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In the l920’s and 1930’s, there were various resistance movements against British rule and Asian economic domination. However, these movements were mostly localized, never able to gain national momentum and easily suppressed by the British military. Sometimes, to appease local resistance, the colonial government gave in to some demands, including reducing the power of puppet chiefs. In response to resistance, the British consolidated their power, reduced the power of the Buganda kingdom and used one group and class against the other. The colonial government was officially ruled through a Legislative Council, established in 1921, composed of non-African members.

The winds of change were sweeping across Africa in the l950’s. Colonized African states were agitating for independence. The British colony of Gold Coast in West Africa became independent Ghana in 1957. In the 1950’s, Britain also agreed to include African members on the Legislative Council in Uganda. These members were well selected to ensure their loyalty to the British crown. In 1953, Kabaka Mutesa II was deported for his lack of loyalty to the crown.

As independence movements grew throughout the continent, political parties and movements began to emerge in Uganda. In 1952, the Uganda National Congress (UNC) formed as an effort to seek economic equality and a national political voice. The UNC attempted to bring in groups from around Uganda, including from Acholi, Lango, and Teso. Uganda was too fractured, however, and it was difficult to unite people around national issues. In addition, the UNC was Protestant dominated, alienating non-Protestants. The Uganda People’s Union (UPU) organized in 1958. UPU consciously tried to avoid religious affiliations and some of its leadership was composed of the Uganda Legislative Council agitating for change. Efforts were made to recruit constituents from Buganda but it feared Catholic domination. In 1956, the Democratic Party (DP) was born. The DP was a mostly Roman Catholic constituency, and formed to advance the cause of Catholics marginalized by the dominant Protestant powers. Later, in 1961, the Kabaka Yekka (KY) party would be organized by Buganda traditionalists to protect Buganda traditions and the role of the kabaka.

In 1959, the UNC split into two, a Buganda faction and non-Buganda faction. The latter was led by Milton Obote, a member of the Legislative Council from Lango. In order to form a larger power base, the Obote faction merged with the UPU to form the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). Obote was selected its leader.

Britain utilized various exit strategies for its direct and “indirect” rule in its colonies. In West Africa, Britain tried to sabotage and eventually maneuvered behind the scenes to try to influence who would lead post-colonial Ghana., eventually acceding to the new leadership. In Kenya, however, Britain resisted and fought a liberation movement. In India, a nonviolent peace movement led by Mohatma Gandhi eventually forced an embarrassed Britain to leave in shame. In Uganda, Britain’s exit strategy was to go along with the rising calls for self rule, hoping to manipulate behind the scenes and benefit from its economic foothold. The UPC and KY formed a campaign coalition in anticipation of the 1962 Independent elections, leading to Milton Obote becoming the Executive Prime Minister and Kabaka Mutesa II the ceremonial head of state. Buganda also maintained a large measure of autonomy from the central government. In l966, Obote introduced a constitution which removed most of Buganda’s autonomy and forced Kabaka Mutesa into exile. The next year, a new constitution gave the central government more power; Buganda was divided into four districts and the tensions between Buganda and the central government, led by the Northern Langi leader, heightened. In many ways, Obote was utilizing divide and rule tactics as the British had previously done.

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