Today in history:August 5, 1962

At the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) annual delegates’ conference in Mbale, the Prime Minister Milton Obote announced that the Uganda government was to establish a high powered Economic Planning Commission as part of its war on poverty.

Obote received a tumultuous welcome from the 900 delegates and large numbers of other guests who crowded Mbale for the occasion. He also announced that UPC national headquarters were to be reorganised to provide a full time development bureau with responsibility for assessing the country’s needs.

Although there were reports of differences between UPC and KY leaders, Obote received great cheers when after ceremonially hoisting the flag, he greeted the conference with the cry of UPC-Kabaka Yekka. 

Did you know?
At independence, Uganda consisted of 10 districts, four kingdoms and one special district, Karamoja. The 1967 constitution abolished the kingdoms and made them districts. Because the kingdom of Buganda was separated into four districts, the country was thus divided into 18 districts.