Uganda: Information regarding the government's view of the Baganda being linked to the new opposition
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1990 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UGA4832 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Uganda: Information regarding the government's view of the Baganda being linked to the new opposition, 1 April 1990, UGA4832, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab4b34.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to the editor-in-chief of The Ugandan, a Toronto publication, the Baganda are not associated with any specific opposition group as they are the ones in power. [
FootnoteS:
As stated during a telephone interview in Toronto on 9 April 1990 to the IRBDC.] The source states that the Democratic Party is a Catholic Baganda party and that some Baganda may disagree with President Yoweni Museveni because of differing political views but not necessarily because of ethnicity. [ibid.]
According to The New York Times there was pressure in 1986 from the Baganda, Uganda's historically dominant tribe (a quarter of the population), who want to re-establish their own independent monarchist state. [ Sheila Rule, "Crisis Roils Government in Uganda" in The New York Times, 19 October 1986. Attached.] The same source further states that the former Vice-President, three ministers and other prominent members of the Baganda tribe were charged with plotting to overthrow the Museveni government. [ibid.] In 1988 the Democratic Party, a junior partner in Museveni's coalition government that seeks the establishment of a multi-parliamentary democracy, stated that it favours the restoration of Uganda's five kingdoms as cultural symbols. At the same time Museveni reportedly told Baganda royalists to await consideration of their demands including the return of their monarch patiently. [ "Uganda: Democratic Party Issues Constitutional Guidelines" as reported by Reuters on 7 September 1988. Attached.] The attached Africa Confidential article reports that in 1987 when Buganda elders had planned a triumphal return for the heir to the Kabaka throne, Prince Ronald Mutebi, Museveni himself pre-empted this by bringing the prince from Britain, "allowing him to say a few well-chosen words in support of the NRM and then sending him back to his studies." [ "Uganda: Votes in a Vacuum", Africa Confidential, London: Miramoor Publications, 17 March 1989, p.2. Attached.] The same article reports that the Internal Security Organization and military intelligence are increasingly adopting the style of Idi Amin's and Milton Obote's agencies. [ibid.]
The BBC Summary of World Broadcasts reports that on 22 March 1990, the Ugandan High Court heard taped details of an alleged coup plot, in which "all non-Basoga, Baganda and Bagisu National Resistance Army (NRA) officers were to be killed" (see attachment). [ "Uganda High Court hears details of Coup plot", BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 27 March 1990. Attached.]
According to the editor-in-chief of The Uganda, in 1987 a group of about one hundred people attempted to use the force of arms to restore the kingdom. Although several of them were arrested, the source has no further news on the matter. However, the source reports that the king dissociated himself from this group and is presently residing mostly in Uganda. Several prominent members of the government are members of the Baganda tribe including the Prime-Minister, Dr. Samson Kisekka, the second Deputy Prime-Minister also the leader of the Democratic Party, Dr. Paul Semogerere, the third Deputy Prime-Minister and the Vice-Chairman of the NRM.
Corroborating information for the above oral source is currently unavailable to the IRBDC.
