Battle of Mengo in 1892
The Battle of Mengo in 1892 is believed to be the first use of machine guns by white men against each other as Catholic and Protestant missionaries battled it out to see who would "civilize" Uganda.
Kampala, like Rome, is built on seven hills, and to Ugandans each has its special significance. But none is so important as Mengo Hill, where a rambling brick palace on the peak is an object of universal awe. Not even the British dared violate its sanctity, for beneath its silver dome lived the Kabaka (ruler) of Buganda, largest and richest of Uganda's five ancient kingdoms. Buganda's rulers were so powerful in colonial days that they were always granted considerable autonomy by the British.
The capital is built upon four distinct hills, called respectively Mengo, Rubaga, Namirembe, and Kampala. Mengo being the hill upon which the king's house is built, the capital takes its name from that. Rubaga is the hill on which stands the Roman Catholic Mission; Namirembe, the Protestant Mission; and Kampala, the Government fort. The king's house, or perhaps one should say palace, was a large two-storied building, made entirely of reeds, and thatched with grass. At the back are the houses of his wives, and in a separate enclosure those of his pages and other dependants.
The whole crest of the hill was surrounded by a huge reed fence, some 15 feet high, forming a complete circle. This fence was perhaps two and a half miles in length, and it contained various entrances to the king's enclosure, or Lubiri as it is called, each one being guarded by a couple of men who act as sentries, and whose little huts were built just outside the large fence.
Rubaga used to be the hill occupied by the King of Uganda, but when he left, and built on Mengo hill, the French Roman Catholic priests took up their abode there, and they erected a very beautiful station; a high brick wall or fort, surrounds the whole. On Namirembe, which is the highest of the four hills, the Church Missionary Society in Uganda had its headquarters, consisting of a large imposing church or cathedral built on the summit, and a number of reed houses scattered about the hill, which are occupied by the missionaries.
Kampala hill is the smallest of the four, but for all that is of the greatest importance, and at the top is the fort which became almost historic. Kampala is the busiest of all places in Mengo—caravans coming and going every day; a labour bureau in full working order, where hundreds of natives flock to seek employment. Here one also sees the Swahili and Arab traders bartering their goods for the ivory brought in by the Waganda, and all is bustle and stir. Just inside the stockade was a large house called the Baraza; there every week the king with his parliament met the British Commissioner to talk over and arrange the affairs of the state.
In 1888 Muslims staged a ‘coup d’état’ against the Kabaka [king] Mwanga and placed Kalema on the Buganda throne. This unleashed religious-cum-political wars between 1888 and 1894. Mwanga's court was divided down the middle. Half of his councillors were Catholic, the other half were Protestant. The rivalry between the Wa-Fransa (Catholics) and the Wa-Ingleza (Protestants) was only surpassed by their mutual hatred of the Islamic faction. By September 1889, Mwanga's Christian coalition was falling apart. He called for the missionaries to join him on the islands to help solidify the his forces. With the help of the missionaries, both Protestant and Catholic, Mwanga regained control of his forces and drove the Muslims from the capital.
Assisted by Frederick Lugard of the Imperial British East Africa Company [I.B.E.A. Company], the Protestants defeated the Roman Catholics in the Battle of Mengo of 1892. Mengo Frederic Lugard was the IBEAC man to settle the question of European control in Uganda. He marched towards Uganda armed with the Anglo-German treaty, 270 armed porters ( about 1/3 he classed as reliable), 50 Sudanese and Somali askari, a few other Europeans and a worn out Maxim gun. Lugard arrived in Uganda by December 1890. He entered the country without asking permission of the Kabaka, set up his camp in the capital, and then told Mwanga when he would be ready for an audience.
Tensions continued to flare throughout most of 1891 between the Catholics and the Protestants. Although the factions had agreed not to attack each other, a murder in Mengo sparked off a war that would change the balance of power.
On 31 December 1891 some Catholics went to steal clothes and bananas from Kagwa's plantation (as a sign of contempt for the Katikiro). They were chased off by Kagwa's men, but returned in greater numbers and an argument ensued. Shots were exchanged and a Wa-Ingleza went down. A large group of Protestants in the market heard the shots and advanced up the road. The Protestants were cut off by two Catholic enclosures which opened fire. Some Wa-Ingleza continued to battle their way up the main road to the palace, while another group circled around to the right. They met some resistance, but finally mounted Rubaga Hill, on which set the Catholic mission. The mission was put to the torch.
The burning church was visible by all in Mengo, including Lugard and Mwanga. The Wa-Fransa, in response to the burning of their church, assualted the enclosure of Apolo Kagwa enmasse. The Katikiro's enclosure was just below the palace in a mainly Catholic part of town. Kagwa's men were soon routed and ran to the fort. The Catholics were hotly pursued the Protestants until Lugard opened fire with one of his Maxim guns. Though it didn't cause many casualties, it did check the Wa-Fransa advance. This gave Apolo Kagwa time to regroup and counterattack. The Protestant advance was supported by Williams and 200 Sudanese. The Catholics broke on all fronts and escaped to the islands of lake Victoria.
Mwanga, who had suffered humiliation after humiliation at the hands of Lugard and his Katikkiro Kaggwa had earlier defiantly pulled down the IBEAC flag and raised his own. On New Year’s Day 1892 he marched to attend a Catholic Church service accompanied by around 10,000 people including a band and dancers in provocation of the Protestants.
On 24 January 1892 war broke out, with the Catholics, who had assembled their forces at Mengo and Rubaga hills, taking an early advantage against the weaker Protestants on Namirembe hill. It appears that the Catholics did not expect Lugard and his forces to intervene or to do so on the side of the Protestants. Yet that is precisely what happened. It was the first time the Maxim gun was being used in action in Buganda. Sent into disarray by the Maxim gun, the Catholics dispersed and fled while the Protestants followed up and set their homes and Rubaga church on fire. Capt Williams, sent in by Lugard, helped burn Mwanga’s palace at Mengo after the Kabaka had fled with some loyalists. Though there was still much work and fighting to be done, by the end of the day the Company was the ruler of Uganda.
Second Battle of Mengo Hill
The Battle of Mengo Hill refers to the successful 1966 assault upon the residence of the Kabaka of Buganda by the army of Uganda. In the second battle of Mengo, Idi Amin surrounded the Lubiri (Kabaka’s Palace) and faced the British-trained captain Sir Edward Mutesa II, with only 12 bodyguards to defend the palace. The original Lubiri was destroyed in the May 1966 Battle of Mengo Hill. Today’s building has a “westernized” architectural style with an Islamic touch. This hill is very “political” since it also houses the Lukiiko (Bugand’s Parliament) and the Buganda Court of Justice.
On February 4, 1966, while Obote was away on a trip to the north of the country, an effective "no confidence" vote against Obote was passed by the UPC MPs. Because he was faced with a nearly unanimous disavowal by his governing party and national parliament, Obote turned to Idi Amin and the army, and, in effect, carried out a coup d'etat against his own government in order to stay in power. Obote suspended the constitution, arrested the offending UPC ministers, and assumed control of the state.
Obote forced a new constitution through parliament without a reading and without the necessary quorum. That constitution abolished the federal powers of the kingdoms, most notably the internal autonomy enjoyed by Buganda, and concentrated presidential powers in the prime minister's office. The kabaka objected, and Buganda prepared to wage a legal battle. Baganda leaders rhetorically demanded that Obote 's "illegal" government remove itself from Buganda soil.
Buganda, however, once again miscalculated, for Obote was not interested in negotiating. Instead, he sent Idi Amin and loyal troops to attack the kabaka's palace on nearby Mengo Hill. The palace was defended by a small group of bodyguards armed with rifles and shotguns. Amin's troops had heavy weapons but were reluctant to press the attack until Obote became impatient and demanded results. By the time the palace was overrun, the kabaka had taken advantage of a cloudburst to exit over the rear wall. He hailed a passing taxi and was driven off to exile.
After the assault, Obote was reasonably secure from open opposition. The new republican 1967 constitution abolished the kingdoms altogether. Buganda was divided into four districts and ruled through martial law, a forerunner of the military domination over the civilian population that all of Uganda would experience after 1971. Obote's success in the face of adversity reclaimed for him the support of most members of the UPC , which then became the only legal political party. The original independence election of 1962, therefore, was the last one held in Uganda until December 1980.
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