DEPOSED RULER OF BUGANDA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27500, 6 November 1954, Page 7

DEPOSED RULER OF BUGANDA

Judge Rules Britain Acted Wrongly (Rec. 7 pm.) KAMPALA, Nov.' 4. There were wild scenes of jubilation here today after Chief Justice J. B; Griffin, of Uganda, said in a judgment that the British Government acted wrongly in the way it withdrew recognition Of the Kabaka of Buganda last November. . Supporters of the Kabaka regarded the judgment as a victory for their cause and thought the ruler would be back in Buganda in a matter of a day. ■; It is thought likely that appeals will be lodged. The Kabaka, 30-year-old Mutesa 11, was. .deposed from rulership of the 25,000-square mile territory on the grounds that, he would not “co-oper-ate loyally” with the Protectorate of Uganda, of which Buganda is a part. He has since been living in London. Mr Justice Griffih expressed the opinion that recogflition of the Kabaka could have been withdrawn as an “Act of State.”,. This had not been done, and the British Government had, in fact, ptoceeded under the wrong clause of ijs agreement with the Kabaka. Giving judgment, in a civil action which sought to test the validity of the withdrawal, the Judge refused declarations requested by the plaintiffs and ruled that the Regents had been validly appointed HehelS that the Kabaka had no right to recognition which was" legally enforcible by the Court. But in view of the possibility of appeal, he gave his opinion that if a legal right existed recognition had been withdrawn under a wrong clause. Recognition could, nevertheless, have been withdrawn as an Act of State, but this had not been done, the Judge said.