According to Richard
(1988), explain a term Nationalism as an ideology about individuated
being. It is an ideology concerned with boundedness, continuity, and
homogeneity encompassing diversity. It is an ideology in which social reality,
conceived in terms of nationhood, is endowed with the reality of natural
things.
Also John (1985) defined Nationalism as
political movements seeking or exercising state power and justifying such
actions with nationalist arguments.
Generally Nationalism
refers to the rise of consciousness and love for one’s country. In Africa, it was the desire for
independence, self determination and common hatred to all evils associated with
colonial rule. In East Africa,
nationalism was characterised mainly by the rise or formation of political
parties (UPC, DP, and CP in Uganda, KANU, KADU in KENYA, and TANU – Tanzania)
and the popular demand for independence.
The
following are the explanation about the short background in the rise of
nationalism in Uganda and Tanganyika, In Uganda nationalist movement began
early in 1950’s. Different political parties were formed such as Uganda
National Congress (UNC) founded by Ignatius Musazi within Buganda, Democratic
Party (DP) in 1954, and The Kabaka Yekka (KY) in 1961, The Uganda People’s
Union (UPU) and the Uganda National Movement (UNM) in 1958. Later on the UNC
was transformed by Milton Obote into the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC). These
political parties were formed with the objective of fighting for national
independence but they were guided by different ideological perspective something
which delay their achievement to independence until 1962.
In
Tanganyika nationalist movement began in early 1940’s with the formation of
proto-nationalist movement which were mainly ethnic-based associations and
organisations such as Pare Union, Kilimanjaro Union, Meru Citizen Union and The
Sukuma Union at the same time Tanganyika African Association (TAA) was formed.
In 1954 TANU (Tanganyika African National Union) was formed under leadership of
Mwalimu J.K. Nyerere, it was non-ethnic, non-racial and non-religious. TANU
harnessed the majority support throughout the territory that led successful
struggle for independence in early 1961 compared to Uganda that delayed until
1962.
There are many differences in the rise of nationalism
in Uganda and Tanganyika but among them are as follows.
Firstly, Racial or tribal differences; this were greatly
limited in Tanganyika as in all tribes were united together regardless of their
ethnic origin, the situation that washed out the tribes differences during the
struggle for independence unlike in Uganda where there were highly characterised
by ethnised politics for instances there
was tribe like Buganda under Kabaka and their party was called Kabaka Yekka (KY)
means that “Kabaka only” that was formed
in 1961 which fought alone for independence, so as to benefit the Baganda
people that situation highly catalysed the conflict with other tribe such as
Bunyoro, Toro and Ankole who were also highly on the need of acquiring the
political power in Uganda. Due to the ethnic political conflict that led
Buganda delay in attaining her independence up to1962 while Tanganyika
achieving early political independence as the nation got her independence in
1961. Hence it is among of the difference in the rise of nationalism in Uganda
and Tanganyika[1].
Secondly, The nationalism struggle in Uganda was highly
characterised by religious ideology that led to conflicts but in Tanganyika
this situation was limited, there was no misunderstanding between religions,
for example in Uganda there were Catholics and protestants religions which opposed
each other about the issues of political power for instance the Democratic
Power (DP) represents a typical example of parties characterised by religious
ideology in Uganda. The member of the party mainly came from the Catholic intelligentsia
and its leadership was pre-dominantly Catholic, the party based much on
religion that it came to be nick-named as “Dini ya papa” (Religion of pope)[2].
Hence it is one of the differences in the rise of nationalism in Uganda and
Tanganyika.
Apart from the above, another difference in the rise
of nationalism in Uganda and Tanganyika is that; in Uganda there was lack of
common language that disturbed the struggle for independence, Luganda, Acholi
and other languages were used by different groups to push their tribe’s
interests. The situation that promoted the divide and rule policy of
colonialist in Uganda while Tanganyika’s adopt Kiswahili as a common language
which promoted unity in the call for independences[3].
Hence it is the distinction in the rise of nationalism in Uganda and
Tanganyika.
Another difference in the rise of nationalism in
Uganda and Tanganyika was that; the nationalism in Uganda was led by an African
leader called Milton Obote who united the people of Uganda to fight against
colonialism while in Tanganyika nationalism
led by a strong leadership called “Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere” who
mobilised all Tanganyikan without discrimination based on race. Therefore the
leadership during the struggle for independence were different in Tanganyika
with that of Uganda.
Fifthly, the difference between Uganda and Tanganyika
nationalism also lie on the political parties which struggled for nationalism.
In Uganda, political parties involved in struggling for independence were
Uganda National Congress (UNC) and Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) contrary to
Tanganyika where the main political party struggled for independence was
Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). Therefore this is among the
distinction in the rise of Nationalism in Uganda and Tanganyika[4].
Also political activities were not restricted much by
authority in Tanganyika as they were in Uganda. Party activities had been left
free in Tanganyika for instance Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in
1950’s was able to conduct various meetings that were led by Julius Nyerere
around the Tanganyika territories. Through those meetings people of Tanganyika
united together. They used Kiswahili language as a language of communication
hence they unified better due to each individual could understand it and they
were used simple slogan for struggle called “Uhuru” that led for early
achievement of independence in Tanganyika contrary to Uganda where the
political parties like Uganda National Congress (UNC) and Uganda People’s
Congress ( UPC) were highly restricted by colonial government to perform their
political activities that led the delay of struggle for independence and
attaining political independence in Uganda.[5]
Another difference in the rise of nationalism in
Uganda and Tanganyika was that; the nationalism in Uganda had some strong
opposition of the African themselves for instance Chief Semei Kakungulu of
Buganda oppose to the ideas of granting independence to Buganda and this cause the
delay for struggle for nationalism in Uganda contrary to Tanganyika where there
were many committed leaders like Julius Nyerere who working for the interest of
all people rather than supporting whites although he got weak opposition from
Chief of Chagga [6].
Due to that led to the early Nationalism in Tanganyika. Hence was the one of
difference between the rise of nationalism in Uganda and Tanganyika.
The mass media became a key tool of Nationalism in
both Uganda and Tanganyika but there were few press in Uganda like radio
stations, magazines as well as newspapers such as “Uganda Eyogera’ which was in
Luganda and this was read only by Baganda. This isolated other Ugandans from
ideas of nationalism in the newspaper because it found only in Luganda, Hence
delayed the struggle for independence in other part of Uganda contrary to
Tanganyika where there were many mass media such as newspaper like “SAUTI YA
TANU” and the radio station like “Radio Tanganyika” which spread nationalist
ideas all over the country that led early nationalism struggle in Tanganyika[7].
All in all, in the struggle for nationalism,
Tanganyika successful attain her independence earlier in 9th
December 1961 than Uganda that delay to get her independence in 1962 due to the
fact that in Tanganyika there were factors facilitated early independence such
as strong leadership of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the use of common language that
is Kiswahili which united people for struggle for independence while in Uganda
delayed to attain her political independence due to the factors such as
tribalism, religionalism and puppets of some African leaders who betrayed their
fellow Africans to the struggle for independence.
REFFERENCES
Kimambo, I. N & Temu, A. J (1969), A History of Tanzania, Nairobi, East Africa
Publishing house.
Mpangala G.P (2000), Ethnic
conflicts in the region of the great lakes: Origin and prospects
for
change, Dar
es Salaam: Dar es Salaam Institute
of Kiswahili research.
Richard, H. (1988) Nationalism and the Politics of Culture in
Quebec. New Directions in
Anthropological Writing: History, Poetics,
Cultural Criticism, ed. George E.;
Clifford Marcus, James. Madison: The
University of Wisconsin Press, 1988,
[1] Mpangala
Gaudance P (2000), Ethnic conflicts in
the region of the great lakes: origins and prospects for change.Dar es
salaam institute of Kiswahili research Pg.70
[2] Ibid
P.70
[4] Mpangala
Gaudance P (2000), Ethnic conflicts in
the region of the great lakes: origins and prospects for change.Dar es
salaam institute of Kiswahili research.Pp. 65, 69.
[7]Ibid
Pp. 12-13
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