EUROPEAN IMPERIALISM IN EAST AFRICA
Methods used to establish colonial rule in East
Africa.
1. After the partition and scramble for East
Africa, the British and Germans used various methods in East Africa. However, these methods varied from place to
place and from time to time as follows:
2. The European colonialists used Christian
missionaries who paved the way for
colonisation by preaching the message of love and brotherhood which convinced
the African that it was a sin to fight against the Europeans.
3. The signing of treaties and agreements with
African chiefs was another method used by Europeans to colonise East Africa for
example the 1900 Buganda agreement, the Masai agreement of 1804, and several
other agreements. These assisted the
British to establish their rule.
4. They used African collaborators and
opportunists to conquer and annex areas that were resistant to colonialists’
rule for example Apollo Kagwa and Semei Kakungulu.
5. The use
of explorers or adventurers for example Speke and Stanley who gave exaggerated
reports to their home governments based on lakes, minerals climate and
mountains, which later attracted colonialists.
6. Colonialists used the method of divide and
rule for example by introducing different religions such as Catholics,
Protestants and Moslems etc. This
created disunity against the enemy.
7. The European colonialists also used the
European settlers for example in the Kenya highlands. These settlers introduced agriculture, which
generated funds for their colonial governments.
8. They built communication lines for example the
Uganda Railway which facilitated the movement of the British troops from the
coast to the interior. These were later
used to put down rebellions.
9. They used bribery to make the chiefs and kings
of East Africa convinced toward their colonial policies.
10. The colonialists used the army of occupation
to establish their rule in East Africa.
This was effective in the areas of Bunyoro where the British used the
army of occupation. In other words they
used military confrontations for example Kabalega of Bunyoro was attacked by
the army and the Germans attacked the Hehe.
11. They built administrative posts and forts for
defensive purposes against African resistors.
12. They used chartered companies to establish
colonial rule in East Africa for example IBEACO.
13. The European colonialists also used gifts to
the African leaders like chiefs and kings to persuade their people to accept
colonialism.
14. They used force to suppress resistance all of
which maintained law and order.
