The Role Of Peasants In Uganda’s Political History
Mar 30, 2004
Peasants have taken several fundamental decisions in Uganda’s history. During the fight for independence, there were demonstrations organised by people, such as Kangave Musaazi, where the peasants joined in to protest injustices caused by the colonialists.
By Joshua Kato
Peasants have taken several fundamental decisions in Uganda’s history. During the fight for independence, there were demonstrations organised by people, such as Kangave Musaazi, where the peasants joined in to protest injustices caused by the colonialists.
But during the talks at Lancaster between the British and the fighters for independence, the peasants took a back seat. On Independence Day, the peasants only came out to witness the function in huge numbers.
The first real peasantry involvement in fighting for their rights was during the Mengo crisis. After the attack on the Lubiri and the subsequent exiling of Kabaka Edward Muteesa, thousands of Baganda peasants launched a mass protest. Hundreds of peasants were killed in the process.
In the late 1960s, Milton Obote, then the President of Uganda, attempted to bring the peasants closer to his regime by adopting The Common Man’s Charter, a communist theory of governace. However, Obote was overthrown in 1971, before the peasants could reap the fruits of this innovation.
During the fight against Idi Amin, the peasants did not feature as prominently as elite. This was because most of the fighting was organised from outside the country. Only a handful of people who had access to Tanzania joined the fight.
President Yoweri Museveni developed peasant-centred struggles in Uganda in the 1980s and in 1986 captured power. Some joined the fighting ranks, while others provided the rebels with food and shelter.
The peasants also organised underground networks. “Where were the so-called elite when the peasants were taking the decision to remove dictatorship from this country? Can these people claim that the peasants did not bring the democracy they are enjoying today?†wonders Hajji Abdul Nadduli, Luweero LC5 Chairman.
“It’s an insult for one to say we do not have an opinion about issues that directly affect us,†says Edward Ssendi, an LC official in Luweero.
In the 1996 and 2001 elections, Museveni got over 70% of his votes form peasants.
“We are not saying the peasants cannot make decisions. We are saying they can make wrong decisions,†says MP Frank Nabwiso.
“At least 65% of the peasants in Uganda say the country should be ruled under a federal system, but are we under a that arrangement?†asks Ken Lukyamuzi, Rubaga South MP.
“Were peasants consulted during the sale of the Uganda Commercial Bank?†asks DP’s Mukasa Mbidde. “Why were they not consulted when the army was entering Congo or the Sudan?"
Leander Komakech, president of the Uganda Young Democrats, says:
“The question is not about the intellect of the peasants. This is a constitutional matter that was mapped out years ago.â€
Ends
Peasants have taken several fundamental decisions in Uganda’s history. During the fight for independence, there were demonstrations organised by people, such as Kangave Musaazi, where the peasants joined in to protest injustices caused by the colonialists.
But during the talks at Lancaster between the British and the fighters for independence, the peasants took a back seat. On Independence Day, the peasants only came out to witness the function in huge numbers.
The first real peasantry involvement in fighting for their rights was during the Mengo crisis. After the attack on the Lubiri and the subsequent exiling of Kabaka Edward Muteesa, thousands of Baganda peasants launched a mass protest. Hundreds of peasants were killed in the process.
In the late 1960s, Milton Obote, then the President of Uganda, attempted to bring the peasants closer to his regime by adopting The Common Man’s Charter, a communist theory of governace. However, Obote was overthrown in 1971, before the peasants could reap the fruits of this innovation.
During the fight against Idi Amin, the peasants did not feature as prominently as elite. This was because most of the fighting was organised from outside the country. Only a handful of people who had access to Tanzania joined the fight.
President Yoweri Museveni developed peasant-centred struggles in Uganda in the 1980s and in 1986 captured power. Some joined the fighting ranks, while others provided the rebels with food and shelter.
The peasants also organised underground networks. “Where were the so-called elite when the peasants were taking the decision to remove dictatorship from this country? Can these people claim that the peasants did not bring the democracy they are enjoying today?†wonders Hajji Abdul Nadduli, Luweero LC5 Chairman.
“It’s an insult for one to say we do not have an opinion about issues that directly affect us,†says Edward Ssendi, an LC official in Luweero.
In the 1996 and 2001 elections, Museveni got over 70% of his votes form peasants.
“We are not saying the peasants cannot make decisions. We are saying they can make wrong decisions,†says MP Frank Nabwiso.
“At least 65% of the peasants in Uganda say the country should be ruled under a federal system, but are we under a that arrangement?†asks Ken Lukyamuzi, Rubaga South MP.
“Were peasants consulted during the sale of the Uganda Commercial Bank?†asks DP’s Mukasa Mbidde. “Why were they not consulted when the army was entering Congo or the Sudan?"
Leander Komakech, president of the Uganda Young Democrats, says:
“The question is not about the intellect of the peasants. This is a constitutional matter that was mapped out years ago.â€
Ends