Lost Counties (Hansard, 17 July 1962)

§ 9. Mr. F. M. Bennett
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will now set a maximum as well as a minimum period for the holding of a referendum on the future of the two lost counties in the Buganda-Bunyoro dispute, recommended by the Molson Commission to be transferred to Bunyoro.

§ 20. Mr. G. M. Thomson
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what reply he has sent to a letter to him, dated 5th July, from the Chairman of the Bunyoro Constitutional Committee, pressing him to include in the Uganda independence Constitution a maximum as well as a minimum period for the holding of a referendum on the future of the two lost counties in the Buganda-Bunyoro dispute which were recommended by the Molson Commission to be transferred to Bunyoro.

§ Mr. Sandys
The Uganda Government will have the responsibility for establishing conditions in which the people can express their opinion without fear of violence or intimidation. That is why it was thought right to leave them the right to decide when the referendum can properly be held. I am replying to the Chairman of the Bunyoro Constitutional Committee accordingly.

§ Mr. Bennett
If the argument is, as I can understand it might be, that it is wrong to impose terms on a country that has achieved independence on how to conduct elections or, for that matter, a plebiscite, can the Secretary of State say why it is wrong to fix a maximum term, when it is apparently quite in order to tell the future independent Uganda Government that it cannot hold a 218 referendum for two years after independence; in other words, to set a minimum term? If the Government are prepared to put that into the declaration, why cannot they put it in as regards the maximum? [Interruption.] I do not blame my right hon. Friend for having my words crowded out by a very much more important incident —my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Wirral (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd) coming into the Chamber. If there is no lack of intention by Mr. Obote's Central Government to hold a plebiscite, can the Secretary of State give any con-cievable reason why he should not be prepared to agree that with Her Majesty Government?

§ Mr. Sandys
Of course, my predecessor would have liked to have been able to persuade both sides to accept the recommendations of the Molson Commission, which were of a different nature, but in view of the impossibility of achieving agreement, he thought it best to impose the compromise which we are now operating. All I can say is that I am not prepared to give any promise to reopen this very prickly question.

§ Mr. Thomson
Would the Minister seriously consider having further consultations with Mr. Obote, the Prime Minister of Uganda, before he finally sends his reply to Bunyoro? As he knows, there are certain things which it is possible for a colonial Power to do while it still has responsibility, which would be very difficult for the Prime Minister of Uganda, with the best will in the world, to do? Is he aware that the best way to achieve peace and restraint in Bunyoro, which we all hope for during the years that lie immediately ahead, would be by giving a considerable reassurance that at some point there is at least the certainty of a referendum and self-determination?

§ Mr. Sandys
I think we must trust the new central Government to act with responsibility and impartiality.