{UAH} Is MUSEVENI A STUDENT OF Obote, intentions are the same?

In 1962 Uganda was still afflicted by 'an extreme form of uneven development', created in particular 'by Buganda's dramatic historical head start.'[74] Obote adopted an aggressive stance towards Buganda, and believed that its suppression was integral to the formation of a unified nation. Ali Mazrui succinctly describes the contradiction that Obote faced, claiming that 'Uganda is an impossible country to govern with the support of the Baganda, but it is also impossible to govern without the support of the Baganda.'[75] Obote came to believe that Buganda would 'constitute the main threat to national unity until its special position was abrogated and its monarchy abolished', and therefore made a concerted effort to bring about the kingdoms demise.[76] From 1962 onwards, Obote claimed that national identity was replacing regional identity, but this was not the case in Buganda. As a result, Obote chose to enforce the Ugandan ideal upon the Baganda by slowly destroying its institutions and position of advantage within the country.

Although relations between Buganda and the central government descended rather rapidly after independence, it must be noted that Obote was in fact very popular in Buganda in 1962. Phares Mutibwa claims that such popularity came about because of the 'seemingly peaceful transition to independence' that was being orchestrated by Obote. The brief period of cooperation in 1962 soon came to an end, when in 1963 contrary to an earlier agreement with the KY, the UPC began to establish party offices in Buganda outside of Kampala.[77] The 'complacency and ineptitude of the Kabaka's advisers' began to show as they believed the agreement with the UPC was binding, whereas Obote saw 'the alliance was no more than a temporary necessity.'[78] The federal nature of the new government soon began to unravel, resulting in the increasing domination of the UPC and development of one party state. Obote was unhappy that regional governments had become 'a microcosm of the central government rather than its local outpost', and therefore manipulated local government to enhance the position of the central authorities.[79] In a speech given in 1964, Obote vocalised his desire for the creation of a one party state, which led to a collapse of the alliance with the KY later in the year. On the 24th August 1964, Prime Minister Obote terminated the alliance between the KY and UPC, which had lasted for only 27 months. The announcement was made possible by defections to the UPC from both KY and the DP, guaranteeing the supremacy of the UPC in the National Assembly. This new position of strength meant that 'Buganda was relegated to a marginal position in national politics', much to the delight of Obote.[80] By August 1964 the intentional subjugation of Buganda was becoming readily apparent, and was confounded further by the 'lost counties' referendum.

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