The indirect rule

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Uganda was colonized by the British who used indirect rule. In this system, administrative authority was placed in the hands of the traditional rulers who governed on behalf of the British. The British colonial masters would pass on orders or laws to the native and traditional rulers for implementation. This system was introduced by Fredrick Lugard.

Fredrick Lugard was an agent of the Secretary for the Colonial Office in London. His duty was to make laws, policies, and programs for British East African colonies. Colonial programs and orders were issued through the center of the kingdoms. There were officers responsible for different departments, such as tax collection, agriculture, trade, transport, health, education, police, prisons, and many others.

Under indirect rule, the rulers were left with some powers, like collecting taxes and presiding over local courts. This system only worked in centralized societies like Buganda, Tooro, and Ankole. Indirect rule was the easiest way of managing these societies, which had welcomed and collaborated with the colonialists.

Why the British Applied Indirect Rule in Uganda

Indirect rule was cheap since the chiefs were not paid much money. They were only given gifts and praised for their services. These chiefs did not demand much money in order to work for the colonialists.

Buganda Kingdom had a centralised system of administration which suited the strategy of Indirect Rule. This is because the administrative structures were already in place.

Furthermore, the British believed that the local rulers were respected by the native population. For example, the Baganda were very loyal to their king. It was therefore easy for them to rule without opposition.

Traditional rulers and chiefs also understood their people better, because they lived with them, knew their problems, and spoke the same language. They therefore knew how to introduce laws and policies with ease.

The British feared open resistance from the Africans so they passed on their policies to the local leaders, and these leaders implemented them. Using the local leaders made it seem like the native leaders were the ones introducing the laws.

So, any resistance would be turned against the native leaders, not the colonialists. Indirect rule was applied because it had succeeded in other areas like Northern Nigeria and Burma where Fredrick Lugard had first experimented with it. Therefore, when it was found successful in Nigeria, it was applied to other British colonies.because the British believed it was effective.

The British strategy was different from that of the Germans and the French who used direct rule. You have learnt that indirect rule was easier for the British colonialists, and it required fewer administrators. Indirect rule was therefore cost effective. It made the British appear good, instead of ruthless administrators.

It is important to also note that the Indirect Rule had a number of problems: Lack of support from the local population and rebellion from local leaders.

Effects of Indirect Rule in Uganda

The indirect rule in Uganda led to the rise of African administrators like Semei Kakungulu and Sir Apollo Kagwa. These people worked hard to help the British meet their needs. They extended colonial rule beyond Buganda, to Bunyoro and Eastern Uganda.

Instruct learners to form groups and attempt Activity 1.2 below. The necessary materials such as the Internet and relevant textbooks should be provided to them.

Observe learners’ discussions, and find out whether they can give immediate and far-reaching effects of colonial administration in Uganda. Guide them to dramatize how indirect rule was applied. Discuss with the learners about indirect rules to evaluate their understanding of the system.

Finding out the effects of indirect rule in East Africa

Using ICT or library research individually, find out the careers and achievements of the following personalities:

• Semei Kakungulu
• Sir Apollo Kaggwa

In groups, using role-play, dramatize how the Indirect rule was applied in Uganda.

In groups, discuss the effects of Indirect Rule in East Africa. Present your findings to the class.

Using ICT or any other source, find out the differences between a protectorate and a colony. Note down your findings in your journal.

1) a)Semei Kakungulu was born in 1869 and died on 24 November 1928.

He was born in Kooki, but grew up as a page at the Kabaka’s court. He was converted to Christianity at the kabaka’s court, and later became an ally for the personal gains of the British. Semei Kakungulu, a fierce Muganda warrior, became the toughest soldier the British colonizers ever hired to fight their colonization wars in Uganda. He was born in 1869 and was also the founder of a Christian cult called “Abayudaya”.

Achievements of Semei Kakungulu

• He helped to conquer Toro from the

Banyoro, and with the help of the British, he restored Omukama Kasagama as king of Toro.

• He established military forts at Kaweri islands on Lake Kyoga.
• Semei Kakungulu encouraged the growing of cash crops like: coffee, cotton, and tea.
• Kakungulu built forts, garrisons, bridges, and administrative centers.

b) Sir Apollo Kagwa, was born in 1864 and died in 1927. He was a Muganda from the grasshopper (Nsenene) clan. He served as a page at the courts of Kabaka Mwanga, and he later converted to Christianity due to the influence of the Christian Missionaries.

Achievements of Sir Apollo Kagwa

• He supported the British against Kabaka Mwanga from 1895 to 1899.
• He also participated in the making of the 1900 Buganda agreement as a representative of Buganda kingdom.
• Kaggwa encouraged the British to set up schools and health centers in Buganda.
• He played an important role in evacuating the people around Lake Victoria to save them from sleeping sickness.
• Apollo helped the British to capture Kabaka    Mwanga    and     Omukama

Kabalega in the Lango swamp in 1899.

• Learners take part in a role-play dramatizing how British rule was applied in Uganda
• Some of the effects of indirect rule in East Africa:
• The system created a class of ambitious African politicians who were more than willing to do anything to please the British. Such people worked tirelessly to extend British rule to other areas.
• The indirect rule mainly favored the Buganda region over other regions. The British felt that Buganda had attained a high level of civilization compared to other regions.
• It also promoted tribalism among the people of East Africa. This was due to the fact that each society was administered at a tribal level, and its subjects were encouraged to first of all think of themselves as a tribe.
• This self-centered thinking resulted in issues of tribalism, hatred, and dislike for people from different tribes.

The rulers of East Africa were dehumanized and demoralized. Since the British used chiefs and traditional

• rulers, their subjects looked at them as traitors who had ‘’sold’’ them to the British colonialists.
• Religious wars in Uganda were also partly a result of indirect rule. The policy combined religion into the politics of Buganda and Uganda as a whole.

4) Difference between a colony and a protectorate:

• A colony is a country or a territory governed internally by a foreign power, while a protectorate is a country or a territory with its own internal government, but under the control of an outside power.
• A colony is a group of people that form a kind of settlement in a nation, but it comes directly under the rule of some other country. A protectorate for that matter did come under, say, British control, but they were normal independent states. Colonies were in fact part of the British state.
• A protectorate comes under the control of a ‘protector’, whereas a colony comes under the control of a ‘colonizer’.

Why Indirect Rule Failed in Uganda

The British had a hard time administering most non-centralized societies. It was difficult to find a leader to use in such societies. For example, in Northern and South Western Uganda. There were widespread rebellions against British rule, such as the Nyabingi Rebellion of 1910 in Kigezi, and Lamogi Rebellion of 1911 in Acholi.

Language barrier, because of the many languages spoken in Uganda. This was a problem because the British colonialists could not use any of the local languages for communication, and the local people could not understand English, so communication was difficult. There was also a poor communication network between Entebbe and other parts of Uganda which made it difficult for the British to effect their policies and laws easily and quickly.

The British had inadequate manpower. Only 40 trained personnel were sent to Uganda to help in the administration of the whole country. The policy was also too expensive to maintain because there was limited income.