23 what was the role of chattered companies in the colonization of east Africa?

23 what was the role of chattered companies in the colonization of east Africa?

Chartered companies were business enterprises formed mainly to trade and curve out Colonies for their mother countries

There were only two  in east Africa ie imperial east African company formed in 1888 by William macknon and the German east African company' founded by Carl peters in 1884

These two were granted royal charters a form of license that legally and particularly made them owner of the areas they controlled

The companies provided initial skilled manpower for administration of their areas of influence

They thus provided experimental governments on behalf of their home countries in Tanganyika they adapted the akidas and the jumbes

They financed the colonial administration on behalf of their respective governments. IBEACO for administering Uganda and Kenya on behalf of the British

They fought and defeated rebellious groups,IBEACO defeated the bunyoro Mandi and Masai while the GEACO fought the coastal Arabs abushiri .

They developed transport and communication networksline example the IBEACO constructed many murrum roads and even wanted to construct the uganda-kenya railway line

They undertook businesses that generated funds that supported colonial activities and their asset were latter taken over by the colonial government.

They constructed administrative posts,forts and garrisons  which the colonial government later used.these were built at old Kampala rabai naivasha and machakos by the IBEACO

They encouraged cash crop growing to raise money to finance the colonial administration hence providing the basis on which the colonial economy thrieved

They created security organs which improved internal security the IBEACO for example built a private army that was later used in the colonization of Uganda

They helped in the effective abolition of slave trade and the Establishment of legitimate trade this could only be achieved if the area was effectively brought under European control

They protected Christian missionaries who were also colonial agents for example missionaries softened the hearts and minds of Africans through their preaching and education many of their convert in fact became collaborator

The companies provided their home government with information about the economic potential of east Africa.the IBEACO for example reported about the fertile soil of Uganda and Kenya highlands which later attracted the colonialist

They signed treaties with the local people,these treaties were later used by their home government to occupy east Africa for example IBEACO signed treaties with Buganda Kikuyu Masai and Mandi.GEACO signed with the cheifs of Usambara ukami and ungulu

Their rivalries and desire to define their sphere of influence forced the colonialist to come for Example IBEACO  and GEACO  conflicted in east Africa until agreements were signed