New Political Forces
When Obote was overthrown in 1971 by Idi Amin, Benedicto Kiwanuka accepted a ministerial post in the new government. He was eventually murdered by Amin's agents. All political parties were banned in Uganda during Idi Amin's rule.
The Democratic Party emerged again after Idi Amin was overthrown in 1979. The absence of the Kabaka Yekka party now made the Democratic Party the main political force in Buganda and Southern Uganda, while the UPC consolidated its support in the North. This regional polarisation of Ugandan politics had made the Democratic Party a convenient vehicle for Baganda to express their political aspirations which had moved significantly towards autonomy after the apparent economic and political failure of the Ugandan state. This was further enhanced by the brutality of the new government whose army was dominated by Northerners. To many Baganda, DP was the first stage to achieving the return of the Kabaka and the "independence" of Buganda.
The leadership of the Democratic Party did not share this view, but went along with it. The new leader Paul Ssemogerere was a political novice but used the Buganda aspiration effectively and provided a significant challenge to the UPC led once again by Milton Obote in the 1980 elections. These elections are widely believed to have been rigged by the Military Junta that ruled Uganda after Idi Amin in favour of Milton Obote and the UPC.
A third political party the Uganda Patriotic Movement (UPM) led by Yoweri Museveni rejected the result and went to the bush to start a guerrilla war. There was pressure on the Democratic Party to reject the result, but the leadership decided to take their seats in parliament much to the disappointment of their supporters. However one of Democratic Party's younger leaders Andrew Kayiira did take up arms to fight the new government, joining an organisation called Uganda Freedom Movement.
When Yoweri Museveni came to power, he was able to outflank any support the Democratic Party retained in Buganda by allowing the Kabaka's son to return and be crowned as a ceremonial king. The Democratic Party performed so badly in the elections in 2006 it is doubtful whether the party will ever regain its popularity.
Read more about this topic: Democratic Party (Uganda)
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