{UAH} OBOTE, ARTICLE 118, AND WHY SOME UGANDANS WILL LEAVE UGANDA AFTER MUSEVENI.

The 1966 crisis 

The events that took place in 1966, which eventually led to the abolition of kingships 

have to a considerable extent impacted on successive regimes in Uganda. They have 

all faced pressure from the Baganda to restore their Kabaka and the return to the 

position of pre-eminence enjoyed until 1966. When Prime Minister Obote suspended 

the Independence Constitution in 1966, and introduced a new interim constitution, the 

relationship between the central government and Buganda further deteriorated.2

 The 

new constitution increased the power of the centre at the expense of the kingdoms and 

the districts. In addition, Mutesa II was removed from the presidency, the prime 

minister post was abolished, the powers of the presidency was extended, and Obote 

declared himself executive president (Rukooko 2001:12). 

 

The 1966 constitution certainly attacked federalism and monarchism, and changes 

were introduced which weakened the powers of the Kabaka and the Buganda 

government. As a reaction to the new constitution, the Buganda government passed a 

motion ordering the central government to remove itself from the soil of Buganda. 

Mutesa II could not accept the new decisions, and the conflict culminated in an assault 

on the Kabaka’s palace by troops from the Uganda Army (Oloka-Onyango 1997:175). 

This caused Mutesa II to flee into English exile where he died in 1969. 

 

By introducing a new constitution the following year, Obote attempted to consolidate 

his position in power. The most notable feature of the 1967 constitution was the 

abolition of monarchism and the introduction of republicanism (Constitution 

1967:Article 118 (1)). The aim of the 1967 constitution was to remove the vestiges of 

regional autonomy and centralise the powers of the government in a unitary state. To 

achieve this, the constitution of 1967 conferred wide-ranging powers to the central 

government and greatly enhanced the executive and legislative powers of the 

presidency at the expense of the cabinet, judiciary and legislature. The abolition of 

kingship created strong reactions among the Baganda and caused the population in 

Buganda to grieve. Their demands to restore the institution were, however, postponed 

due to the brutality of the regimes of President Obote and President Idi Amin.

Viele GruBe

Robukui