Uganda Independence Day: October 9
Uganda Celebrates Independence Day as a public holiday.
On October 9 the people of Uganda will celebrate its Independence Day to commemorate its freedom from British rule in 1962. Ugandans celebrate Independence Day with celebrations in different parts of the country as well as other parts of the world where Ugandans have organized different events to mark the day.
African Network Leicester Leicestershire Rutland would be joining the rest of the Ugandan community in the UK in celebrating the nation’s 56th Independence Day on 9th October 2018.
Uganda Independence Day History
Britain declared a protectorate over all of present-day Uganda in 1894 and began to expand the reach of its control by its invasion of Bunyoro in 1893 and 1894 and removing by King Kabarega, whose troops were pillaging territories that were under British control. After World War II, revolutionary nationalism appeared with the outbreak of urban strikes in 1945 and rural farm protests in 1949. The colonial government encouraged better African participation in the economy in response to the growing discontent. The government encouraged African cotton farmers to process their own cotton, and it helped promote agricultural cooperatives. The British also democratized some local governments units. The first African representatives were allowed in the legislative council in 1945. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, African presence and participation in the council grew. With the formation of the Uganda National Congress in 1952 national demands for independence only became more apparent. In 1954, Catholic chiefs and educated professionals formed the Democratic Party. Milton Obote formed the Uganda People’s Congress in 1960. In October 1962, Uganda became independent with UPC leader Milton Obote as prime minister. Uganda became a republic a year later with the kabaka as ceremonial president.