of Tanzania’s northern territories-- Kagera Region.

Tanzania War (1979)

Not encountering significant domestic opposition, Amin seems to have convinced himself that he had signifiant military competence and could forcibly act against other countries as well. The fawning deputies which he surronded homself with only incourged such thoughts. The Tanzanian government and press had been highly critical of Amin and his lawless regime. And there were refugee camps filled with hostile Ugandan refugees in northern Tanzania. Tananzania saw the invasion as a declaration of war. The Ugandan Army in a surprise attack drove into northern Tanzania. It prived to be his undoing. The VUgandan Army was a hollow shell. It was effective in supressing an unarmed Ugandan public. Fighting a war against a competent army was a very different matter. The Tanzanian Army struck back and supported by the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF) composed of Ugandan refugees quickly drove the Ugandan Army out of the Northern Region. And they continued to advance all the way to Kampala (April 1979). Amin fled the country and was taken in by Saudi Arabia, largely because he was a Muslim and persecuted Jews. He lived out his days comfortably in Saudi Arabia.

Obote Returns

Professor Yusuf Lule, a former Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General and Chairman of UNLF was set up as the priovisional President. He was replaced by Godfrey Binaisa. A Military Commission led by Paulo Muwanga organized elctions (1980). Commonwealth and others observed the election. The elections returned Dr. Obote’s UPC to power. The results, however, were disputed. Obote was unable to restore economic and political stability to the country devestated by Amin and war.

Civil War (1980-86)

The new government became bogged down in a civil war. The National Resistance Army (NRA), led by Yoweri Museveni launched a protracted resistance effort, accusing the government of rigging the 1980 elections. National Resistance Army (NRA) was formed and began the Bush War agsinst Obote (1981). The ethnic base of the political parties was a factor in the civil war. The NRA was able to operate most effectively in the north, especially the Karamojo. Another factor was the use of child soldiers (figure 1). Obote was overthrown by his own Uganda National Liberation Army in a coup led by General Tito Lutwa Okello (July 1985). Okello became President. This did not placate the NRA and their allies still fighting in the bush. The NRA finally won the civil war (1986), but fighing continued in the north, including the Karamojo. Museveni and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) took over a country which had suffered 1 million deaths, 2 million refugees, and more than 0.5 million seriously injured people. And Uganda was not a large country. In addition to the terrible bloodshed, the economy and physical infrastructure had been destroyed. The Ugandan economy and society in geneal has never fully recovered.

NRM Government (1986- )

The NRA moved in Kampala bringing the NBRM to power(January 1986). The NRA ousted Okello’s government. The NRM leader Museveni became President and Dr. Samson Kisekka as Prime Minister. They brought uin a broad-based cabinet of civilians. Fighting continued in the north. The NRM was impaired by instability in the region. The NRM governed the country through a National Resistance Council (NRC) which functioned as a non-elected party parliament. Elections were held based on universal adult suffrage (1989). The Governent set up over 8,000 village resistance councils. Museveni sought to establish democratic structures based on a non-party democracy, a political nn-sequator. This was both a personal desire to retain power and an attempt to difuse the strong ethnic tensions that would ultimately emerge in a multiparty system. Museveni suspended political party activity, although interestingly, he did not not make the parties illegal. Elections under a new cinstitution, referred to as the Movement System’ were held. This included both presidential and parliamentary elections (May and June 1996). Local elections were also held (June 1998). Museveni won reelection for a 5-year term with 75 per cent of the vote. The National Assembly with 276 members met (July 1996). The sat as individuals, although many had well known political affiliations. A referendum which was required by the constitutiion was held (June 2000). Over 90 percent of the voters approved the Movement System. We are not sure how accurately the voes were counted. Voter partucipstion was 47 percent. Museveni ran for presiudent again (March 2001). He polled 69 percent of the vote to win another 5-year term. Museveni's reelection was strongly contested by a former NRM colleague, Dr Kizza Besigye who won 28 per cent of the vote. The NRM Government was not a one-poarty state. Parliamentary elections were held (June 2001). Some 50 incumbents members were defeated and that imclyded 10 – including ten NRM cabinet ministers.

Lords Resistance Movement

The NRM Government was boithered by the a guerilla war with the nilhisic Lords Resistance Army (LRA) which was active. The LRA abducted more than 20,000 children and the conflict displaced some 2 million people, a ceasefire between the Uganda Government and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). This was a rebel army led by Joseph Kony. They were primarily active in northern Kenya, but also in neigboring the Karamojo. A cease fire began (August 29, 2006). Peace talks mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan began in Juba. The ceasfire with only minor violations held. The Uganda Government reached agreement with the LRA on a roadmap for a permanenbt long-term peace, reconciliation and accountability (June 2007). A major problem became disarmament and getting weapons out of the hands of the Ugandan poulation.

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Created: 6:20 PM 8/10/2004
Last updated: 3:19 PM 2/24/2019