Why Protestants have dominated Uganda’s administration

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

  

Ever wondered why Christians of the “Protestant” sect have dominated leadership in Uganda, especially at the top of the government? You might find the answer in the history of the country.

In 1890 Capt. Fredrick Lugard arrived in Kampala as an agent of the International British East Africa Company (IBEAC) which had been entrusted with the administration of Uganda by the British.

This followed the Heligoland Treaty of 1890 in which Germany recognised Uganda as a British sphere of influence. Five years earlier Carl Peters had seized Tanzania for the Germans and had, in 1989 received the support of Catholics in persuading King Mwanga of Buganda to sign a “treaty of friendship”, something which did not go well with the Protestants. The Protestants decided to invite the IBEAC to come and sign an agreement with Mwanga for the British.

In 1892 war broke out between the Protestants and the Catholics and Lugard backed the Protestants as they beat and defeated the Catholics.

“This victory marked the beginning of Protestant political ascendency in Buganda and, later on, in the rest of the country.” – Uganda: The Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (Compiled and Edited by Adem Seftel).

In 1894, Uganda was declared a British Protectorate.