Comparison between military organization of Samori Toure with that of Kabalega by 1914.

Both stiffly resisted against colonial rule; Samori Toure  a Mandika chief in West Africa resisted the French colonialists for 7 years from 1892-1898 while Kabalega a king of Bunyoro resisted British colonization for over 5yearss from 1993-98.

Similarities in Kabalega’s and Samori Toure’s military organizations

• Modernization: Both had a modernized armies that incorporated fire arms
• Guerrilla Tactics: Both employed guerrilla warfare tactics to resist colonial forces, showcasing their military acumen.
• Centralized Command: Both leaders maintained centralized command structures in their armies, and each was a commander in chief of his army.
• Composition of the army: both their armies were not based on ethnic tribe. For example, Kabalega’s army was a mixture of different local tribes, Arabs and Egyptians while Toure’s army was composed of different tribes and army captives
• In both armies’ promotion was based on merit. In both army promotion to high rank was not based on hereditary.
• Earth scotched policy: they both used earth scotched policy to resist colonialists, i.e. they burnt villages and crops to retard approach of colonialists.
• Both had advanced spy network
• Both were captured and exiled by the colonialists.

Differences

• Source of arms: Samori Toure establishing a gun factory while Kabalega depended solely on Arab traders.
• Mobility: Samori Toure’s forces were known for their mobility and tactical movements, while Kabalega’s army was more structured and centralized.
• Religion: Samori relied on Islam as a unifying factor while Kabalega practiced traditional religion.
• Alliances: Samori Toure forged alliances with local leaders and Arab mercenaries, while Kabalega relied on his standing army and social reforms.
• Spy network: Samori Toure had a stronger spy network compared to that of Kabalega
• Strength of the enemy: Samori Toure resist against weaker French colonialists while Kabalega resisted against stronger British army.

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Dr. Bbosa Science