Few people in the country know how much they owed to the courage of the opposition members of parliament from the North who moved to neutralize this calamity (my emphasis).
In January 1966, an Acholi parliamentarian had already warned Obote about this (my emphasis):
There are certain individuals who were of opinion that they could exploit the ethnic groups of our men in the armed forces. I would like to inform, especially those who do not come from the area where I come from, that it would be futile for anybody who calls himself Nilotic to think that he could play the emotions of the Acholi to fight on his side, because he is fully aware of the plight of certain politicians having failed,
have exhorted and resorted to playing on ethnic origin of the men of our armed forces
do not count on certain Nilotics to come and support you and maintain you in office indefinitely or for thirty years as some conceited Front Bench Members seem to think9 (my emphasis).
Despite Obotes effort, the Acholi were certainly not unanimously for him (my emphasis). Most particularly the DP parliamentarians from Acholi and West Nile, like A Latim, H. Obonyo, and M. Okelo (all later murdered by Idi Amin), who could use ethnicity as a tool to penetrate Obotes monopoly of the army, had to work intensively, drive secretly to several battalions, and plead with the troops not to move on the reckless behest of government politicians (my emphasis). It worked. But the country and especially the capital knew was being attempted by Obote. The Cabinet under the chairmanship of Cuthbert Obwangor met at least twice and sent urgent requests to Obote to return to the capital, but in vain.
It was such circumstances, therefore, that prompted Muteesa II to get involved. He had no executive authority to conduct government business. But the very constitution that tied his hands was in imminent danger of being abrogated by those charged by upholding it. It was obviously an impossible situation to be in: on the one hand being required to be constitutional when constitutionality is in the process of being repudiated, and on the other hand taking steps to ensure the survival of the constitution when he had no legal powers to do so. He (Muteesa II) chose the latter course to act and it was the more honorable course, even if it did miscarry, partly because the action was too limited and too hesitant but especially because the commander of the army, Brigadier Opolot, who had privately campaigned for the Ochieng motion to remove Idi Amin, his rival, and had assured c
onstitutionalists he block any overt move to abrogate the constitution, became fainthearted and faltered in the face of a more bold and desperate Amin, once the revolution was under way.
I had some meetings with Muteesa II at this time; he was entitled to consult his ministers. The position he (Muteesa II) took was that should there be an actual upheaval or rebellion in the army when any faction moved to seize power, it should be stopped so as to uphold the constitution, and if necessary a precautionary request should be sent to the British asking them to provide military assistance to overcome disorder. As a former colonial power with which Uganda had parted without hard feelings and as a fellow member of the Commonwealth, Britain was a reasonable choice at this time.
It was not the first time that British military assistance was requested to put down a rebellion in Uganda. As stated earlier, in January 1964 British troops had been called in by Obote to quell a mutiny in the first battalion. The only difference this time was that Muteesa II, the ceremonial president, and not Obote, the executive head of government, was to make the request. Technically, therefore, Obote was right that Muteesa had no legal power to make the request (my emphasis).
But the request as put was contingent on there being an overt, internal military threat to abrogate the constitution that could not be contained by local means. It is significant that the prime minister conveniently left this point out and injected a new false claim that the request was for foreign troops to overthrow the government. Muteesa plainly and openly stated that he had made the request in good faith as a responsible head of state (my emphasis). But the supreme moment for which Obote had long planned was at hand and the politicized army under Idi Amin was on top.
On April 15 1966 in a parliamentary session while was surrounded by troops, Obote formally announced, the constitution we had from 9 October, 1962 is hereby abrogated.10 He then imposed his own brand of constitution granting himself for all practical purposes the unrestrained, centralized power. Without any Member of Parliament having seen the new constitution, they were forced to adopt it (my emphasis).
As he told Parliament, It is hereby resolved that the
constitution now laid before us be adopted, and it is hereby adopted this 15th day of April 1966 as the constitution of Uganda. He added, Fairly soon you will find copies [of the constitution that parliamentarians had never seen but had approved] in your pigeon holes.
9 Uganda Parliamentary Debates 56: (18 January 1966): 731
10 Ibid., 29 (15 April 1966): 15. Obotes whole speech is the most important and authoritative statement of his reasons for the 1966 revolution.
Source: www.mail-archive.com/ugandanet@kym.net/msg14401.html
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Some of these allegations are not any different from what we have seen here on
the net before.
One of them was that Obote (Or was it his government?) kept sending an up-keep
fee for the Kabaka he/it had overthrown while the latter was in exile. When
contrary information was made available and we asked the persons that had been
alleging so to substantiate their allegations, no answer was forthcoming. But
we as still waiting in anticipation that one day, they will bring forward their
evidence.
Quoting musamize <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>
> Netters,
>
>
>
> An enduring of myth in UPC's web of lies is the notion that Muteesa II
> imported weapons to overthrow Obote in the 1960s.
>
>
>
> Elsewhere I have stated:
>
>
>
> Finally, those naïve and gullible UPC fanatics (e.g. the current UPC
> leaders like Rwanyarare), who were duped into believing that Obote and
> Amin attacked the Kabaka in the infamous May 1966 battle of Mmengo
> because the Late Muteesa II was planning to overthrow the government of
> Uganda by force of arms supposedly imported through Gailey Roberts,
> could easily disabuse themselves of this falsehood by reading an article
> that appeared on 30 November, 1978. That article shows that it was none
> other than Bob Astles the British pariah, who suggested to both Obote --
> who had long resolved to remain in power at all costs (Ibingira,
> 1980) -- and his chum Idi Amin, that they (Obote & Amin) hide some arms
> in the Lubiri after the attack in order to make their shenanigans
> believable. Talk about non-existent WMDs!
>
>
> source: www.mail-archive.com/ugandanet@kym.net/msg14401.html
>
> The article refered to actually appeared on a different date, but this
> in no way diminishes its import because at least 2 other sources, which
> are both credible and knowledgeable, support it:
>
> 1. Muteesa II in his book, The Desacration of My Kingdom
>
> 2. Ibingira in his 1980 book, African Upheavals Since Independence.
>
> The article about Bob (Ass H*le) is:
>
> Amins Loyal Aide, a Briton, Is Court Jester and Survivor
> By John Darnton,
> New York Times, Saturday, December 2, 1978
>
> and it can be found easily enough at:
>
> www.mail-archive.com/ugandanet@kym.net/msg14667.html
>
> Also I can send it to anyone who cannot access Ugandanet's archives.
>
> So it is not a matter of "UPC Haters", facts are facts.
>
>
> Matek Opoko <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Matek Opoko
> To: ugandanet@kym.net
> Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 9:33 PM
> Subject: Re: [Ugnet] Join security forces, Katikkiro tells Baganda
>
> EM:
> The fact that Kabaka Mutesa tried everything possible to acquire weapons
> from the British Imperalist ..which weapons were to be used to overthrow
> the legitimately constituted UPC Government, is never mentioned by UPC
> haters. Instead they dwell on the fact that UPC deployed troops to
> attack Bulange... so what go have a cow.Some of us really do not give a
> dash.... Museveni wants to fight...he is MOST definately going to fight
> and fight a very intensive battle all throughout the country. Member of
> the International Community will most definately blame Yoweri Museveni
> Kaguta for any calamity which will befall Uganda. Indeed If Museveni
> thinks he can protect every corner of Uganda with his UPDF is is yet to
> lear n a lesson.. Tutsis wi ll Cry!!! I swear this to your!!
> Matek
> Edward Mulindwa <[EMAIL PROTECTED]:
> No I actually think it is stupidiness really. This crap Katikiro who is
> not
> even elected has lost Buluri under his watch and under this kingdom.
> That we
> can not fail to recognize. Secondly if you were smart you would remember
>
> that Buganda is the only Kingdom that side that was built by fighting
> and
> killing its neighbors.
> Let us as well remember that Uganda Armed Forces went to attack Mengo
> for
> Muteesa had gone to the British embassy in Kampala and asked for weapons
> to
> over throw an elected government.
> Do we really want to arm a cultural entity in Uganda? Where do we start
> and
> stop? Does Mulwanyamuli as well want Baluri to register in UPDF?
> Ugandans, where is critical thinking when one needs one?
> Em
> Toronto
> The M ulindwas Communication Group
> "With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
> Groupe de communication Mulindwas
> "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 2:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [Ugnet] Join security forces, Katikkiro tells Baganda
>
> May be it is because the UGANDAN TROOPS have over time (1962 - 2005)
> failed
> to
> protect the nationalities in Uganda. That the NATIONALITIES are
> resorting to
> protecting themselves, CRITICALLY, I don't see any STUPIDITY in
> NATIONALITIES
> in Uganda trying to protect themselves.
> Quoting Matek Opoko :
> EM:
> There is a notion out there held by some of our fellow citizens
> commonly
> referred to as "The mengo clique" which seems to think that Buganda
> exist apart from Uganda. ..and therefore, "Buganda troops" w ithin the
> UPDF will mostly defend Buganda Interest. Such notion is of course
> stupidity of the Highest o rder. The fact is that Buganda or Iteso, or
> Acholi, lugwara,Madi, Busoga,Karamojong Uganda Troops MUST PROTECT THE
> INTEREST OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF UGANDA....and not some entity called
> Buganda!!
> >
> Matek
> >
> Edward Mulindwa wrote:
> Matek
> >
> Why do we need a national army to protect a cultural institution, and
> from what?
> >
> Em
> Toronto
> The Mulindwas Communication Group
> "With Yoweri Museveni, Uganda is in anarchy"
> Groupe de communication Mulindwas
> "avec Yoweri Museveni, l'Ouganda est dans l'anarchie"
> >
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Matek Opoko
> To: ugandanet@kym.net ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2005 2:07 AM
> Subject: [Ugnet] Join security forc es, Katikkiro tells Baganda
> >
> >
> Join security forces, Katikkiro tells Baganda Michael J SsaliMASAKA
> The Katikkiro of Buganda, Joseph Mulwanyammuli Ssemwogerere, has urged
> the Baganda to encourage their children to join security forces to
> protect the kingdom's cultural institutions and traditions.
> Ssemwogerere was speaking at the new Kkingo Sub-county headquarters in
> Masaka district on Sunday.
> >
> He said under the regimes of Apollo Milton Obote and Idi Amin Dada,
> the
> security forces were dominated by members of ethnic groups that had no
> respect for the cultures of other tribes.
> He said this had caused tension and chaos in the country.
> >
> "It is not good for you parents to discourage your children from
> joining
> the security forces like Police, Army and Prisons because other tribes
> dominated these institutions and took adva ntage of their large numbers
> in the security forces and attempted to wipe out our kingdom, our
> traditions and our culture," he said.
> The Kat ikkiro, who also comes from Kkingo, had been invited by the
> sub-county chairman, Mr Ben Bukenya, and his council to thank him for
> his many achievements for Buganda and Uganda.
> >
> Turning to the deal between the central government and Mengo on a
> federal status for Buganda and other regions that want it, the
> Katikkiro
> said, "We are satisfied with where we have reached so far."
> >
> The federo deal was arrived at after protracted negotiations between
> Mengo and the central government.
> Under the agreement sealed on February 1, the Katikkiro will be
> elected
> as opposed to being appointed by the Kabaka.
> >
> There will be one Lukiiko dominated by directly elected members, with
> a
> few cultural representatives.
> The Lukiiko would make laws consistent with the Constitution.
> Buganda's
> 9,000 square miles were put under the management of district tender
> boards.
> The deal gives the regional government authority to manage some
> functions of local government like construction of feeder roads.
> >
> The regional government can also take over and manage community health
> centres that do not belong to the central government. It is allowed to
> charge some user fees for the use of the facility.
> >
> The deal also allows the President to take over the administration of
> any region if he deems that the regional government has violated any
> laws of the country.
> >
> Ssemwogerere said it was unfair for some people to think that Buganda
> would get all its demands at once and asked everyone to be patient and
> even thankful for what has been achieved s o far.
> >
> The Katikkiro added that during his many trips to other parts of
> Uganda
> he had discovered that even those communities were making similar
> demands for a federal status.
> >
> Bukenya than ked the Katikkiro for bringing honour to Kkingo
> sub-county.
> "You have done us proud, and we thank you very much," he said.
> >
> Bukoto South MP in Masaka, Dr Herbert Lwanga, attended the function.
> Also in attendance was Mr MathiasNsubuga, the personal assistant to
> the
> Kampala mayor.
> >
> He has declared his interest in contesting for the Bukoto South
> parliamentary seat.
> Lwanga and Nsubuga bought Buganda Certificates worth Shs100,000 each
> to
> bolster the kingdom's finances.
>
> \\\\\\\"Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second
> rate
> version of someone else.\\\\\\\\\\\\\"
> Njoki Paul
> University of Pretoria
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
\\\\\\\"Always be a first rate version of yourself instead of a second rate
version of someone else.\\\\\\\\\\\\\"
Njoki Paul
University of Pretoria
_______________________________________________
Ugandanet mailing list
Ugandanet@kym.net
http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet
% UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
_______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list Ugandanet@kym.net http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
