Chapter 137: The 136th Battle of Lake Nakiwari
July 3, 1868.
The East African colonial government was gearing up for war, while the four neighboring countries, led by Buganda, showed no signs of slowing down. They continued to deploy troops and recruit soldiers along the border.
During this time, Buganda stood as the most powerful nation in the entire Great Lakes region, second only to the East African colonies themselves. The monarch of Buganda, Mutesa I, was a remarkable ruler.
Historically, Buganda had been a vassal state under the influence of its northern neighbor, Bunyoro. However, in the 19th century, following a common pattern of decline among ancient empires, Buganda seized the opportunity to expand and swiftly took over Bunyoro's former territory.
Around the same period, the Turou Kingdom also asserted its independence from the Bunyolo Empire.
What's intriguing is that both Buganda and Turou were founded by members of the royal family of the Bunyoro Empire. However, Buganda's separation happened some four to five hundred years ago, while Turou's establishment occurred in the 19th century through a rebellion led by the eldest son of the Bunyoro king.
Despite facing adversity, the Bunyolo Empire hadn't vanished completely, and the Jitara Kingdom emerged as its direct successor.
The Kingdom of Enkele, on the other hand, was an ancient nation with a history spanning hundreds of years.
This overview provides a glimpse of the four northern nations, revealing a relationship akin to that of European countries. Their interactions, whether positive or negative, bore similarities to European nobility exchanges.
Prior to the establishment of the East African colony, Buganda already boasted a standing army of over 6,000 troops and a navy comprising 300 ships. Buganda's military might was substantial, earning it the title of the Great Lakes region's dominant power. Mutesa I, its monarch, was understandably proud of these achievements, particularly in recent years as he led Buganda to numerous triumphs.
Under Mutesa I's leadership, Buganda not only fully supplanted the Bunyoro Empire but also elevated the Buganda Kingdom to its zenith. Moreover, Buganda bravely withstood the Eastern Bantu invasions, further solidifying Mutesa I's prestige.
The Buganda people, under the rule of such a formidable monarch, possessed a fighting spirit and unwavering belief that their ruler could resolve any issue.
Mutesa I was not only a visionary leader but also well-informed about North Africa, particularly Egypt. Towards the end of his reign, he sought alliances with foreign powers like Britain and France to counterbalance the influence of the Arab Church.
As such, Mutesa I had some knowledge of the new neighbor that had suddenly appeared in the East African colony. However, since Mutesa I's people couldn't enter East Africa, they could only monitor the situation at the border, specifically in Western Kenya.
The subsequent East African conflicts with countries like Burundi led Mutesa I to conclude that the East African colonies posed a significant threat.
This enemy was unlike any faced by the Northwest countries previously. Historical wars in the region had primarily focused on conquest, with population as a valuable resource, especially given Africa's limited productivity. The East African colonies, however, seemed to desire land without people, presenting an unprecedented challenge to the Northwest nations.
Rwanda and the Kingdom of Igara had already ventured into Central Africa, underscoring the urgency of the situation. Nonetheless, Mutesa I remained undaunted by the East African colonies. He had faced adversity since ascending to the throne and had accumulated a wealth of experience and victories, instilling him with unwavering confidence.
To confront the East African colonies, Mutesa I actively sought to unite the remaining three countries, forming a formidable four-nation alliance. He assumed leadership of this alliance and marshaled their combined resources to muster a force of 30,000 soldiers, divided into two groups—one for the southern front and the other for the eastern front.
The southern front featured more than 20,000 troops, primarily composed of Buganda forces. In contrast, the eastern front saw a joint effort from the Allied Forces of the Four Nations.
While the Kingdom of Turou and the Kingdom of Jitala exercised caution due to their lack of direct borders with the East African colonies, the Enkole Kingdom faced a more imminent threat and committed its full resources to support Buganda.
Understanding the reservations held by Turou and Jitara, Mutesa I positioned a reserve force of over 10,000 soldiers in the rear to anticipate any contingencies.
On July 4th, following over a month of preparations, the East African army began mobilizing for the impending conflict. This time, both the eastern and southern fronts were poised for battle.
Alman continued to lead the southern front as its commander, while Felix assumed command of the eastern front.
The primary force of the four-nation coalition was under the personal leadership of Mutesa I, with his eldest son temporarily managing the nation's affairs.
In a departure from previous encounters, the East African colonies opted not to immediately encroach upon the territories of the four nations. Reflecting on the lessons learned from the demonstrations in Rwanda and Igala, they chose to issue a warning to these countries beforehand.
The message essentially conveyed that time was running out, urging them to follow Rwanda's example and retreat to ensure their safety. Stubbornness would only lead to the East African colonies taking harsher measures.
While the message lacked subtlety, it carried a similar message to the one issued to Rwanda and Igala. However, the four northern nations differed from Rwanda and others in that they hadn't suffered at the hands of the Eastern Bantus.
Mutesa I personally sent a direct message to the East African colony, proposing a battle between warriors. The victor would claim all, while the defeated party would face complete annihilation.
This straightforward challenge left no room for negotiations. As for the reference to "warriors," the East African colonies asserted that they were not conventional warriors but rather wielded guns as their means of combat.
July 6th marked the day when the main forces of both sides clashed in a decisive battle on the southern shores of Lake Nakiwari. Mutesa I personally led the coalition forces in a courageous charge against the East African army.
Mutesa I's valor and bravery infused the coalition forces with newfound determination as they surged towards the East African army, resembling a tidal wave.
The allied soldiers bore tattoos on their bodies, their faces adorned with vivid paint, their hair intricately braided, and they wielded simple shields and spears.
Elite units donned war robes, brandishing scimitars and carrying bows and arrows on their backs, marching in lockstep with Mutesa I to oversee the battle up close.
In contrast, the East African commander remained composed, refraining from launching an immediate assault. As the enemy entered effective range, they methodically lined up and commenced a systematic barrage.
This confrontation, while lacking the grandeur of traditional warfare, saw the East African colonies leveraging their superior weaponry against the native forces. Having stockpiled ample ammunition in advance, the East African army exhibited merciless efficiency.
By the afternoon, at three o'clock, the battle had concluded.
Mutesa I and the coalition nobles had vanished, leaving behind a grim tableau of native corpses stre