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Derek R Peterson

Sep 22, 2021 • 7 tweets • 3 min read • Read on X

Scrolly

Here's a clip showing Uganda's most controversial politician of the mid-20th century: "Jolly Joe" Kiwanuka.

In this clip (Jan. 1958) he'd just been released on bail. He was imprisoned by the Buganda gov't, accused of plotting to assassinate Kabaka Muteesa.

Short thread. 1/

2/
Kiwanuka was a sometime antagonist of the Mengo establishment & founder of the Uganda National Congress.

As elected member for Busiiro, he made fiery speeches accusing leading ministers in the Buganda gov't of corruption. His 1958 imprisonment was their retaliation.

3/
In Nov. 1958 Kiwanuka went to Accra to attend the All African People's Conference, where he heard Nkrumah's famous speech.

On return to Uganda, Kiwanuka told the police that he was about to 'lead the fight against Colonialism and Imperialism. Africa must be liberated now.'

4/
At that time he established a Congress office in Cairo.

Here's a manifesto from Dec. 1958: 'We are witnessing the independence of countries one after another. This is not relfection of benevolenece from the imperialists. It is a result of struggle from within & without'.

5/
In August 1959 Obote expelled Kiwanuka from Congress.

Kiwanuka told a diplomat that--in a free election--he would win a majority. He argued for the democratization of Buganda, since Baganda did not support a 'ruler who had little thought for the interests of his people'.

6/
After Uganda's independence Kiwanuka was returned to Parliament as Member for North Mubende.

Here he is in 1963, arguing against the banning of the 'Twist'. 'I will not rest until the right of anyone in the country to dance the Twist is assured'.

7/
When Idi Amin came to power in 1971 Kiwanuka was enthusiastic. But by 1972 he'd gone into exile in Kenya, fearing for his life.

In Dec. 1973 Kenyatta's gov't agreed to extradite him back to Amin's Uganda. It is thought that Jolly Joe Kiwanuka was murdered shortly thereafter.

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More from @Unseen_Archive

Derek R Peterson

@Unseen_Archive

Oct 9, 2024

Happy Independence Day to colleagues & friends in Uganda.

Here's the original version of the anthem by George Kakoma. The 1st phrase was 'Oh Uganda, thy people praise thee'. A week before independence, tho, the Church of Uganda bishop protested that God was nowhere mentioned. 1/

2/
Milton Obote hastily agreed to change the phrase to 'May God uphold thee'. The new version had to be printed in great haste. It is the latter phrase that Ugandans will be singing today.

Here's a photo of the independence celebrations, October 1962.

3/
In 2022 colleagues @ugandamuseums and I put together an exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of independence.

Here's the documentary film we made for 'Uganda at 60', featuring interviews with Miria Obote, late Joyce Mpanga, Rhoda Kalema & others.

Read 7 tweets

Derek R Peterson

@Unseen_Archive

Mar 5, 2023

@GettyImages

Like many others, I am sorry to hear of the passing of journalist and public intellectual John Nagenda.

His was an extraordinary life. Here's a short thread. 1/

(Below: Nagenda in 1989, courtesy @GettyImages).

@GettyImages

@GettyImages 2/
Late Nagenda's parents were William and Sala Nagenda, who were--with Simeon Nsibambi--the central figures in the early history of the East African Revival.

Here's William Nagenda with colleague Yosiya Kinuka in 1936.

@GettyImages

@GettyImages 3/
John Nagenda studied at King's College, Budo--his marks are detailed below. Thereafter he went to Makerere, where he read English literature.

Read 12 tweets

Derek R Peterson

@Unseen_Archive

Oct 24, 2022

The father of new British PM--Rishi Sunak--was born in Kenya & emigrated to London in the 1960s. He was one of several thousand Asians who fled in the years after independence, seeking financial security. Short thread.

Here's Tom Mboya, Minister for Economic Planning, 1968. 1/

Mboya: while some Asians have left, 'I wld rather have that than have disloyal, disaffected people...who are not prepared to cooperate in promoting nation-building'.

In 1969 the Trade Licensing Act barred Asians from owning important businesses in & outside Nairobi.

3/
As a result of the Act, some 3,000 Asian businessmen were put out of work. Many sought to emigrate to Britain--but strict quotas made it hard for them to relocate.

Here Asians demonstrate outside the British High Commission in Nairobi, demanding support from the British govt.

Read 7 tweets

Derek R Peterson

@Unseen_Archive

Aug 8, 2022

@RailaOdinga

Kenyans go to the polls on Tuesday. Here's a thread about one of the contenders for the presidency, @RailaOdinga. In the 1980s & 90s he played a key role in bringing down the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi.

Below: Raila speaks at a convention of opposition leaders, 1992. 1/

@RailaOdinga

@RailaOdinga 2/
Raila married Ida Betty Akoth Oyoo in September 1973. She was to play a key role in his political career: as an advocate, a defender of his liberty, a spokesperson, and a public face--at a time when Raila himself was in detention & out of view.

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Raila studied engineering in Germany; by 1975 he was a manager at the Kenya Bureau of Standards. Below: a thought piece from the Nation about 'Standardisation'.

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Derek R Peterson

@Unseen_Archive

Aug 4, 2022

Fifty years ago, on 4 August 1972, Idi Amin announced that Uganda's Asian community--over 50,000 people--had 90 days to leave the country.

Here he is at 'Command Post' in Kololo on 6 August, explaining the policy to the diplomatic corps.

Short thread. 1/

@GettyImages

2/
'One’s mind boggles at the thought of the effects of the sudden withdrawal of all Asians from Ugandan life', wrote a British diplomat a few days after the announcement. 'Practically everything one can think of has Asian somewhere in the system'.

Here's a @GettyImages report.

@GettyImages

@GettyImages 3/
The Uganda government argued that the expulsion was an orderly and logical. Here's a remarkable clip: Grace Ibingira, UN representative for Uganda, defending the expulsion of the Asians at the United Nations.

As far as I know, this is the only place where Ibingira is on film.

Read 8 tweets

Derek R Peterson

@Unseen_Archive

Feb 28, 2022

On 20 Aug. 1968 250,000 soldiers from the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia, putting an end to the 'Prague Spring'.

The invasion caused outrage in eastern Africa. Here students in Tanzania lob rotten eggs at the Soviet embassy--& express sympathy to the Czech ambassador. 1/

2/
In Kenya students marched to the Soviet embassy, carrying signs calling the invasion 'An Act of Imperialism of the Vilest Decree'. Other signs: 'Russians Go Home' & 'New Hitlerism'.