Like the name suggest, the Kabaka crisis in Buganda was a situation of serious political disagreements between the colonial government under Sir Andrew Cohen, the then British governor in Uganda and the Kingdom of Buganda under Kabaka Mutesa II.
The event was so memorable in that the Kabaka had to be deported to England on 30th November 1953.
The Kabaka crisis, therefore, was a trying moment not to only the British government but to also Buganda specifically and Uganda at large.
The following were the causes of the Kabaka crisis of 1953 in Buganda
- The desire of Buganda to get her independence from Uganda, that is to say the need for Buganda to establish an Independent entity outside Uganda.
- The British on the other hand wanted to dominate Buganda fully.
- The controversial or contentious opinions between the Kabaka and the colonial governor. The Kabaka and the members of Lukiiko objected to the idea of East African federation.
- Kabaka Mutesa II needed more political power which the colonial governor could not accept.
- The Baganda were too confident and determined to attain Independence.
- Kabaka Mutesa II wanted to restore the glory of Buganda as exemplified by its rich history in the pre- colonial period.
- The aggressive nature of the then colonial governor of Uganda, Sir Andrew Cohen led to this crisis.
- Buganda had totally rejected the reforms made by the Governor like setting up elected local councils.
- The emergency of young, energetic and politically vibrant Baganda like Abu-Mayanja and Ben Kiwanuka among others helped to create the crisis.
- Buganda was totally oppressed to the idea of the East- African federation where she knew that her position as a kingdom would be sidelined or submerged into East African federation.
- The overwhelmingly support that the Baganda always gave to their Kabaka made him to think that he was unchallengeable.
- The Kabaka’s complete failure to co-operate with the colonial administration at the time, created a state with in a state hence leading to the Kabaka crisis.
- The most immediate factor inevitably was the deportation of the Kabaka by the colonial administration that annoyed and surprised the Baganda.