Every year on 9 October Uganda celebrates Independence Day by lighting candles and holding official celebrations on the Kololo ceremonial grounds. Uganda originally gained its independence from Britain in 1962 after many years of calling for freedom, beginning with a series of major strikes following WWII.
The British government was represented by the Duke and Duchess of Kent, who can be seen attending the ceremonies in the video “Uganda Wins Independence (1962)” and the Photo Archive in the Ugandan Diaspora News.
A growing number of African Ugandan leaders called for independence through peaceful means, such as the formation of the Uganda National Congress in 1952 and culminating in Milton Obole’s creation of the Uganda People’s Congress in 1960.
In 1962 the original Independence Day celebrations were held, naming Milton Obole as prime minister. The British government was represented by the Duke and Duchess of Kent, who can be seen attending the ceremonies in the video “Uganda Wins Independence (1962)” and the Photo Archive in the Ugandan Diaspora News.
One year after separation from the British, in 1963, Uganda became a republic with the Kabaka, King of Bugunda, as ceremonial president.
Read more about it in A Global World’s article on Uganda’s Independence Day.
