Category Archives: Buganda

By Robert Asketill We have so far among the dim shadows into which dissolves the history of central Africa, especially the Kingdom of Buganda and prior to the penetration of European influences, hopefully established Africa’s capacity to throw up leaders of outstanding ambition, energy and ability. We have of course shown the enormous capabilities of Kabaka Mwanga, but he could not have done it alone and we well remember on arrival into Buganda one other person who was described to us during those great evenings of discussion concerning the Kingdom. That was a man of incredible leadership under the command of Kabaka Mwanga called Semei Lwakilenzi Kakunguru. His career has … Continue reading →

Researched by Robert Asketill In the infant days of aeronautics, the Germans attempted what was perhaps the earliest long-range airlift operation in history, the 1917 mission to send supplies from Europe to German East Africa, a flight of over 3600 miles. Unfortunately, this amazing story remains a forgotten episode of the little-known East Africa theatre of the First World War. At the start of the Great War, Germany’s African empire consisted of Togoland (modern-day Togo), Kamerun (Cameroon), German Southwest Africa (Namibia), and German East Africa (Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi). These colonies each possessed only very small military forces of German-led native troops, and with British control of the oceans, it … Continue reading →

By Robert Asketill By 1914 the Uganda King’s African Rifles (KAR or ‘Keya’ as pronounced by the Baganda), formed mainly from within the kingdom, had been used in the maintenance of internal security and had impressed all with their determination in bush warfare that had been their primary duty in ending the troubles of Bunyoro and tribal groups ambushing the head loading supplies bringing up supplies to Buganda from the coast. However by 1914 there was no staff, no central organization for supply, transport and medical services, no artillery and a system of reserves that was still incomplete. The regiment was neither designed nor prepared for a major war. The … Continue reading →

By Robert Asketill The trouble on the Africa coast had shown, especially on the so called British East Africa and in Nigeria territory, that a trading Company as we have seen in our historic writings, was not powerful enough to be held responsible for the lives and security of Europeans in Africa. This was also the same situation with the German colonisation and on 1st January, 1891, therefore, a German protectorate was declared in what was to be called Tanganyika. Henceforward German East Africa was to be administered by the German Government which included almost two thirds of Lake Victoria. This decision did not put an end to Germany’s problems. … Continue reading →

By Robert Asketill Here we go over and review the valiant efforts of Kabaka Mwanga to save his kingdom. Meanwhile the Imperial British East Africa Company had protested to the British Government that for lack of money, it could no longer fulfil its obligations in Buganda, much of which can be read in Part 18. The British Government was not anxious to undertake direct responsibility for an undeveloped part of tropical Africa, realising that the expense involved would be considerable. The supporters of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) however, urged that the Government had a responsibility to protect the English missionaries in Buganda whilst others pointed out that to abandon … Continue reading →

The attitude of Kahaya, the young ruler of Ankole, was doubtful so an ultimatum was dispatched allowing him 20  days to confirm his loyalty, failing which Ankole was to be declared hostile territory. Late in August, the expected reinforcements reached Masaka and Tighe marched out with two officers, 107 regular troops, and 1,200 Baganda armed with guns, and about 2,000 spearmen. Tighe was unused to such allies and fascinated by the long, parallel files of spearmen marching straight across country on his flanks. Gabriel was reported to be in the hills near Kabula and by splitting his force into four converging columns Tighe hoped to surround him by night. He … Continue reading →

By Robert Asketill Before going further into the actual military diaries of the time, we find that Macdonald was criticized for not taking sterner action in the initial stages of the revolt, and for his alleged tardiness in following the mutineers back to Uganda. On the other hand, he was also accused of provoking the mutiny by his uncompromising strictness in dealing with troops whose language he did not speak. Whichever view may be correct, it is certain that the vigorous action taken by Macdonald at Lubwa’s and in Buddu prevented the mutiny from developing into a Muslim rebellion. No over-all plan could possibly have been made for concerted action … Continue reading →

By Robert Asketill There is no question the military history of Buganda needs to be told. The President of Uganda has taken on the name of Museveni in memory of Uganda’s 7th KAR and at present we are hearing of a Congolese rebel group with family connections in Rwanda called the M23; strangely the 23rd KAR were once closely attached to the 7th KAR, which makes one think. There is long lost history contained in the diaries of the early European officer corps that arrived to serve Buganda and in time had a great love for the Kingdom of Buganda and, as we saw in Part 71, they were to … Continue reading →

  We are happy to inform our readers that after an unfortunate absence of your favourite feaures on the History of Buganda, it is now back and will appear here every Saturday morning. Our Buganda history specialist Robert Asketill, BEM, who spent many years in Buganda working for the then British Colonial Office (now the Foreign and Commonwealth Office), resumes with Part 71 after Daudi Chwa becomes Kabaka of Buganda shortly after the beginning of the Second World War. Now read on. We are now entering into one of the most important roads of the Buganda Kingdom where military might of the times came into dominance almost hidden within the political … Continue reading →