Back to: O level history east africa notes uganda syllabus
its Effects
- The system created a class of ambitious Africans who were more than willing to do anything to please the British. These later became collaborators e.g. Semei Kakungulu, Sir Apollo Kaggwa.
- The system encouraged tribalism because each society was administered at tribal level and therefore unity against foreign rule was difficult.
- The British tended to favour Buganda over other areas because they greatly admired the Kiganda model of administration compared to other regions’ systems of administration.
- Indirect rule enabled the British to effectively exploit Uganda’s resources e.g. the Africans were forced to grow cash crops, provide labour on European farms and pay taxes.
- Serious education for the Africans was totally neglected and many were given elementary education. As a result, many became clerks, secretaries, office messengers and interpreters.
- Indirect rule created a class of conservative Africans who were totally against any new idea and these felt so comfortable under British rule. E.g. Semei Kakungulu.
- Indirect rule saved Uganda from becoming a settler colony because there was no need for the British to come, dominate and finally settle here because the African chiefs were doing the job well.
- Indirect rule brought religion into the politics of Buganda and Uganda at large. E.g. in Buganda, the Katikiro (prime minister) had to be a protestant.
- Indirect rule tended to favour Protestants compared to other religious groups in Uganda.
- The system dehumanized and demoralized African chiefs i.e. many were not pleased with the changes but they had no option or to lose their leadership posts.
- The African chiefs earned themselves hatred, dislike and disrespect from their subjects who looked at them as traitors who had “sold” them to the British colonialists.
- Indirect rule greatly affected the spread of Islamic faith because many people became Christians as the British tended to favour Christians particularly protestants.
- Indirect led to the loss of land by the Africans as a result of the British introducing the forceful growing of cash crops.
- Indirect rule led to the a lot of suffering on the side of the Africans as many were left in poverty after losing their land to the British, paying heavy taxes and receiving poor education systems.
- Indirect rule led to the outbreak of resistances against the whites as a result of the Africans getting fed up of forced cash crop growing, payment of heavy taxes and loss of independence e.g. Lamogi rebellion in Acholi land.