Imperial British East Africa Company facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Industry | Colonial enterprises |
| Fate | Bankruptcy, territory became Uganda Protectorate and East Africa Protectorate |
| Founded | London, United Kingdom (18 April 1888) |
| Founder | William Mackinnon |
| Defunct | 1896 |
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Area served
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Uganda Somalia Kenya |
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Key people
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Frederick Lugard |
The Imperial British East Africa Company (IBEAC) was a business group. It was created to help develop trade in parts of Africa controlled by the British Empire. The company started in London on April 18, 1888. Queen Victoria gave it a special royal charter on September 6, 1888.
William Mackinnon led the IBEAC. The company built on his earlier trading work in the area. The British government encouraged this by giving it an imperial charter. However, what this charter truly meant was not always clear.
The IBEAC managed a large area in East Africa. This was about 246,800 square miles (639,200 square kilometers). It stretched along the eastern coast, from modern-day Somalia to Kenya. The city of Mombasa and its port were very important to the company. Its main office was about 50 miles (80 km) south in Shimoni.
The company had special powers. It protected British citizens from being charged with crimes. It could also collect taxes and customs duties. The IBEAC could make laws, handle justice, and sign treaties. It basically acted like the government of the area.
In 1893, the IBEAC gave its control of the land back to the British Government. This territory was then split up. It became the Uganda Protectorate in 1894 and the East Africa Protectorate (later Kenya) in 1895.
History of the IBEAC
In the early 1880s, European countries wanted to claim parts of Africa. These areas had not yet been claimed by non-African nations. The Sultanate of Zanzibar and inland Eastern Africa were two such places. Both Germany and Britain were interested in them.
To avoid conflict, Germany and Britain signed a treaty in 1886. They agreed on which lands each country would try to control. Germany claimed the coast of present-day Tanzania. Britain kept access to the area where Kenya and Uganda are today.
At this time, Britain was busy with other lands. These included areas they had gained in Southern Africa. Because of this, the British government did not want to take full control of this new region. To make things easier, Britain thought about letting a business company manage the eastern territory.
In 1888, Sir William Mackinnon and the IBEAC were given this job. The IBEAC was tasked with taking over the land. This land stretched from the eastern coast of Kenya to the northwestern shore of Lake Victoria.
Building Roads and Railways
Besides managing trade and farming, the IBEAC had a main goal. It was to start building a railway. This railway would connect the east coast city of Mombasa to Lake Victoria.
In 1891–1892, James Macdonald and John Wallace Pringle surveyed the land. They were officers in the Royal Engineers. They reported that Kikuyuland would be good for European settlement. However, the IBEAC did not have enough money to start building the railway.
The IBEAC did begin building the Mackinnon-Sclater road in 1890. This was a 600-mile (970 km) ox cart track. It went from Mombasa to Busia on the Uganda border.
The company also ordered a large steamship, the SS William Mackinnon. It weighed 110 tons and was for use on Lake Victoria. It was built in Scotland in 1890. Then it was sent in parts to Mombasa. But the ship parts stayed in storage until 1895. This was probably because the IBEAC never built the railway. The railway was needed to carry the ship parts to the lake.
Challenges and the Company's End
Problems between different groups eventually stopped the company. It could not spend the needed time and money on its plans. Four groups were involved in Uganda: the Kabaka (the king), French Catholics, Protestants, and the company. They could not solve their disagreements peacefully. Tensions grew, and a civil war started in January 1892.
With help from Frederick Lugard, the IBEAC built a fort on Kampala Hill. The company won the fight, but it was not a useful victory. This conflict was the final blow for the company. The IBEAC was already having money problems because of customs issues. The money spent on this fight almost bankrupted it. It also became clear that the company could not continue its poor attempt at controlling eastern Africa.
The British East Africa Company did not succeed in letting businesses manage local areas. So, in 1894, the British government took over Uganda. They declared it a protectorate. This officially ended the IBEAC. The British government then took full responsibility.
The British government finished the main part of the Mackinnon-Sclater road. This happened after the IBEAC was gone. The British government also built the Uganda Railway to Kisumu on Lake Victoria. This railway was built between 1896 and 1901. The SS William Mackinnon ship parts reached Kisumu in 1898. The ship was launched in 1900. Like the railway, it was finished and started working in 1901.
See also
- Colonial Heads of Kenya
- German East Africa
