Uganda commemorated its 62nd Independence Day on Oct. 9, marking the day the country gained independence from British colonial rule.
Thousands of Ugandans gathered at Kololo Independence Grounds at midnight on Oct. 9, 1962, to witness the lowering of the British Union Jack and the raising of the Ugandan flag – black, yellow, and red. The Duke of Kent, representing Queen Elizabeth II, handed over the Instruments of Power to Dr. Milton Obote.
Uganda is named after the Buganda kingdom, which encompasses a large portion of the south, including Kampala, and whose language Luganda is widely spoken; the official language is SWAHILI and English. The region was populated by various ethnic groups, before Bantu and Nilotic groups arrived around 3,000 years ago. These groups established influential kingdoms such as the Empire of Kitara. The arrival of Arab traders in the 1830s and British explorers in the late 19th century, marked the beginning of foreign influence. The British established the Protectorate of Uganda in 1894, incorporating various kingdoms and setting the stage for future political dynamics. Uganda gained independence in 1962, with Milton Obote as the first prime minister.
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