An aside about the late Daudi O. Ocheng, a Muganda of Acholi origin. (Ocheng’s name is often misspelled as Ochieng. The two are apparently different names.) He was born in 1925 in Keyo, near Gulu.
His education included King’s College Budo 1943-1944, Makerere University College, 1945–1949, Dip. Agric; University of Wales, 1955–1958, B.A. Hons. – incidentally he was President of the U.C. Debates Union in 1956-1957 at Wales. His work & political experience included the posts of Assistant Agronomist, Cotton Research Center 1950-1955, Agricultural Officer (Economics) 1958-1960, Personal Assistant to Chairman, UDC, 1960-1961, Deputy Min. Finance, 1961, Deputy Manager, Agricultural Enterprises Ltd., 1962.
In 1964, he was elected as an MP in the National Assembly, for Mityana, right in the heart of Buganda. He was Opposition Chief Whip in 1965, and Secretary-General of Kabaka Yekka, 1965.
{It is noteworthy that Kakonge, an ethnic Munyoro, was elected to national political office in a constituency located in Buganda, in the early 1960s. It is all the more remarkable that he was of the UPC persuasion and was the Secretary-General of the UPC. Obote was so scared of Kakonge that he took to undermining him politically, I suspect, with Ibingira’s help. Kakonge’s story has yet to be told definitively and remains a challenge to biographers and our political scientists alike. It would make an excellent topic for an MA thesis …}
Daudi Ocheng was a member of the Governing Council, University College Nairobi; a Trustee of the Uganda National Parks, and the Chairman of the Outward Bound Trust, Uganda. Likewise, Daudi Ocheng’s fascinating story has yet to be told definitively and is another inviting research topic. Yet, this gentleman had such an impact on the course of our politics!
Grace S. Ibingira’s bio:
Born on 23 May 1932 in Ibanda, Ankole where his father, Mr. Alfred Katebarirwe was a Gombolola Chief, educated Mbarara High School 1942-1950, at King’s College Budo, 1951-1953, University of Wales, 1955 – 1958, LL.B.; Barrister-at-Law Middle Temple, 1959; post-grad study at University of London, 1958-1959; Advocate, Uganda. Apparently, he participated in the “Kumanyana” movement in Ankole, although he was a Muhima and the Kumanyana movement was a Bairu thing.
Ibingira was a member Legislative Council (a.k.a Legco or “Legico”) 1960 after being elected by the Eishengyero of Ankole, re-elected MP for Ankole West (UPC), 1962; founder-member of UPC, legal adviser to UPC since its inception, UPC Chairman for Ankole. Actively promoted the merger of the Uganda National Congress and Ugandan People’s Union. Accompanied Obote to London constitutional conferences, also a major figure in the formation of the ill-fated KY-UPC alliance. Minister of Justice 1962-1966, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office in charge of Public Service 1964-1966, Secretary-General of UPC 1964-1966.
Ibingira described himself as being committed to E. A. unity of Uganda, Kenya & Tz. When Obote forbade his ministers to attend a meeting in 1963 at the University of Nairobi, to discuss federation with representatives of the other two states, “Ibingira defied the ban and made a passionate appeal for East African Federation” -- see C. Leys & P. Robson (eds) Federation in East Africa: Opportunities and Problems, Oxford University Press, 1965).
Convinced that Obote was betraying the principle on which he was elected, Ibingira organized a movement within UPC & outside it to put restraint on Obote’s ambitions. He was arrested for it, among other things, on 22 February 1966 by Obote while in the middle of a cabinet meeting considering the terms of reference for s commission of inquiry to censure Obote for looting gold, coffee & ivory from Zaire and for making secret preparations to abrogate the Constitution of Uganda. Subsequently detained for 5 years at Luzira Maximum Security Prison.
He was released from detention by Gen. Idi Amin in 1971. He was Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the UN from August 1971 until his resigination in 1974. It was Ibingira who designed the natonal flag of Uganda. More details on pp vii – ix and the dust-jacket of his 1973 book, The Forging of An African Nation. Also, do not overlook the preface on pp xi – xii.
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ps: Why did Obote prevent his ministers from attending the EA federation conference? Why did he try to have Mandela and the ANC -- which he termed a "tribal organization" -- banned from attending the OAU's precursor meeting in Addis Ababa? Who were/are Obote's masters whose interests he worked so hard to uphold?
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