Thread by @JonathonLEarle

I am currently finalizing an article on flags, ideologies of colours and political thought in twentieth-century Buganda. Here we see the flag of Kabaka Muteesa I, which Kabaka Mwanga hoisted to challenge the authority of numerous flags being raised by Frederick Lugard. 1/4

The flag itself was approximately twelve feet square. The colour of the background of the flag was red, four years prior to the creation of Zanzibar’s red flag (I believe). A large shield was sewn on the left side. To its right, two crossing spears formed an x-shaped pattern. 2/4

Both emblems were white in colour. By the mid-1890s, Catholics too had created a flag to represent their interests, a replication of the national flag of France. It was only after the religious wars of Mmengo 3/4

that Catholics in Buddu were willing, reluctantly, to recognise the authority of the British flag, although they refused to hoist the flag of the Imperial British East Africa Company. Nor did Baganda in Buddu offer Lugard food during his march into their ssaza. 4/4