Religion as a divisive factor in Buganda, 1962-1994

Abstract

In this study efforts have been made to analyze religion as a divisive factor in Buganda from 1962 to 1994. In Buganda, this period of 33 years of political independence has witnessed various religious discrimination against one another, by Ugandans themselves. It has also been noted that by the time of independence, Ugandans had the old feelings that members of some religious traditions were inferior to others. Notably Anglicans were considered first class, Catholics second class, Muslims third class while followers of indigenous religion were placed nowhere. The population involved in this study included various categories: the educated, non-educated, literate, illiterate and followers of different religious traditions in Buganda. The study has tried to answer the questions why religion has been misused and misinterpreted to divide the people of Uganda. In this study, efforts have been made to analyze the role of religion as a divisive factor in Buganda from 1962 (the year of Uganda's independence) to 1994 a year after Buganda had been restored as a Kingdom. The work produced has been divided into five chapters which make up a full thesis. The first chapter is introduction and gives a background to the study. Chapter Two deals with the theoretical framework, Chapter Three is an analysis of Islamic divisive factors, while Chapter Four and Five follow the same procedure respectively. There is a general conclusion which deals with both findings, and recommendations. Methods used in the execution of the study included Library and field research. Some literature related to the study has been consulted especially for historical analysis, xix while interviews (oral and written), observations and participatory discussions have been used. The study has indicated that whereas religion is a vital social institution, it has been misused by same people which has led to divisions and disharmony in Buganda.