The Pioneer of Uhuru and Socialism – On the 20th anniversary of A. M. Obote´s demise

“Obote had long been an advocate of socialism.”¹ – Xavier Ogena

The 10th October marks the day on which our dear Apollo Milton Obote died two decades ago. He was the one who led Uganda into independence. He was the one who first tried to lead Uganda on a socialist path of development. He was truly a pioneer of Uhuru and socialism in Uganda. Uhuru and socialism are inseparable.

On the eve of independence Obote delivered a speech on 8th October 1962. The speech was not long but he stressed:

“I cannot forget our men of commerce and industry and also our peasant farmers and the working men and women. Our ability to have a higher standard of living will depend as in the past on their success, security and happiness.”²

That he addressed the progressive classes of Uganda, though not using Marxist terminology, gave an indirect preview of what would come later.

In January 1964 Obote openly addressed the issue of capitalism and socialism. He said:

“We have decided to follow a Socialist line of development. Consequently Socialist principles must inform, guide and govern the basis, form and content of all the institutions of our society. Our lives, thoughts and actions must reflect the same trend.

Discipline, order, control and planning are elements of the Socialist code of action, behaviour and approach. Organised opposition against the Government is a typical capitalist notion and concept and under capitalism the laws are those of the jungle, namely free for all, laissez faire, and the survival of the fittest. We have rejected capitalism once and for all.”³

This was a clear statement. The practical results of it were hampered by the fact of Uganda back then still being a semi-feudal country. It would still take a couple of years until its implementation.

In the meanwhile one interesting detail is to be mentioned: Obote, though not being a Marxist, supported the import of Marxist literature into Uganda⁴. By that we can see that Obote might not have been a communist but he also was not a fierce enemy of it.

In April 1966 Obote said in an interview with the magazine “Drum” that his government supports industries built up on Uganda´s agricultural products and: “Consequently we are concentrating on the co-operative movement.”⁵ What is a cooperative? A form of socialist ownership! In this question the socialist character of Obote’s economic policy could be recognized already before his presidency, while still being prime minister. He just became president after ousting the pro-feudal reactionary Mutesa II as president, who also has been the Kabaka of Buganda.

The Common Man’s Charter is undeniable Obote’s greatest ideological legacy for the socialist cause in Uganda. It might be not 100% Marxist, but he orientated a lot on Marxist lines. It is a manifesto of socialism in Uganda. Our goal should be to take what is good and expand it into a program named Common People´s Charter. In 1969 Obote delivered an important speech to announce his Charter at a congress of the UPC. He announced under thundering applause that Uganda will develop in accordance with the principles of socialism⁶.

On 3rd October 1969 Obote said about the cause of the UPC as a party:

“I am convinced that this party, from its foundation, was founded to serve the common man first and foremost and not to allow the common man to be trampled upon by the weight of the wealthy and privileged class.”⁷

This is a legacy the UPC is today not living up to. This is why the party lost its mass basis. Instead it announced in 2006 to support a “free market economy” instead⁸. What does that mean? Support for capitalism instead of socialism! The UPC lost touch with the common working man. Today’s UPC should listen to Obote´s advice:

“Fellow citizens and members of the Congress of the people, do not abandon the people.”⁹

On 1st May 1970 Obote announced his famous nationalization campaign in his Nakivubo Pronouncement. On 29th September 1970 he praised Nasser´s Egypt (back then called United Arab Republic) for having “transformed from a feudal to a socialist and progressive state”¹⁰. It is obvious that Obote mentioned this example because he wanted to transform Uganda into a socialist country as well.

The fascist coup by Idi Amin in January 1971 marked the end of Obote’s first presidency and brought a shadow over the Pearl of Africa, turning the socialist achievements into shards. Idi Amin reasoned his coup clearly as a reaction to Obote´s socialist course. He said on the 25th January 1971 as point 12 of his reasons for the coup: “The creation of a wealthy class of leaders under the cover of socialism while they grew richer and the common man poorer.”¹¹ This was an obvious lie. Idi Amin´s fascist rule was a big setback to the economic development of Uganda. The economic growth was negative during his entire rule¹². That means: The economy shrunk.

Also, during Obote’s second presidency 1980 to 1985, socialism as a goal was not dumped, but rather postponed due to the conditions of economic devastation by Idi Amin and civil war by Museveni’s NRA¹³. As we know, Obote was couped by Bazilio Olara-Okello and Tito Okello in July 1985 and half a year later Museveni entered Kampala victoriously, seizing the presidency in January 1986.

In today’s Uganda Obote is mostly reduced to having been the leader of the country at the time of gaining independence. This might also be the reason why Museveni even granted him a state funeral in 2005 despite his often outspoken hatred for him. Obote was not an Idi Amin under whose fascist dictatorship 300.000 to 500.000 Ugandans were butchered. On him these biblical words might apply:

“You will not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land and slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named.”¹⁴

Obote might have died in the Zambian exile (he went there originally because of his close relation to Kenneth Kaunda), but his corpse was brought back to the fatherland in October 2005 and buried in a state funeral.

There is that old myth of Obote hating Baganda. Was Obote really hating the Baganda¹⁵? If so, why did he marry his wife Miria, a Muganda, and therefore has half-Baganda children. It is obvious that this claim is created by vicious Baganda tribalists that are full of hatred for Obote abolishing the feudal kingdoms in 1967 – not just the Kingdom of Buganda by the way, but ALL feudal kingdoms in Uganda. It should be obvious that this is a mere campaign of Baganda chauvinism.

Obote’s cause was to get rid of feudalism in Uganda once and for all to be able to create the basis for later transition from capitalism to socialism. Before getting rid of feudalism, a pre-capitalist form of exploitation, there can be no transition to socialism. This is why Obote announced his socialist goals from pretty much the beginning but could only get serious about it after 1966. The abolishing of the tribal kingdoms found its ideological reasoning in the following, as it is stated in the Common Man´s Charter: “We do not consider that all aspects of the African traditional life are acceptable as socialistic.”¹⁶ In that Obote differed from Nyerere. Feudalism is feudalism, be it European or African. The origin is not what matters, but its class character. This is what tribalists don’t understand due to their blatant lack of education.

Obote was far from being perfect. He was not a “Ugandan Lenin” – by far not! But he was also no “Ugandan Nyerere” – he was better than that!

Obote in his last years, as we all know, has given up hope for another victory of socialist ideas in Uganda¹⁷. We shall not take this resignation in his last years to generally characterize him, that would not be a fair assessment of his persona. Instead we should focus on his views during his active days in politics and keep him in mind as he was as the leader of our country.

Even though he gave up the hope for a revival of socialism in Uganda, he still had not given up the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease, as his mourning letter from 22nd December 2004 for the late Ado Tiberondwa shows¹⁸. The struggle against poverty, ignorance and disease used to be Obote´s catchphrase for his socialist cause. So even when Obote lost his hope, he did not lose it entirely.

Obote will be forever enshrined for the Ugandan socialists and communists next to Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Mao not for being a Marxist but for being the pioneer of Uhuru and socialism in Uganda. Our view on Obote will be similar to that of the Chinese communists on Sun Yatsen.

Obote’s memory will live on in the memory of the Ugandan working people forever!

Obote’s legacy will live on in the goals of the Communist League of Uganda!

Obote’s vision will live on in a socialist Uganda!