Conservative Party (Uganda)

The Conservative Party (CP) is a centre-right political party in Uganda. It is led by Ken Lukyamuzi.

Conservative Party
AbbreviationCP
LeaderKen Lukyamuzi
Founded1966 (officially)
1979 or 1980 (de facto)
Preceded byKabaka Yekka (de facto)
IdeologyConservatism
Federalism
Anti-corruption
Environmentalism
Sustainable development
Baganda interests
Monarchism
Political positionCentre-right
Party flag

History
The CP aimed for the restoration of the subnational kingdom of Buganda (dark red) within Uganda; this was achieved in 1993.

The Conservative Party serves as de facto successor to Kabaka Yekka, a Baganda political party and movement that had been loyal to the Buganda monarchy and operated directly after Uganda's independence.[1] Kabaka Yekka and the Buganda kingdom were forcibly disbanded during the Mengo Crisis of 1966. The prime minister (Katikkiro) for Buganda, Jehoash Mayanja Nkangi, consequently fled abroad. As former member of Kabaka Yekka's youth wing,[2][3] Nkangi organized the Conservative Party in exile; thus, 1966 is regarded as the party's traditional foundation date.[4] However, the party only became truly active from 1979[5] or 1980 onwards.[2]

By the time of its foundation, the CP generally followed similar principles as Kabaka Yekka.[1][6][7] Overall, its political aims were not well defined; it only called for the restoration of Uganda's 1962 constitution and the decentralization of political power in the country.[1] The party was considered monarchist,[8] as one of its main objective was to protect Uganda's traditional rulers.[9] Regardless, it did not emphasize its connection to Baganda royalists.[1]

The CP was one of the four parties to register for the 1980 Ugandan general election, but remained a minor force. It lacked funding, had no paramilitary wing like other Ugandan parties, and possessed no firm party organization. In fact, many Baganda monarchists preferred to join the Democratic Party (DP), as they believed that the Conservative Party could not win the election. While campaigning in 1980, the party claimed that its supporters were harassed by the Uganda People's Congress (UPC) and DP.[1] The CP failed to win any seats during the 1980 election.[10] In the next decades, the CP remained a marginal group, while Ugandan came under the control of a succession of authoritarian governments. Regardless, Nkangi became an influential figure and was appointed as minister by several Ugandan regimes.[2][11] By the early 1990s, the CP increasingly voiced its support for Kabaka Yekka's traditional aims.[6] In 1993, the long-held ambition by the monarchists to restore the Buganda kingdom was fulfilled.[6][12] Nkangi played an important role in the restoration.[12]

The CP was affected by factionalism during the early 2000s, with notable factions led by Nkangi,[13] and Makindye West MP Nsubuga Nsambu respectively.[14] Nkangi initially reconciled with the rest of the CP under secretary general Ken Lukyamuzi in July 2003,[13] but was ousted from his position as president-general of the party in November of that year. Nsambu and Lukyamuzi claimed that Nkangi had become too close to the ruling government of Yoweri Museveni, and no longer followed the CP's ideology. Nsambu was consequently declared interim party president.[15] Internal disputes continued until 2005, when Nkangi officially agreed to pass the leadership of the CP to Lukyamuzi.[16]

In the general election of 23 February 2006, the party won 1 out of 289 elected seats.

The Conservative Party supported presidential candidate Kizza Besigye during the general election of 2016.[17] CP president Lukyamuzi attended the foundation ceremony for the Alliance for National Transformation in 2019.[18]

Ideology

The Conservative Party is described as centre-right.[19] The party places great importance in Ugandan traditions and customs,[9] and is regarded as monarchist[8] due to its support for the traditional rulers.[9] It has proposed the decentralization[1] and federalisation of Uganda,[15] arguing that the country was formed as a union of different peoples.[9] As these ideas have gradually become more popular in Uganda, other parties have adopted them as well, leaving the CP marginalized.[20] The party has consequently begun to focus more on social justice,[19] and presents itself as advocate for the rural poor, against special privileges, and against corruption. It also supports the sustainable use of Uganda's forests and bodies of water,[21][22] and has campaigned for the protection of the environment.[23]

References

Citations
  1. Otunnu 2016, p. 62.
  2. Ssenyonga, Andrew (6 March 2017). "Ex-minister Mayanja Nkangi dies aged 85". New Vision. Kampala. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  3. Natukunda, Carol (6 March 2017). "Mayanja Nkangi's life and career". New Vision. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  4. Simba 2015, pp. 17, 20.
  5. Simba 2015, p. 8.
  6. Hansen & Twaddle 1995, p. 146.
  7. "OBITUARY: Mayanja Nkangi 1931 – 2017". The Independent (Uganda). 7 March 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  8. Oloya 2013, p. 38.
  9. Simba 2015, p. 20.
  10. Isaac Mufumba (26 January 2021). "From third to main force: Tracing Museveni's final leg to power". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  11. "I am still a Conservative, says Nkangi". New Vision. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  12. Musisi, Frederic (3 August 2013). "1993 Coronation: Journey that dates back to 1956". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  13. "CP overcomes factionalism". New Vision. 23 July 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  14. "CP slams". New Vision. 8 January 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  15. "CP's Nsambu, Lukyamuzi oust Nkangi". New Vision. 12 November 2003. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  16. "Conservative Party Mourns Mayanja Nkangi". Uganda Radio Network. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  17. Otunnu 2016, p. 214.
  18. KAHUNGU, MISAIRI THEMBO (23 May 2019). "Who is who in Gen Muntu's Alliance for National Transformation". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  19. Simba 2015, p. 17.
  20. Simba 2015, pp. 20–21.
  21. "Maureen Kyalya joins Conservative Party". The Observer. 25 September 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  22. Simba 2015, pp. 21, 25–26.
  23. Simba 2015, p. 26.

Works cited
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