Some Problems of Local Government in Uganda1
| Date | 01 January 1959 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1099-162X.1959.tb01197.x |
| Author | David E. Apter |
| Published date | 01 January 1959 |
Some
Problems
of
Local
Government
in
Uganda
t
by
DAVID
E.
APTER
The
University
of
Chicago
Introduction
LOCAL
Government
in
Uganda
has
had
an
interesting history. Administrators
who
arrived in
Uganda
found in
the
Baganda
a
remarkable
people having a
well defined hierarchy
of
government
which, to
them,
appeared
feudal in its
origins
and
superior to
that
of
other
African tribes in
East
Africa.
In
addition,
British administrators
had
helped
to
end
the
religious wars
which
occurred
with
missionary intervention,
distributed
land
on a freehold basis, set
up
a
civil service chieftaincy system,
and
alocal
parliament
in Buganda, which,
long before the principle
of
indirect rule was enunciated, succeeded in a
government
which
maintained
both
tradition
and
custom on
the
one
hand,
and
carried
out
efficient
administration
on
the
other. By virtue of her
superior
institutions
and
successful collaboration
Buganda
was
made
aprivileged
area.
The
Uganda
Agreement
of
1900 was
the
document
which
formally recognized
the
special position
of
Buganda,
Indeed
it was
the
kiganda
pattern
of
territorial
organization
which was transposed to
the
other
tribal groups in districts,
and
Baganda
agents were used as chiefs
and
administrators elsewhere in
Uganda.
Both civil
war
and
the
eventual
blending
of
institutions
ancient
and
modern
which,
embodied
in the 1900 Agreement, was
the
shrewd work
of
Sir
Harry
Johnston,
resulted ill a firm alliance between chiefs
and
the
Protectorate
goverument.
The
principle was
that
provision
of
eflicient services
and
law
and
order
was
paramount
while
whatever
consultative practices there
might
be
were derivable from custom.
Hence
the
overwhelmingly official
nature
of
both
central
and
local government.
The
system was
extended
elsewhere.
Just
as
the
parliament
of
Buganda,
the Lukiiko, was a chiefs' council, so were councils
in
the
districts as well.
It
was
not
until 1937
that
councils with a
more
repre-
sentative principle were
attempted,
at first in
the
Eastern province.
More
important,
the
system rested
upon
aworking alliance between chiefs
and
administrators.
In
the
years
of
the
Second World
War
and
in
the
immediate
post-war period
certain
difficulties
appeared,
hoth
in the
practice
and
conception
of
local
government.
In
the
first instance, a
demand
for
more
modern
and
progressive
chiefs led to considerahle conflict in Buganda.
The
conservative chiefs were
often
supported
by
older
administrators while
younger
administrators
wanted
to
introduce
more
dynamic
elements.
Earlier
in 1938,
the
office
of
Provincial
Commissioner
had
been abolished in
Buganda
and
aResident
put
in his place.
This
was to emphasize
the
advisory aspect
of
the
Protectorate
government,
and
give a
greater
sense
of
independence
and
responsibility to
the
Baganda.
In
the
second instance,
the
conception
of
government
began to
change
and
while
the
representative principle was
not
admitted,
some unoflicial represent-
t I wish to acknowledge
gratitude
to
Mr.
D.
Marshall
of the Ministry of Local
Government,
and
to the chiefs
and
district officers who gave every assistance in
gathering
materials on local
government.
The
research
done
in 1955-56 was
part
of a larger study on political
development
in
Uganda
made
possible
through
the generosity of the
Ford
Foundation
to
whom
appreciation
is
hereby
expressed.
The
Ford
Foundation
is, of course,
not
responsible for
the
ideas
and
remarks
in this
paper.
I
am
indebted
as well to
Mr.
Kenneth
Robinson,
Mr.
Christopher
Wrigky,
and
Mr.
Fred
Burke for
reading
and
commenting
on a
draft
of
this
paper.
'27
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