THE ROLE PLAYED BY SIR HARRY JOHNSTONE AS AN IMPERIALIST IN UGANDA

THE FOLLOWING IS THE ROLE PLAYED BY SIR HARRY JOHNSTONE AS AN IMPERIALIST IN UGANDA.

Harry Johnstone was one of the most outstanding imperialists in Uganda. He came to East Africa in 1884.
On arriving in East Africa he settled briefly at Zanzibar before moving to Kilimanjaro areas where he later set up his base at Moshi.
Around the Kilimanjaro areas, Harry Johnstone was able to make friendships with the Chagga and Taveta.
On 27th September 1884, Johnstone signed a treaty of friendship with Taveta Chiefs. He was given a lot of lands where he planted wheat.
Harry Johnstone was made a special commissioner to Uganda by the British government in 1899.
By appointing him a special commissioner to Uganda, Britain had wanted to reduce the cost of its administration which was rising each time.
Through Johnstone, Uganda as a colony started paying for the cost of their administration.
He made sure Uganda as the British colony contributed in the collection of taxes.
Harry Johnstone was very influential in the signing of the 1900 Buganda agreement which saw Buganda and later Uganda falling under the control of the British.
He liaised with the Christian missionaries and used them to convince the regents to sign the Buganda agreement.
In the signing of the agreement, Johnstone was able to convince the three regents; Stanlus Mugwanya, Zakaria Kisingiri and Apollo Kaggwa to include revenue in the terms of the agreement. Hut tax and gun tax of three rupees each were, therefore, to be collected.
Johnstone confirmed the British authority over Buganda and Uganda at large. This was done through the agreement he signed with Buganda in 1900.
In the agreement signed by Harry Johnstone, half of Buganda was made land owned by the British government, Crown land. He, therefore, acquired land in Uganda for the British government.
Sir Harry Johnstone is remembered as an imperialist for extending the British control over Tooro and Ankole regions. He signed agreements with the leaders of these regions and he was able to get revenue, land, and authority over them.