A NATION BURDENED BY THE GHOSTS OF ITS PAST

Milton Obote: Twice Overthrown

Milton Obote served two terms as president of Uganda (1966-71, 1980-85), leading the country to independence in 1962 as prime minister (1962-1970) to Buganda King Mutesa II. He supported Mutesa’s appointment to the largely ceremonial role of president and signed a constitution that granted federal status to the five kingdoms within Uganda, Buganda included. In 1966, conflict grew though, and he sent troops led by Idi Amin to overthrow Mutesa, who fled to Great Britain. To solidify his rule, Obote abolished all kingdoms within Uganda and established himself as president and prime minister. His rule was fraught with conflict between northern and southern Uganda ethnic groups, and his increased reliance on military and police force led to the resentment and eventual overthrow of his first presidency by Idi Amin in 1971.

Obote settled in Tanzania, maintaining a small army led by Acholi, Tito Okello. They assisted Tanzania in overthrowing Idi Amin in 1979. After which, Okello supported Obote in securing presidency again in May 1980. While Obote attempted to stabilize the economy that Amin had destroyed, he did little to settle the fray of murders being committed by Acholi and Lango soldiers, the groups most targeted by Amin for their support of Obote. He was forced out of office by Okello in 1985 and settled in Zambia, continuing to play an active role in the Uganda People’s Congress, the party that he helped to create, until his death in 2005 (g16).