British Colonial rule in Uganda

Colonialism: Is the policy of acquiring colonies and keeping them dependent on the foreign power.

Long ago, in the 18th and 19th century, a number of European countries that included Britain, Germany, France, Portugal, Belgium and Italy carried out different economic activities.

They later crossed to Africa to control economic activities so that they create more trade opportunities. Therefore, many European countries were interested in acquiring colonies in different parts of Africa.

Germany organised a conference called the Berlin Conference in 1884 to settle problems that might arise and all the countries that were interested in acquiring colonies participated in dividing up Africa. As a result of .that process, many European countries signed treaties and agreed with each other and local leaders to define areas they had to occupy and control.

They also agreed on free movement of different groups of people such as missionaries and traders from different countries in Europe who wanted to carryout businesses in Africa.

However, British rule in Uganda was established through a number of ways mainly: 

The British used diplomatic means by signing treaties or agreements with the local chiefs.

They used force in areas where they found resistence from the local people and chiefs.

They also used colonial agents such as Semei Kakungulu to extend their rule to areas in Eastern Uganda.

The British started to establish their rule in Uganda before 1894. They sent their people through a trading company known as Imperial British East Africa Company. The administrators of this company were responsible for signing agreements between British government and kings/ chiefs at that time.