Chapter 128: Northwest General Battle
In the following days, Werner Joli and his team continued their survey along the northern shore of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria). They explored various locations from south to north, encountering dilapidated villages and empty fishing villages in the initial stages of their journey. As they moved northward, the landscape gradually transitioned to more populated areas, particularly around Kampala, the capital of the Buganda Kingdom, which remained relatively prosperous despite the recent upheaval.
After passing Kampala, Werner Yori's team changed direction, heading eastward for about 200 kilometers. Along the way, they observed that the eastern part of the Buganda Kingdom and some neighboring tribes had not suffered severe losses.
Their journey eventually led them to Kisumu, the capital of Western Kenya, where they restocked their supplies. From there, they proceeded southward toward Mwanza to report their findings.
In April 1868, the East African colonial government collected and analyzed the information sent by Werner Joli's expedition and relayed it to Europe via telegram. The government believed that the conditions for annexing the Northwest Region were favorable, particularly in the southern territories that had suffered significant losses due to recent conflicts.
Upon receiving this information, Prince Ernst issued orders to first focus on taking control of the southern regions. The northern territories, including the Kingdom of Buganda, were to be addressed in a later phase of the campaign.
The plan was to launch a campaign in the south, targeting the Kingdom of Rwanda, the Kingdom of Igara, the Kingdom of Karawi, and the Kingdom of Burundi. These territories had a combined area of 60,000 to 70,000 square kilometers. The objective was to ensure the expulsion of the indigenous population from these areas.
The military estimated that they would need to mobilize around 6,000 militiamen and 1,000 regular armed forces from the rear to support the front line. While the scale of the battles was not expected to be intense, the goal was to secure key cities and military forts and ensure the complete clearance of indigenous populations.
This campaign was different from previous ones, as it required careful territorial organization and the expulsion of local populations. The logistical challenges were significant, as the front line was located in a region far from the colony's primary supply centers.
The government played a crucial role in managing immigration to the newly occupied northwest territories and Western Kenya. The recent immigrants were to be directed primarily to these areas. The distribution was planned as follows: 60% of new immigrants to the northwest, 30% to the Western Kenya area, particularly the border region with Buganda, and the remaining 10% to Omorat to support operations in Western Kenya.
Suggestions from government officials included placing new immigrants as close to the front line as possible to prevent indigenous populations from returning. The government also emphasized the need for new immigrants to receive military training promptly.
With the military and government working together, preparations for the campaign were set in motion. The military anticipated the need for significant material transportation, and the Neihu Army, led by Werner Joli, was tasked with preparing landing sites along the shores of the Great Lake (Lake Victoria) to facilitate the movement of materials and personnel.
This battle marked a significant mobilization of East Africa's resources, involving not only the military but also immigration and logistical planning. The campaign was seen as crucial for expanding control over the Northwest Region and establishing dominance in the interior of East Africa.