Obote To Museveni

This work looks at the political transformation and the changes which have taken place in Uganda since the country won independence in October 1962. It is a work of history and political analysis; it is also a comparative study of the governments and regimes the country has had, starting with the democratic dispensation under Prime Minister - later President - Milton Obote that degenerated into authoritarian rule shortly after independence, followed by brutal dictatorship under Idi Amin and the short-lived regimes after his ouster; the return of Obote to the presidency after rigged elections in 1980, a period of conflict including civil war waged by his opponents, especially Yoweri Museveni; the usurpation of power by Museveni in 1986 whose ouster of the short-lived military regime of Tito Okello culminated in the establishment of a "people's government" - "the people are sovereign," Museveni proclaimed on assuming power - but which was essentially authoritarian and quasi-military in nature under his unique political system of no-party democracy; its gradual evolution into a limited form of democracy, including participation of opposition parties in elections years later, although the political landscape continued to be dominated by Museveni's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) which dictated terms of electoral contests instead of having an independent electoral commission comprising representatives of all political parties and other groups. Among all the East African countries which originally constituted the East African Community (EAC) - Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania - Uganda has had the most turbulent history since independence. The three countries virtually constituted a single community during British colonial rule and after independence when they were linked by economic ties. They had a common market, a common currency, and common services including posts and telecommunications, the East African Airways (EAA), and the East African Railways and Harbours Corporation (EAR&HC) under the auspices of the East African Common Services Organisation (EACSO) based in Kenya's capital Nairobi which became the de-facto capital for the entire region. The EACSO was later transformed into the East African Community (EAC). Arusha, in northern Tanzania, became the capital of the East African Community. Its goals include formation of an East African federation under one government. Uganda emerged from years of civil war, brutal dictatorships including Amin's bloody reign of terror to become one of the most stable and most prosperous countries in the history of post-colonial Africa. Its transformation into a true democracy will be another important milestone not only for the country but for the entire East African region and the whole continent. The book is intended for members of the general public and the academic community. It can be used for regional and development studies and for African studies in general.

For some people, Obote is a Ugandan hero: the founder of the nation, a nationalist, pan- Africanist and socialist. To others, he was a tribalist, a regionalist and megalomaniac who ruled by the army and terrorised his opponents. To the Baganda, he was the man who destroyed their land and humiliated their people, who imposed one-party dictatorship, and nurtured Idi Amin. To others, he was a victim of the colonial system, a man who achieved much, but who also made avoidable mistakes with major implications for his country - 'a great statesman who made great mistakes', according to Uganda's leading public intellectual, Ali Mazrui. By all standards, Obote is a controversial and enigmatic figure, worthy of serious examination. This book comprises a collection of newspaper articles and commentaries by politicians, journalists and his family, relating to the man Ugandans love to hate. It includes contributions from Obote's long time nemesis, President Museveni. Some fifty articles aim to portray the many conflicting and complementary readings of Obote, and draw conclusions as to his genuine nature and political record.

The author joined Yowerri Museveni's rebel army in 1982, and was subsequently a member of the Constituent Assembly which produced Uganda's constitution. Published posthumously, the book tells the inside story of a truly successful revolution and the rise to power of President Museveni. He provides a detailed account of the overthrow of Milton Obote's oppressive regime and the military dictatorship of General Tito Okello. He explains how Museveni and the National Resistance Army were able to gain power in Uganda by principled leadership and a national programme that has eschewed sectarianism and factionalism, to facilitate a lasting and prosperous peace in what is now one of the fastest growing economies in Africa.

Traces the political career of twice-president Obote before and after Amin's dictatorship, arguing that his achievements in Uganda have been underestimated.

This is a political study of Uganda since the seventies. It is also a work of comparative analysis of the leaders who have been the most dominant political figures in the country during the post-colonial era. The leaders are Dr. Milton Obote who led the country to independence in 1962 and who returned to power in 1980 after Idi Amin overthrew him in 1971; Idi Amin who was Uganda's military ruler for eight years until 1979; and Yoweri Museveni who waged guerrilla warfare to seize power in 1986 and who transformed himself into a civilian ruler. Museveni became the longest-ruling Ugandan leader and one of the longest-serving in Africa's post-colonial history. The work also looks at the successes and failures of the three leaders across the spectrum and how they have shaped Uganda's destiny. No other Ugandan leaders have had as much impact on the country as they have had. The book is written in the context of post-colonial analysis in an attempt to provide some solutions to the problems which have dogged the country since independence.

In this work on Uganda since 1962, the author recounts the history of misrule, especially under Milton Obote and Idi Amin, which has impoverished and demoralized a once prosperous country. This is followed by an analysis of the calmer Museveni years.