HC Deb 02 May 1956 vol 552 cc393-4
37. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement on the proposed constitutional changes in Uganda.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the statement about elections which the Governor made with my full authority on 24th April. I prefer not to attempt a summary of this statement within the compass of an answer to a Parliamentary Question and would invite the hon. Member to read the full text, of which copies have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Brockway

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider including it for circulation in HANSARD? Is he aware that this announcement has been received with profound disappointment by the African population in Uganda, particularly by the Uganda National Congress, whose sweeping victory at the last election shows that it has the support of the people?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I think the time-honoured way of circulating this sort of document is in the Library. There is a limit to what we can include in HANSARD. Answering the second part of the question, I hope the hon. Gentleman will not fall into the error of the Uganda National Congress which, on the very day that the document was first made known, condemned it in toto before it could possibly have had time to read it properly, let alone study it. Any such irresponsible tactics go ill with their claim to be representative African leaders.

Mr. J. Johnson

Will the Minister keep in mind the fact that a unitary State, as opposed to a Federal State, is better for Uganda, since only in this way will the wealthy Buganda State carry and help the weak States of Ankole and Toro?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

There is certainly much to be said for that point of view.