Western Education in Uganda (1878-1939)

Abstract

The topic of the study is about Western Education in Uganda between 1878 and 1939. When the European explorers reached Uganda, in1862, they found Ugandan people practising their traditional education outside from their parents and leaders. The Ugandan people used to learn knowledge and skills through oral traditions and practice. When different missionary factions arrived in Uganda, each group wanted to gain more followers and to have more political influence. Between 1900 and 1924, the missionaries introduced Western education in Uganda. They established Christianity and its practice, converted as many people as possible, and taught some simple skills in agriculture and technology. In 1924, the Protectorate Government assumed its control over education and set up a Department of Educationthrough which many changes were introduced concerning school structure, language, and agricultural education. The relationship between the missionaries and the protectorate government balanced between collaboration and disappointment according to the nature of missionary and the government interests.