With the impending self-government elections in April 162, UPC made an alliance with the KY in order to defeat DP. One of the terms of the alliance, which was later adopted in the 1962 Constitution, was for Buganda to hold indirect elections for Buganda’s representatives in Parliament.
This was opposed by DP but to no avail. Benedicto Kiwanuka in particular took a principled stand against it. Both the UPC and the colonial administration had objected to Buganda’s demand for indirect elections in the 1961 elections.
However, now that this move was to block the Catholics from leadership, both UPC and Colonial Secretary accepted it. In the February 1962 Lukiiko elections, KY decampaigned DP in Buganda saying that voting for the DP was disloyal to the Kabaka.
As expected, KY won 65 Lukiiko seats with DP winning three. One of the terms of the UPC-KY alliance was that UPC would not field candidates in Buganda. In the April 1962 national elections, UPC won 37 seats while DP secured 24 seats outside Buganda.
On top of the UPC seats were added the 21 Buganda’s nominees to the National Assembly. On October 9 1962, Uganda became independent with Obote as the executive Prime Minister. In November 1963, Mutesa was elected by Parliament as ceremonial head of state.