Uganda/Buganda divorce, Buganda Federal/Secession an unrealistic and unachievable dream.

Several important developments that have continued to affect Uganda politics in the postcolonial period marked the period of colonial rule. First, British colonial rule nurtured the divide and rule policy which has remained the classic cleavage in the country.

In particular, after the 1900 agreement between the British and Buganda Kingdom to protect the kingdoms civilization. The agreement gave Buganda a head start, especially in Western education, religion, trade and politics. Other kingdoms were shut off from much of the Westernizing influences to which Buganda was exposed. Baganda were seen as traitors for collaborating with the colonialists.

Buganda declared its Independence on 1 January 1961—and it nearly tore the kingdom apart. It was a decision that provoked outcry throughout the kingdom, and for some in the Lukiiko. 

The new Agreement of 1961 provoked immediate outcry throughout the kingdom, resulting in hundreds of petitions for the Lukiiko to resign. 

Godfrey Binaisa and Luyimbazi Zake were among the most vocal critics of the declaration. In one letter to Katikkiro Kintu, they stated: 'We have had ample opportunity to make a careful study of the issues that made the Lukiiko decide upon secession. And we're absolutely convinced that such a move would not be in the best interests of Buganda Kingdom or the Buganda throne.

There were 2 schools of thought circulating in the Lukiiko at the time. School

1: Buganda made its 1900 Agreement with Britain, not Uganda so Buganda had no legal/moral obligation to do anything with Uganda. 

2: Of course we know that secession will not succeed. But in pushing it forward, we will be able to negotiate a Federal status in Uganda from a position of strength. 

It was this second approach that was ultimately supported. And it is why that Buganda stopped insisting on Independence from Uganda by September 1961, when the first of the Constitutional conferences convened.

During the struggle for independence, the major political parties that emerged were based on religion and ethnicity. Power-sharing and political calculations have consequently centered on ensuring a balance of power in Uganda. 

Despite the periodic creation of more political parties and alliances during the postcolonial period, these regionalist feelings continued to affect national politics, especially in the distribution of national resources.

Another consequence of these regional, ethnic and religious divisions was the fragmentation of the national elite. Unlike a few other African countries, Uganda had no fully national leaders at independence.

 Benedicto Kiwanuka, a Muganda, founder Democratic Party and 1st prime minister of Uganda had the greatest potential for becoming a national leader, but was forced by regionalist/ Federal pressures to become a sectional leader.

The other leaders during the pre and post-independence Kabaka Edward Mutesa II, Apollo Kagwa and Semei Kakungulu are best remembered as sectional leaders, even though they are usually called nationalists.

This fractionalization of the political elite in turn reinforced ethnicity, regionalism, and religious conflicts, as these sentiments were often aroused in the competition for power, material resources, and privileges. The colonial heritage, therefore, produced a country that was only weakly united. At some points, the Baganda have threatened to secede from Uganda. 

There were strong countervailing factors that prevented breakup of Uganda, First, British colonial rule had held the country together as one unit. Second, the regions had economic complementarity.Third, in the final days of colonial rule, Ugandan leaders recognized the advantages conferred by the country’s large size and population.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.