Buganda was the most important kingdom in Uganda in terms of size and power before colonization. The starting point of African colonization was the "Congo-Conference" held in Berlin in 1884 under the leadership of Bismarck, the Reich Chancellor, where Africa was divided among the most powerful European states. Large parts of East Africa were allotted to Germany, but the Germans were later at the Helgoland Conference which was held in Zanzibar forced to transfer their territory to the British. The Kabaka (King) of Buganda was not in favor of the annexation by the British so he fled into exile, but later signed the protectorate treaty in 1893 after his return.

The size of the British territory expanded constantly and comprised of the former kingdoms Buganda, Bunyoro, Ankole and Toro at the end of the 19th Century. In 1913 and 1914 the British protectorate reached its maximum size by connecting of the Ancholi and Karamoja as well as the former Belgian West Nile Province.

The map shows the British administration units in the Uganda Protectorate within the of 1926. The reddish and blue areas Buganda are these ones where traditional kingdoms were maintained. In the yellowish areas Baganda-type administration (called "kiganda system") was introduced. The khaki areas had no sole traditional rule before (Source: see WIKIPEDIA, A History of East Africa by Odhiambo, Ouso and Williams).

This led to an extension of the governmental and administrative forms of the former Buganda Kingdom on the other Kingdoms, which led to a breach in their local traditions and increased the discontentedness of other peoples, apart from the Baganda.

Related Links:

• Background information on the Berlin-Congo-Conference
• Background information on the Zanzibar-Helgoland-Treaty