Harry George Galt facts for kids
Harry George Galt was a British official who worked in Uganda when it was a British protectorate. He was appointed as a sub-commissioner in the Western Province. Galt was known for treating local people badly, and he was killed in Ibanda, Kagongo in 1905.
Quick facts for kids
Harry George Galt
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| Sub-commissioner western Uganda Province | |
| In office 1904 – 19 May 1905 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 January 1872 Emsworth in Hampshire, United Kingdom |
| Died | 19 May 1905 (aged 33) Ibanda, Uganda |
Contents
Who Was Harry Galt?
Harry George Galt was born on January 28, 1872. His birthplace was Emsworth in Hampshire, a county in Great Britain. He went to school at Lancing College.
His Work in Uganda
Galt was sent to the British colony of Uganda. His first job there was collecting taxes in the Ankole Sub-region. Later, he became the sub-commissioner for the Western Uganda province. This meant he was a high-ranking British official in that area.
People said that Galt was a very cruel officer. He treated the local people harshly.
The Day He Died
On May 19, 1905, Galt was a new officer in his role. He made local people carry him on their heads. They had to carry him all the way from Fort Portal to Ibanda. He would not let them stop and rest.
The people carried him for a long distance. They reached a place called Katooma, which was 3 kilometers from Ibanda. Galt stopped there and rested in a government house. The local people began talking about how cruel he was. A man named Rutaraka became very angry. He threw a spear at Galt. The spear hit Galt in the chest, and he died soon after.
What Happened Next?
The British colonial government looked into Galt's death. They believed it was for political reasons. Two chiefs from the Ankole region were sentenced to death. However, this sentence was later canceled. It was overturned by the East African Court of Appeal.
Galt's body was buried. The colonial government punished the local people. They made them pile stones to cover the spot where Galt's blood had been. These stones formed a pyramid-like shape. It was about 5 meters long and 3 meters high. This stone pile was still standing in 2015.
Remembering Harry Galt
A street in Mbarara was named after him. It is called Galt Road. This road starts on Stanley Road on Booma Hill. It is across from the public library.
