Kadaga launches Makubuya's new book on Uganda's history

LITERATURE

Titled; "Protection, Patronage or Plunder? British Machinations and Uganda's Struggle for Independence" the book gives a new insight into Buganda and Uganda's history right from colonial time to date.

The book authored by the Buganda Kingdom's third premier and Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs, Apollo Makubuya, fetches most of its facts from the British National Archive.

"I wanted to get the real documents to ensure that people stop distorting our history and get exactly what transpired during the British rule.

Most books written about our history are written by foreigners who tend to distort information," Makubuya noted during the launch of his book at Mestil Hotel in Kampala.

The event was graced by high profiles personalities including government officials, religious, cultural leaders and those from the academia.

Makubuya's book displays how colonial rule impacted on the country's politics and economics, and its continued influence to the country's development.

"Many can say, they have heard this before and wondering what is new and different in my book.

But while researching and writing this book, I relied on the original material only found in the national archives in the United Kingdom (British National Archives) where they keep records for many years. I got access to original records and some of it was hand written," he noted.

Adding; "I even found some hand written notes by Sir Harry Johnson and instruments to him on how to handle the 1900 Agreement.

I also found information on what informed the crafting of the 1962 Constitution in Lancaster, and the agreement between the Kabaka of Buganda and Kamusawaga of Kooki," he said.

He stressed that his book provides the history that has not been written before by other writers, majority of whom are foreigners with many falsehoods.

"I am sure this book will correct everything. We were told how the whites basically helped us to be civilized and how they rescued us from the ‘dark continent' but we did not learn anything about the history of the Bafumbira, Karamajong, Itesots and how they came to be united under one Uganda," he added.

He noted that the existing history written in various books show little or nothing progressive about the African natives and their culture, which is unfair. 

Makubuya said the book will inform debate especially with intended new constitutional framework and planned national dialogue.

While launching the book; Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga said Uganda needs to get back to the drawing board to discuss various root causes of its challenges to come up with lasting solutions.


"I thank Makubuya for writing this book because it has a lot of things that we did not know about. That is why it is important to embrace history and write our own history than depending on what other people write to avoid being misled," she added.

Kadaga said everything the country is going through has roots right from the past; saying that dealing with the current and future situations, the country needs to learn from the past.