§ Mr. Stonehouseasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make a statement on the future constitutional development of Uganda arising out of the Wild Report.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Governor of Uganda is today conveying to the Legislative Council the views of Her Majesty's Government on certain major matters of principle embodied in the Report of the Constitutional Committee. Her Majesty's Government's views are that the legislature of the Protectorate should have an elected majority; that elections to the legislature should be held throughout the Protectorate as early in 1961 as can be arranged, on the basis of a common roll with a further extension of the franchise and without electoral safeguards for minorities; that the Executive should comprise a majority of non-official Ministers and should continue to be presided over by, and advisory to, the Governor. Her Majesty's Government also reaffirm their previous declarations regarding the perservation and upholding of the status and dignity of the Hereditary Rulers and contemplate the setting up of a Commission to consider the whole question of the relationships of the various parts of Uganda with the 19W centre. It is hoped to make an announcement on the latter point later in the year when the Governor has been able to advise me further after consultations locally.
The Report of the Constitutional Committee is being debated in the Legislative Council against the background of these decisions by Her Majesty's Government.
I am arranging for copies of the text of the Governor's statement when received to be placed in the Library.