Sultan of Bukoba's Police Force?

[Chris Dale]

In "History of the Bukoba District" by Hans Cory, on P173 he mentions "700 Sultan's Police (rugaruga)" serving alongside the Germans in 1914. Has anyone heard anymore about these men? Did the local Sultan really have 700 (partially trained) men under his command?

Any help or clues would be appreciated here.

Cheers
Chris

[Tanzania]

Hello Chris,

Very interesting theme. At moment I have only ‘my most important book’ with me.
The Operations in German East Africa WW 1914-1918 from Ludwig Boell 1951
Generally his statements, dates and numbers are very correct.

At 31. July 1914, the situation on the western side of Lake Victoria was:
7. F.K. in Bukoba and Kifumbiro (small Garrison at the Kagera River)
Capt. Bock von Wülfingen, Sec. Lieut. Bergemann and Bender
Parts of them in Ussuwi (Biaramulo) with Lieut. Frhr. Von Haxthausen
All together with nearly 159 Askari, 3 M.G., 1 Gun C/73 and 2 Guns 3,7-cm
Additionally in Bukoba: 1 Police-Sergeant (Polizeiwachtmeister) with 85 Police-Askari

Sultan Kahigi Kanassi was a powerful man with his own army and their own war tactics,
but really not trained by European standard for a combat with fire weapons and definitely
not before the 1.WW started. The German would have not accepted this, in apprehension
of an uprising of the people. (This was not established, because the most of the inhabitants
was during the whole war loyal to the German Government.)

At 10. and 14. August 1914 the 7. F.K. left by orders, Bukoba and Biaramulo.
Mid September the Government sent 400 rifles Model 71 with 40.000 cartridges to
The district Bukoba, to armed the people there, and surely the Ruga-Rugas of the Sultan.

The number of 700 Ruga-Rugas was not named by Ludwig Boell, but was realistic.
I think, the number of 80 German reservists in the district Bukoba was to high.
Deutsches Koloniallexikon: 1913 are living 7 farmers in the whole district!

There are 5 Photos about Sultan of Bukoba, Kahigi Kanassi (Kabasi), before 1914.
http://www.ub.bildarchiv-dkg.uni-frankf ... BukobFV250

Perhaps you know this photo with Ruga-Rugas in DOA:
http://edocs.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/vollte ... 1/8008145/

I believe this photo from 1914-1918 with the spear-weaponed warriors, was taken
in the Bukoba district, because of the type of huts and the many banana plants:
http://edocs.ub.uni-frankfurt.de/vollte ... 1/8008144/

I wrote some lines in http://www.traditionsverband.de about Ruga-Rugas in DOA with additional links:
http://www.forumromanum.de/member/forum ... onsearch=1

End July, I will be back in Germany and send you some more detail info from other sources.

With sunny greetings from Benghazi/Libya
Holger

[Chris Dale]

Hi Holger,
Thank you very much for this information. Especially the links to photos of the Sultan, it seems he wore German style uniform, in much the Same way as the sultan of Bamum in Cameroon. I look forward to any more information you or anyone else has on the Bukoba force.
Thanks also for the link to the rugu ruga photo, yes I had seen that one but very few others. Considering there were so many Ruga ruga it is amazing there are not many more photos of them.....
Cheers
Chris

[Tanzania]

Hi Chris,

Sorry, I didn´t find more text statements, only two additional photos from Sultan Kahigi Kanassi´s bodyguard and force.

Holger

[Chris Dale]

Thanks for those two great photos, Holger.

Cheers
Chris