Uganda

During that period he settled many disputes, included Toro, Ankole, Bukedi and other regions in the protectorate, reduced expenditure and increased revenue. He gave the kingdom of Buganda a definite constitution, settled the land question in that kingdom and in other regions and also the question of native taxation. The land settlement had very important, if undesigned, results for its effect was to do away with tribal tenure and sub stitute the freehold and leasehold system, with certain unde sirable results. By the treaty of Mengo, signed in March 190o, the young king of Buganda, Daudi Chwa, a son of Mwanga, born in 1896, was accorded the title of his highness the Kabaka. During his minority the kingdom of Buganda was governed by regents. Of these the most notable was Sir Apolo Kagwa (d. 1927), a true statesman. An epidemic of sleeping sickness, which between 1901 and 1909 caused over 250,00o deaths, did not prevent the country making progress, the material development being accom panied by the conversion of most of the Buganda to Christianity. The completion in 1902 of the railway from the Indian ocean to Lake Victoria did much to facilitate trade. With settled conditions the administration was transferred, 1906, from the Foreign to the Colonial office, Sir Hesketh Bell being the first governor.

Social Conditions.

Christianity and Western civilization in creasingly made their influence manifest, while material prosperity brought new problems. Uganda being, however, a "black man's country," there was no clash between European and African interests. Officials and missionaries continued to play a leading part in the evolution of the people, and they were backed up by the native administration of the various states included in the protectorate, which have a large degree of autonomy. Daudi Chwa, who attained his majority on Aug. 8, 1914, and was created a K.C.M.G. in 1925, and Sir Apolo Kagwa, who on ceas ing to be regent became prime minister, were foremost in giving aid to the British in the World War. Other rulers and tribes were equally willing, and by supplying 10,00o soldiers, a native medical corps and over 160,00o carriers Uganda helped substantially to defeat the Germans in East Africa.

The country suffered from a severe famine in 1919 and from the general trade depression in 1921-2. But it quickly recovered. In cultivating cotton, an industry which started on a small scale in 1904 and 20 years later had attained great proportions, the natives found an easy method of acquiring wealth ; a fact not without danger and adversely affecting the labour supply for other work. However, there was steady growth in education and a power of adaptability to new conditions was clearly noticeable. At a critical period of development Uganda owed much to the wise guidance of Sir R. T. Coryndon, governor from Feb. 1918 to Sept. 1922. It was during this period, in 1921, that a (nomi nated) legislative council was created.

Being dependent upon the railway through Kenya Colony for her outlet to the sea Uganda had with that colony a customs and railway union. The question of political federation, which was raised after the World War, presented, however, difficulties, arising chiefly from the presence of a large white population in Kenya, whereas Uganda depended upon the African for prosper ity. It was chiefly to meet the demands of the native cotton-grow ers in Uganda that the railway extension was undertaken which on its completion in 1928 enabled the crop to be sent direct to Mombasa. In January, 1929, a Commission, with Sir E. Hilton Young as chairman, recommended the appointment of a High Commissioner for Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, with execu tive powers. This was to be "a preliminary step" to a Governor Generalship for "Eastern Africa." Action (May 1929) had yet to be taken on the Report. The cotton exported during 1926 was 180,859 bales, of the value of approximately £3,500,000. The excise duty of 6 cents (id.) per lb. collected by the Government from Jan. to Dec. 1926 amounted to £199,897.