After declaration of the Uganda protectorate in 1894, Britain pursued economic policies that drew Uganda into the global economy.
The essence was largely to serve the growing British textile industry. Accordingly, cotton cultivation gained prominence in many parts of Uganda.
An official policy was passed encouraging small holder farmers to produce and market their cotton through local co-operative associations.
This came as a result of cotton being expensive and difficult to maintain on plantations.
By 1910, cotton was the leading export and from 1920 to 1940, the colonial state encouraged growth of sugar and tea.
After World War II, the government introduced coffee to bolster declining export revenues and by 1950s,coffee had replaced cotton as Uganda’s leading export.
The 1950s witnessed slowed growth on account of fluctuating market conditions and reduced export earnings as a result of increased political pressure emanating from growing nationalistic movements across Africa.
In late 1950s, Uganda enjoyed a stable economy, still based on agriculture, but with growing manufacturing sector capable of increasing its contribution to GDP (British Colonial
Report, 1920).
This manifested in the production of food stuffs and textiles. Some valuable minerals notably copper had been discovered and hydroelectricity (HEP) generation of 250 MW was substantial.
Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba
