ROLE PLAYED BY THE CHARTERED COMPANIES IN THE COLONISATION OF EAST AFRICA

THE FOLLOWING IS THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE CHARTERED COMPANIES IN THE COLONISATION OF EAST AFRICA

Traders from European countries into East Africa were clearly known as the chartered Companies.
They were trading organizations which had been given rights or permission (charter), to carry out trade and administration in East African territories, on behalf of their home governments.
In East Africa the major Chartered companies were: the Imperial British East African Company (IBEACo) and German East African Company (GEACo).
Chartered Companies were business enterprises that were formed mainly to curve out colonies for their respective European countries.
IBEACO was founded by William Mackinnon in 1888. The GEACO was founded by Karl Peters in 1884.
They signed a number of treaties with African chiefs, the GEACO signed Usagala, where as IBEACO signed the 1901 treaty with Nkore.
They promoted legitimate trade, the profits of which attracted colonialists.
They stopped slavery and hence made Africans believe that Europeans were very good, later they used this to colonize East Africa.
The Chartered companies promoted agriculture upon which the colonial economy depended.
They also provided information concerning Africa’s minerals and other resources that encouraged the scramble.
They set up infrastructures like roads that greatly aided colonization.
When they became bankrupt, they surrendered to their home governments to come and take over.
They set up administrative headquarters; forts and garrisons, which all quickened the scramble and partition.
They offered protection to the missionaries who were the fore runners of colonialism in East Africa.
Their rivalries gave their home countries a chance to occupy East Africa.
The Chartered companies acted as experimental governments for the colonial masters.
They fought and defeated rebellious societies, for example IBEACO under Lugard fought Bunyoro, the Nandi and others.
They financed colonial administration on behalf of their home governments. They constructed administrative posts, for example IBEACO built an administrative post at old Kampala and at Rabai.
style="font-size: large;">In 1890, when the GEACo failed to suppress revolts at the coast of East Africa, it withdrew and called for the German government to take over.