This is Uganda...: Background History!

Uganda's Background History

In the 1830's the Arab traders moved to the interior of Uganda. They found several African kingdoms with well-developed political institutions dating back several centuries. These traders were followed in the 1860's by British explorers searching for the source of the Nile River. Protestant missionaries entered the country in 1877, and then the Catholic missionaries in 1879.An arrangement strengthened in 1890 an Anglo-German agreement confirming British dominance over Kenya and Uganda. In 1894, the Kingdom of Buganda was placed under a formal British protectorate. Britain allows internal self-government to Uganda in 1961, with the first elections on March 1, 1961. Benedicto Kiwanuka of the Democratic Party became the first Chief Minister.Milton Obote, leader of the majority coalition in the National Assembly, became prime minister and Uganda became independent on October 9, 1962. In September 1967, a new constitution named Uganda a republic, gave the president even greater powers, and abolished the traditional kingdoms. On January 25, 1971, Obote's government was vanished by the military forces of Idi Amin Dada. Amin declared himself president and gave himself power.Idi Amin ruled for 8 years this produced economic decline, social disintegration, and massive human rights violations. The Acholi and Langi ethnic groups were particular objects of Amin's political persecution because they had supported Obote and made up a large part of the army. In 1978, the International Commission of Jurists estimated that more than 100,000 Ugandans had been murdered during Amin's reign of terror; other places estimated a higher estimation. Amin was removed after a war of Tanzanian armed forces that pushed away an invasion of his troops into the Tanzanian territory. In April 11, 1979 Kampala was captured and Amin fled with his remaining forces. After Amin's removal, the Uganda National Liberation Front formed an interim government with Yusuf Lule as president. This government adopted a ministerial system of administration and created a quasi-parliamentary organ known as the National Consultative Commission (NCC). In June 1979, the NCC replaced Lule with Godfrey Binaisa. In a continuing dispute over the powers of the temporary presidency, Binaisa was removed in May 1980. Thereafter, Uganda was ruled by a military commission chaired by Paulo Muwanga. December 1980 elections returned the UPC to power under the leadership of President Obote, with Muwanga serving as vice president. Obote ruled until July 27, 1985, when an army brigade, build mostly of ethnic Acholi troops and commanded by Basilio Olara-Okello. He took Kampala and announced a military government. Obote fled to exile in Zambia. The new regime, headed by former defense force commander Gen. Tito Okello, opened negotiations with Museveni's disobedient forces .On February 18, 2011, Uganda held its fourth presidential and parliamentary elections since Museveni came to power. Seven opposition presidential candidates, including FDC leader Kizza Besigye ran against Museveni. On February 20, the Electoral Commission declared Museveni the winner with 68% of the vote; Kizza Besigye came in second with 26% of the vote.