LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE SITUATION IN UGANDA.
[TO THE EDITOR 07 THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—War, and rumours of war, military and industrial, throughout nearly the whole Empire have drawn the public attention away from the disastrous tragedy now being eaacted in Central East Africa, and the possible crumbling of our c' fully built up Uganda Protectorate. This time last Commissioner in Uganda returned to England
report was most encouraging, the present and f bright. In his place as Acting Commissic Major Ternan, the then senior officer Rifles. The spring saw the first of a Baron Dhanis's mutinous Soudanese ali repulsed by our Nubian garrisoned forts ; affected ; June required a punitive expedita July, Mwanga, King of Uganda, bolted to Buddlat.,
there followed. Fortunately it was, for the time, p Mwanga's son was enthroned, M wan ga went over to the Germ. The whole country was still most disaffected, the greatest anxiety prevailed. Shortly after Major Ternan's departure Buddha again rose. In the meantime, in June, one of the largest and best equipped of African expeditions and caravans was organised from the coast. Major Macdonald, with a large European staff, commanded it. Its destination was Lake Rudolph and the Bahr-el-Gebel. The cost of the expedition was enormous. The Government, afraid to openly send for Indian troops, sent for three hundred Sondanese troops from Uganda, who were then fighting in Buddha. Major Ternan, returning home, brought them down to join the expedition. On joining they expostulated and finally deserted to Eldoma Ravine, were followed there and fired on. Their objective was Uganda ; once there a general revolt would cer- tainly follow. For days grievances and repeated but disobeyed orders were exchanged, days which one would think had been better employed in heading off rather than wrangling with the homing mutineers. They are next heard of on October 18th at Fort Lnbwas. On the road they had been augmented by the small garrisons lying in the way, who had probably no option in the matter. At Lubwas the garrison, also
'frightened, opened the fort gates at night and revolted. Major Thruston, Messrs. Wilson and Scott, were seized.
On October 19th the Acting Commissioner, Mr. Jackson, and Major Macdonald, ten Europeans, three hundred and forty armed Swahili, and some Sikhs overtook the mutineers, now
in Fort Lubwas. The mutineers, frightened at the unexpected
tarn of affairs, parleyed, asking for peace. The next day parleying turned into a severe battle. Mr. Fielding, a gallant soldier, was killed, the Acting Commissioner severely wounded, and both sides lost heavily. The mutineers, driven into the fort, shot or speared their prisoners that evening.
The garrisons at Entebbi and Kampala were immediately disarmed by Mr. G. Wilson. A Waganda army of some thousands was sent to the assistance of Jackson. A Maxim, sent in the launch to Lubwas, fell into the hands of the
mutineers. This they used with effect. The last news was dated December 19th. For eight weeks the fort had been unsuccessfully besieged. Mr. Pilkington, a most accomplished lay missionary, and Lieutenant Macdonald, a promising young officer, had been killed. The other garrisons in the Protectorate, with whom the mutineers are in corre- spondence, known to be uneasy, may or may not have risen. All communication between the capital and them is cut off. All shades of Waganda—Roman Catholic,Mahommedan,and even Protestant—are wavering, and very likely against us. The Church Missionary Society fear the worst is to come. Should the other garrisons rise or we fail soon to take the fort, the whole country will be up, and with it all the horrors of a second Indian Mutiny on a small scale. Two regiments of Bombay Light Infantry have been ordered to Uganda; one is half way up. Many problems engage the attention of Anglo- Africans at home, and the Government has not volunteered the explanation,—the denudation of Uganda of troops of which it was never in greater need, the unexpected mutiny, the fate of the great expedition. According to the Daily Mail, missionaries, officials, and all in Uganda, even the Waganda, are disheartened and disgusted at the inaction and delay. Uganda is not an easy country to rule, and it is clear that it has not been well ruled this year. Have we at our dis- posal no experienced administrator of the necessary breadth and strength ? Large expeditions of great political significance require large-minded commanders and officers. Irregular troops require a little tact. We must have many officers with the essential qualifications.—I am, Sir, &c.,
PROTESTAN T. P.S.—One hundred and fifty Sikhs left the coast for - 'lives about November 20th. At the latest they should ere December 28th. With Harrison's sixty, these ' and fifty Sikhs, unless the natives or the other both, are against us, would take the fort. On y Zanzibar cable, news from Uganda up to 'reached London. Unless diverted to the dition, and the terrible straits of those :ate make this most improbable, we ought heard of their success or defeat.
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