The post- independence conflicts in Uganda: A manifestation of the classical imperialistic divide and rule policy of the British colonial administration in Uganda

Abstract

Uganda has now been independent since 1962 from the colonial British rule. The period immediately after independence saw the country ushered into civil conflicts and violent change of governments, and corruption among others.

Despite the fact that there has been relative peace in the second half of the 53 years of Uganda's independence in terms of violent change of governments, the recent happenings in this country like the blatant Human rights abuses, tribalism, sectarianism, corruption, state engineered killings, politically motivated imprisonments, over militarization of the country's daily affairs are reflecting similar traits that are believed to have characterized the country during the first half of independence and are raising questions as to whether the history of violence that immediately followed independence is about to repeat itself. A number of reasons have been advanced by various researchers and writers to explain the causes of these conflicts including Mr. Museveni, the current president of the country, who in his book “Sowing the mastered seed” pointed out the problem of leaders clinging on to power as the major cause of violent conflicts in post independent Uganda and Africa at large, yet he is in the list of Africa's longest serving presidents.

This paper therefore attempts to offer another narrative to Uganda’s post-colonial conflicts by  arguing that the root causes of Uganda's political unrest after independence are better explained by her colonial history in which the British sowed the seeds of the very conflicts through their “divide-and-Rule policy”. That the leaders who took over from the colonialists simply inherited this corrupt system that has kept the country in conflict up now. In other words, Ugandans are still fighting the colonialists in black skin (rulers). In a nutshell, this paper reflects on the post-independence conflicts in Uganda (1966-2006), linking their origin to the divide and rule policy used by the British colonial Administrators from 1894 to 1962, as well as presents the current political, economic and social problems which are a manifestation of the divide and rule policy. It finally proposes Good governance and Democracy, Inclusive Political Settlement, Restoration of presidential term limits, and Reforms in electoral laws as some of the most optimal possibilities that may transform the country into a peaceful, patriotic and unified post-colonial entity. This study is so significant at this point in time because it analyzes issues that compound Uganda’s rogue politics since colonial times till today, which have been deliberately misrepresented by the elite to their advantage, as the next presidential election nears. It further gives an understanding of the regional imbalances in the country; an understanding of why there has never been peaceful transfer of power in Uganda and an understanding of why Mr. Museveni has pursued to extend his candidature for February 2016 presidential elections that will extend his rule to 35 years, if he gets through.

It is however important to note that the study did not explicitly focus on all the causes of the post- colonial conflicts in Uganda. There are still a good number of issues, which need to be explored to have a holistic understanding of the post-colonial conflicts that besieged the Pearl of Africa. For example, there is need to still research on how climate change may have played roll in these conflicts. Secondly, there is also need to further explore how “Cold War” dynamics this period may have influenced the actors, which could have turned Uganda into an ideological battleground.