§ Mr. Wallasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will make a statement about the recent Uganda Constitutional Conference.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe Conference Report and the text of a draft Agreement with Buganda were published yesterday as Cmnd. No. 1523. The Report contains detailed proposals for a Constitution which will make Uganda internally self-governing from 1st March, 1962. This Constitution will also provide for a General Election in mid-April, 1962. The Report recognises that it will be necessary to discuss further constitutional changes before Uganda becomes independent.
The draft Agreement with Buganda was initialled by the Katikiro and by my right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House, on 9 th October. Under this Agreement, Buganda will be united in a federal relationship, defined in detail in the Constitutional documents, with the rest of Uganda. The draft Agreement was subject to amendment by agreement between the parties, but I am pleased to say that it has since been accepted by the Lukiko, with only minor amendments.
At the conclusion of the Conference, my right hon. Friend announced that, provided the discussions contemplated could be completed and the necessary arrangements made in time, Uganda would attain independence on 9th October, 1962.