Chapter 4: The Struggle for Independence in East Africa

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

a) understand the reasons for the rise of nationalism in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

b) know the various approaches used by the people of East Africa to demand independence from colonial rule.

c) appreciate the steps taken in the struggle for East African states’ independence.

d) compare the Ugandan struggle for independence with that of other East African states.

Keywords

• independence
• nationalism
• resistance
• World War II

Introduction

After studying this chapter, you will be able to understand the causes and the results of independence struggles in East Africa.

By 1914, the whole of Africa, except for Liberia and Ethiopia, had been colonised. Initial African resistance had been overcome by the colonial powers.

By the 1950s, there were organised nationalist parties that demanded political independence in almost every colony in Africa. By 1960, a wave of struggles for independence was sweeping across Africa. East African states could not be left out.

The demand for independence was a result of increased nationalism. This was due to colonial oppression, exploitation and over-taxation that became common after 1920 in East Africa.

The struggle for self-rule did not start as early as possible owing to many limiting factors. It only became possible after 1945 with the end of World War II. The war enlightened many people in East Africa about the need for self-rule. It ignited the underlying causes for nationalism in East Africa.

Reasons for the Rise of Nationalism in East Africa

The rise of nationalism in East Africa was a result of all evils associated with colonial rule and the desire for independence and self-determination. Nationalism emerged after the end of World War II. It was influenced by the Africans who had participated in the two world wars. The wave of change was championed by the veterans who demanded an end to colonial rule and agitated for self-governance in East Africa.

The veterans were not happy with the mistreatment of Africans by the colonialists. The war experience created in them a strong African nationalist spirit to fight for their freedom.

Figure 4.1: Nationalist leaders (a) Milton Obote, (b) Julius Nyerere and (c) Jomo Kenyatta led their countries to independence

The veterans and nationalist leaders believed in and preached for equality. They mobilised the people against the political, social and economic colonial policies that were oppressing Africans. They demanded an end to the abuses committed by colonial governments. The world wars exposed Africans to ideas of democracy from American soldiers.

To effectively mobilise their people, the nationalist leaders formed political parties and movements. These helped to begin a wave of struggle and create a platform demanding for political independence.

Political parties became the mouthpiece for demanding an end to oppression and economic exploitation by the colonial administration. They mobilised mass support to have representation in the Legislative Councils. By the late 1940s and early 1950s, new mass-based political parties had been formed in almost every East African colony.

These parties were not restricted to the educated elite but were open to all the people in East Africa. Political parties included Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and the Democratic Party (DP) in Uganda, Kenya African National Union (KANU) and Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) in Kenya, and Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) in Tanzania.

The acquisition of western education also had an influence on many Africans. It did not only unite Africans but also eased communication between different nationalists. This helped in the sharing of ideas and understanding the secrets of the colonialists. The few educated Africans such as Julius Nyerere, Milton Obote, Ignatius Musaazi, Ben Kiwanuka, Jomo Kenyatta and Tom Mboya led the masses in popular demonstrations and rallies demanding independence. Many East Africans who were living abroad also gave support and encouragement to African nationalism.

Activity 4.1 Understanding the rise of Nationalism in East Africa

1. Using ICT or the library, research and identify political parties or movements that mobilised East Africans against British colonial policies.

2. Explain the role of nationalist leaders in the mobilisation of East Africans towards achieving independence in East

3. Africa. In groups, identify a political party or movement in Uganda and discuss the role it played in the struggle for independence.

Approaches used to Demand Independence in East Africa

The demand for independence took different forms. It involved negotiations, rioting and demonstrations, mass protests and economic sabotage. The mass protests were against colonial policies as well as forced labour, over-taxation, land alienation and racial discrimination. These colonial policies united the people of East Africa against colonial rule.

The political parties demanded effective representation of Africans in the Legislative Councils. In the Legislative Councils, Africans got an opportunity to oppose oppressive policies and demand policies that would favour Africans.

Representation in the Legislative Councils was also used to apply pressure on the colonialists to grant self-determination to Africans. Through the Legislative Councils, the Africans rejected discrimination and demanded equality.

Africans formed trade unions to advance workers’ rights and to oppose colonial economic policies. The trade unions were also helpful in negotiating and demanding better commodity prices for African crops. Through trade unions, Africans also resisted colonial policies on labour and land. The Young Kikuyu Association in Kenya (YKA) was one of the organisations which fought for and defended the rights of Africans in Kenya.

Figure 4.2: Africans who took up arms to fight for independence

Religious leaders also joined the efforts to demand independence. African Christians took seriously the Christian teachings on equality and fairness. These were not practised by colonial regimes. The churches provided a strong voice for justice.

The traditional religious leaders were also strongly opposed to colonial rule. They also mobilised Africans against the colonialists. The Maji-Maji rebellion in Tanzania and Nyangire in Bunyoro are some of the examples of resistance against colonial rule.

Activity 4.2 Finding out about the demand for independence in East Africa

1. Using ICT or the library, research and identify the various personalities who provided leadership in demanding independence from the British.

2. Explain the role of at least two leaders in the attainment of independence for their country.

Struggle for Independence in East Africa Uganda

Uganda, unlike its neighbours Kenya and Tanzania, had a smoother path to independence. Kenya’s and Tanzania’s paths to independence were preceded by rebellions. Uganda’s political parties were organised to force self-rule or independence from a reluctant colonial government.

By 1960, with the formation of various political parties, most of the leaders in Uganda were prepared and ready to lead the struggle to gain independence. Some demands for greater autonomy were mostly expressed by local nationalists around the five constituent kingdoms of the protectorate. One exception was the Uganda National Congress (UNC).

The independence of Uganda was granted through an Act of the British Parliament in 1962. The process was straightforward and involved many declarations and agreements.

Figure 4.3: Nationalist leaders in Uganda (a) I. Musaazi, (b) B. Kiwanuka and (c) M. Obote fought for independence in Uganda

Uganda’s independence drive went through a process. In 1921, the British established a small Legislative Council. Later, they began to promote education amongst the people in various areas of the protectorate.

After World War II, brief riots broke out in 1945. These were quelled when the British government allowed more representation in the Legislative Council. The council and ministers began to focus on the economic and social development of Uganda.

The rise or formation of political parties in 1950 focused on the popular demand for independence. This led to the establishment of institutions of self-rule in March 1962. On 9 October 1962, the British Parliament granted Uganda independence.

Kenya

Kenya became a British colony in 1895. When the colonialists arrived in Kenya, they believed they had found a haven. The weather and the small population encouraged them to settle in the best parts of the country with total disregard of the indigenous Africans. This forced the Africans to demand for their independence and the return of the stolen land. The Kenyans were left with no alternative but to start a bitter and long struggle for their independence.

Figure 4.4: Nationalist leaders in Kenya: (a) Jomo Kenyatta and (b) Tom Mboya fought for independence of Kenya

The changes introduced by the colonialists were not beneficial to Kenyans, whom the colonialists considered inferior. This provoked unrest and the formation of tribal political action groups in the 1920s. In 1923, the status of the settlers and Africans in Kenya was clarified by the Devonshire White Paper. Although the paper had little effect on the welfare of native Africans, it set guidelines for future conflict resolution between Africans, Asians and Europeans.

By the mid-1940s, there was limited improvement in the welfare of Africans. The colonialists were determined to retain exclusive control of Kenya. This denied Kenyans their natural rights to land. This culminated in the Mau-Mau rebellion which later led to the declaration of a state of emergency in 1952.

The rebellion was brutally suppressed and nearly all of its leaders arrested and either given long jail terms, detained or hanged. This gave rise to organised African political activities. In the 1960s the campaign for majority rule succeeded in unifying the different African nationalities against colonialism and winning recognition by the authorities.

In 1961 most of the Mau-Mau prisoners and detainees were released. On 12 December 1963, Kenya finally attained its independence.

Tanzania

Following World War II, Tanganyika was placed under United Nations (UN) trusteeship, which mandated Britain with the development of the region. Because Tanganyika was a trust territory under British administration, it made it easy for the nationalist leaders to achieve independence through peaceful and non-violent methods.

The colonial government appointed Africans to the Legislative Council. By 1955 the representation had risen to 10 from two in 1945. In 1947 and 1948, strikes by dockworkers broke out in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, respectively. Labour unrest and the associated rise of the organised trade union movement characterised Tanganyika in the 1950s.

The general rise of nationalism in Tanganyika was expressed in the formation of the Tanganyika African National Union (TANU) from the Tanganyika African Association on 7 July 1954. TANU grew into a popular political party under Julius Nyerere. It sought to connect the struggle for economic and social improvement with the need for self-government and independence. This was seen as a means to social and political transformation.

Figure 4.5: Nationalist leaders (a) J. Nyerere and (b) Chief Mkwawa fought for the independence of Tanganyika

TANU mobilised people in different parts of the country around specific issues and grievances. They highlighted these particular problems to document the general problems of colonial government and the need for a self-directed national life. The issues and grievances TANU used to rally the population on independence programmes included land evictions, coercive developmental measures and other unpopular administrative measures.

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere believed in non-violence to achieve his goals. However, he was not sure whether his commitment to wage the struggle for independence by peaceful means would convince the people of Tanganyika. His view was based on the unpleasant memories of the previous Hehe and Maji Maji wars, in which fellow Tanganyikans had been ruthlessly suppressed. Nyerere preached non-violent protests to achieve this aim.

The visiting mission of the United Nations Trusteeship Council had recommended a timetable that would see Tanganyika achieve independence within 20 or 25 years. TANU sent Mwalimu Nyerere to New York to argue against the recommendation and influence the Trusteeship Council’s decision on that matter. Through his power of persuasion, Tanganyika was able to achieve independence seven years earlier than was expected.

Nyerere was elected to the Legislative Council in the 1958- 1959 elections. He then led TANU to victory at the 1960 general election, becoming prime minister. His negotiations with the British authorities resulted in Tanganyikan independence in 1961. In 1962, Tanganyika became a republic, with Nyerere being elected as its first president.

Activity 4.3 Understanding the struggle for independence in East Africa

1. Using ICT and the library, research and identify the terms and impact of the Devonshire White Paper in the struggle for independence in Kenya.

2. In groups, discuss and compare the struggle for independence in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and present the ideas to the class.