February 22-23, 1966
The word is that five ministers have been removed from office and jailed. This message came over Uganda TV last night. No indication as to who the five ministers were.

Uganda radio today is playing organ music. Nothing else.(LAP).

Apparently “coup” runners had at least some validity. The question is where will the Uganda rifles go. To this point they have been loyal to Obote, the apparent leader of the uprising. (LAP).

February 24, 1966
“Have you heard that two cabinet Ministers were shot?” “Did you hear that Obote is having the Kabaka arrested?”

These are the rumors which we heard late this afternoon. Quinby said that there were 50 troops sent to the K’s Palace ostensibly to arrest him. He also said that there was trouble in the Kampala streets.

Lou went down to get a copy of the E.A. Standard, and some dog pans. He got the paper and learned that the shops had been advised to close. They all did, he couldn’t get the pans.

Needless to say, we feel the tenseness of the situation. If the Kabaka is threatened, the Buganda will be angered. In addition to this, the chief political feeling here is in sympathy with what was the “opposition” and is now the real opposing party.

We have listened to the news, VOA (Voice of America) & BBC, and have heard only that there is some question about whether or not one of the ministers has died since seizure yesterday morning; and that no one knows of the whereabouts of Mutesa. Of course, we don’t know of the time of that report. It may have gone out at noon.

Although we feel no personal danger, we are alert to the seriousness of this situation: In case of revolt on the part of the Buganda, would our own students go? Will the fighting if it occurs, reach down here? Will the Africans take this opportunity to get even with the Asians? [Always on our minds during our stay there.] And where is Dr. Zake? Where is his permanent secretary? Will they be next? What, indeed, will tomorrow and this weekend, which is almost here, bring to an already restless area? FMP (10:20 PM)

VOA has just announced that Obote has just ended the constitution. (11:00 AM) LAP