On this #InternationalWomensDay , a short reflection on women's activism and the return of Ssekabaka Muteesa II from exile in 1955. In this letter, Pumla Kisosonkole (President of Uganda African Women's League), Rebecca Mulira, & C.N. Kasule fight for the end of colonialism, the respect of the Nabagereka, the return of the Kabaka & political opportunities for women. It was one of dozens of letters penned by UAWL. 1/9 Following Muteesa's deportation, women exhibited distress throughout Buganda as they lamented the metaphorical loss of a husband. As early as January 1954, Rebecca Mulira initiated various campaigns throughout Buganda to guarantee the end of the Kabaka's exile. 2/9

As we remember the commemoration of the murder of UG’s first prime minister, Benedicto Kiwanuka, it is important to remember what exactly happened & how it all went down: “Matiya bantutte, naye abaana ba Maria tebafa.” (from Contesting Catholics, by @jamesjaycarney & me). 🧵 At various points throughout the 1960s, Benedicto Kiwanuka revealed a vivid sense of his own vulnerability. The death threats and anti-DP violence that marked the 1961 and 1962 elections left their wounds,

Kabaka Muteesa's return from exile in 1955—seen here—set the constitutional terms that outlined Uganda's timeline toward independence. But how did Baganda diplomats work abroad to return the king? cutt.ly/a4ar3cd 1/13 As I have written, "The deportation was the central event around which anti-colonial struggle in Buganda was largely organised. It fundamentally altered the emotional & political topography of the region. The Lukiiko convened an emergency session immediately after 2/13

Each of Uganda's political parties supported a Federal constitution in 1962, including UPC. I find this photograph from the Lancaster negotiations insightful. The postures and non-verbals of Uganda's monarchs say much. 1/4 L to R: Omukama Rukidi III of Tooro, Omukama Winyi IV of Bunyoro, Governor of Uganda (F. Crawfoerd), Colonial Secretary (I. Macleod), Kabaka Muteesa II of Buganda, Omugabe Gasiyonga II of Ankole, and Kyabazinga H. Muloki of Busoga. 2/4

Omugabe E. Suleiman Kahaya II, who ruled Ankole throughout the first half of the 20th C., was an able archer. Here we see him demonstrating his skills. In the 2nd image, he had just concluded political negotiations w/ Henry H. Bell. Below is the Ankole Agreement of 1962, 1/9 which outlined the Kingdom's postcolonial constitution. 2/9

On Tesoland's wealth. Communities in colonial Tesoland rightly saw their economic, cultural, and political contributions as central to the development of modern Uganda. Cuthbert Obwangor remains one of many Teso biographies grossly understudied. 1/4 The region maintained a high standard of living throughout the colonial period. By 1953, Teso District was the largest cigarette-consuming area in eastern Africa, a reflection of its wealth, among other things. 2/4

Watchtowers in Acholiland. One of the tragedies of colonial history writing is that it created false divisions b/w "kingdoms" & "acephalous societies." According to this vision, kingdoms were off doing their own thing, while communities in Acholiland or Tesoland did the same. 1/4 But as many scholars have since shown, there were deep interconnections b/w kingdoms & republican societies. These involved trade, healing networks, mining knowledge, diplomatic channels, and much more. This very rare photograph shows a diplomatic watch tower 2/4

On Elizabeth II's controversial visit to Uganda. UG's monarchs saw themselves on equal footing w/ Elizabeth. Here we see #Queen in UG in 1954, after the British empire exiled Ssekabaka Muteesa II. The visit was covered extensively in the Luganda press. britishpathe.com/video/VLVADK9Q… 1/9 Here, we see some of the earliest confidential reports regarding @BugandaOfficial on Ssekabaka Muteesa's exile, now housed in the British National Archives. 2/9

On #GoodFriday I am reminded about Namirembe Cathedral's (St. Paul's) complicated past. Today's Cathedral is the fifth. The 1st was too small; 2nd was ruined by strong winds; 3rd was destroyed by termites, & the 4th was destroyed by fire on 23 Sept. 1910. These rare photos 1/5 were taken on the day of the fire. They show how the roof and infrastructure were utterly destroyed within 1 hour. The current Cathedral was rebuilt during the First World War. 2/5

As part of the ongoing discussion following Guweddeko's article on Makerere, here are two of the oldest written proverbs that underscore Makerere's connections w/ 'amakerenda' and 'mulele': Emboozi k'egwe amakerenda: ng'omuyala atuuse we bafumba.'

https://twitter.com/JonathonLEarle/status/1513713465550118916

Abakulu n'abakulu tibaleekaana: singa Nnamasole ayitirizza Mulerere; ekigerere we kifuluma kiwakanya kinnaakyo.

On #Uganda, #Russia & African Diplomacy. This thread follows @burke_jason's recent article @GuardianAfrica on African responses to #RussiaUkraineWar. It shows how the Muganda diplomat Semakulu Mulumba & I.K. Musazi utilized Soviet networks to advocate for Buganda land rights. Throughout the 1940s & 1950s, Ugandan writers & diplomats thought deeply about Cold War propaganda. Okot p’Bitek used Wer pa Lawino to complicate Catholic claims that the UPC was merely a communist puppet party. In her lament, Lawino asserted,

Did Benedicto Kiwanuka & @DPSecretariat1 set out to destroy the Kabakaship in 1950s Buganda? The KY-UPC alliance rode to power on this claim. But a growing body of photographic evidence shows this was not the case. Kiwanuka & Kabaka Muteesa II were dear friends. 🧵1/15 Throughout the early 1960s, activists in KY and DP were engaged in a pamphleteer war. For their part, KY argued that Kiwanuka sought to eat the kingship. As one pamphlet read: 2/15

New Book! I am excited to announce that Decolonising State & Society in UG is forthcoming this year w/ @Boydell_Africa. The volume pulls together exciting contributions by Nakanyike Musisi, @edgarjacktaylor @kbrucelockhart, Tushabe wa Tushabe, @dave_the_prof @LethaEVictor, 1/7 Lydia Boyd, Ashley L. Greene, @moseskhisa, Genevieve Meyers, @florencebrisset @rileysline, Margaret Nagawa, Fiona Siegenthaler, Holly Hanson, Asiimwe B. Godfrey, @AdrianJBrowne @Kalinaki @rwakabukoza, & Danson S. Kahyana. The cover is beautifully designed by Canon Rumanzi. 2/7

W/ the passing of Nnamasole Margaret Nagawa Siwoza Muyanja, I express my deepest condolences to @BugandaOfficial. Kitalo nnyo! The Nnamasole was the heir of Nnamasole Sarah Nalule Kisosonkole, the mother of Kabaka Mutebi. 1/ One of the Kabaka's first appearances was at the funeral of his father, during which he was accompanied by the Nnamasole: bit.ly/3ddWAFQ 2/

By 1890, Buganda's political & religious revolution was being covered in the southern African press. The Lovedale Institution Press circulated Alexander Mackay's partisan political commentary in the Christian Express. In his closing sentences, 1/4 Mackay accentuated Kabaka Mwanga's request for missionaries, which was likely designed to echo Kabaka Muteesa I's earlier letters in the Daily Telegraph. 2/4

This is a post on the history of Kawempe. It is written in honour of their daughters and sons, who have helped make modern Uganda. #Komamboga 1/ In 1950, Kawempe was declared a township by the County Council of Kyaddondo, passed by the Kabaka and the Lukiiko. The township was created in response to the development of Ugandan & Asian businesses following WWII. 2/

On @Shell & African history writing. Following UG's Indp., there were extensive debates re: a memorial for Kabaka Muteesa I. Companies too capitalized upon such causes. Here, Shell suggested to readers that their work & vision for EA followed Muteesa's call for progress. 1/10 12 Oct. '62: 'Today, of course, everyone knows that [...] near the site of Mutesa's palace, is a beautiful, well-ordered city and the seat of the Government of Uganda. However, the railway does not go everywhere, 2/10

On Friday, I will lead a discussion on histories of land tenure & political violence in Kenya & Ethiopia. To frame the conversation, we will think alongside @NgugiWaThiongo_'s Weep Not, Child & @HaileGerima's Harvest, 3000 Years. Both of these powerful pieces raise 1/ penetrating questions—some similar, others not—re: labour, class & racial exploitation, gender, family debates, resistance, & historical imagination. As @ElleniZeleke reminds us, Gerima's later films, Imperfect Journey & Teza, question revolutionary violence surrounding 1974. 2/

Following Independence, ongoing debates continued in Mbale about the charter of Nakaloke county and Mbale town, which Milton Obote was eyeing as Uganda's future capital. One of the most vocal writers of this time was Samwiri Mulabbi, who "advise[d] every Mugisu 1/9 wherever he or she may be to be quiet as you did when the boundary commission was doing its work." At length, he continued, "I ask all people of Bukedi to be calm about our land problem. [...] All of our trust is within God who created us on this jolly land of Bukedi. 2/9

On Jopadhola activism. Throughout the late 1950s, organisers articulated their frustrations about the state's economic demands & religious influences in Bunyole, Kisoko, & Tororo. On the one hand, communities were frustrated that the government & some writers in Buganda 1/7 insisted on accruing revenues from the region's cement production. On 20 February 1956, for instance, writers in Dobozi suggested that 'the Buganda Government should share in the revenue derived from Tororo cement [...] 2/7

On Uganda Argus. UG has produced some of the world’s leading journalists. These include, although are not limited to (apologies for omission), @cobbo3 @Opiaiya @JoelSsenyonyi @danielk @fsnakazibwe @AndrewMwenda @kasujja @SamsonKasumba & others. They follow a rich tradition 1/6 of journalistic vitality. There were 8,200 copies of the Uganda Argus in circulation by 1958. Throughout the 1960s it remained Uganda’s leading English press, which meant that its pages constituted a significant site for debate and public management. 2/6