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This question provides a historical perspective, asking about the origins and evolution of political parties in Uganda. It would discuss the impact of colonial history, independence, and subsequent political movements on the formation of different political parties.
Uganda developed from the nineteenth century kingdom of Buganda, based along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. In 1894 Buganda was declared a British protectorate, but the country was never fully colonised. Growing self-government through a Legislative and Executive Council led to full independence on 9th October 1962. Milton Obote, leader of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), was elected Prime Minister. He was overthrown in 1971 by Army Chief of Staff, General Idi Amin, who established a brutal dictatorship. The Asian Community was expelled in 1972 and intellectuals persecuted. Border tension led to an invasion by Tanzania, with support from exiled members of the Ugandan National Liberation Front (UNLF). President Amin was over-thrown and ill-organised elections in 1980 returned Obote’s UPC to power.
President Obote’s government relied on the support of the army and soon became embroiled in a savage guerrilla war against Mr. Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Army (NRA), who regarded Obote and his supporters as criminals. Growing dissent between Acholi and the Langi factions within the army resulted in Obote’s overthrow by the Acholi, led by General Tito Okello Lutwa. Gen. Okello established a military council, but after a bitter battle in January 1986, the NRA occupied Kampala and Mr. Museveni was installed as President. In 1995, Uganda adopted a new constitution. The Constitution provided for Presidential, Parliamentary and local elections over the next two years, to be held under the existing restrictions on activity by political parties. The elections which followed in May and June 1996, for President and Parliament respectively, were generally free and fair, notwithstanding the ban on party activityA referendum was held in June 2000, which decided to maintain the restrictions. A second referendum was held in 2005 which decided the return to a multiparty system of Government and elections. Uganda’s first multi-party elections since 1980 were held on 23rd February 2006. Multiparty Elections have been held every five years since then. Considerable progress has been made in restoring peace across Uganda and in rebuilding infrastructure shattered by civil war.
Uganda’s political parties originated during the colonial period, influenced by religious, ethnic, and regional divides. The two main parties, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Democratic Party (DP), were established in the 1950s. The DP was primarily Catholic, while the UPC had Protestant and northern support. Kabaka Yekka (KY) emerged as a Buganda-based monarchist party. These parties reflected Uganda’s diverse societal structure and shaped its post-independence political landscape.