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This conference brought together over 70 social scientists from the Kenyan, Tanzanian, and Ugandan constituent Colleges of the University of East Africa (with visitors from Zambia, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, and Rhodesia) for their annual inter-disciplinary, or rather trans-disciplinary, deliberations. Why ‘trans-disciplinary’? Because the historians discussed nationalism, politics, and church movements; political scientists discoursed on economics, rural settlement, agriculture, and education; sociologists criticised political decisions and economic criteria which hampered their investigations into resettlement programmes; and the economists, while speaking mostly about economics, were represented at virtually all panels, apparently to guard their disciplinary preserve against intrusions, presumptions and, in one case, elision with political science. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents a study about the effects of grazing on the composition of Themeda triandra grassland in East Africa. This paper focuses on the influences of human settlers in grasslands and their daily activities affected the vegetation and soil composition. The changes in these areas and the influence of wild animals and domestic livestock in grasslands are observed in some areas in East Africa where these observable facts are obtained. The relative influences of grazing in Themeda triandra grassland is discussed.

Pressures for international commodity agreements that seek, by means of export restriction schemes, to raise the aggregate export earnings of producing countries are increasing. Such pressures reflect (a) the willingness of consumer countries to make income transfers to poorer countries through this politically acceptable medium, (b) the wish of some producing countries to protect their export crop industries from unwanted competition from new producers, and (c) the desire of international civil servants to promote development from developed country bases. The purpose of the present paper is to strike a discordant note in this otherwise agreeable congruence of interests by focusing attention on the distribution of gains from international commodity agreements among producing countries, with particular attention to the relative shares of the gains that the three East African countries have obtained or are likely to obtain from the agreements that affect three of their principal export crops: coffee, sisal, and tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents abstracts of papers regarding agricultural development of East Africa presented at the second symposium of the East African Society for biological Research held at Makerere University College at Kampala, Uganda from March 11 to 14, 1965. 'Crop Improvement and Agricultural Development,' by A.S. MacDonald; 'Clones, Climates and Collaboration,' by C.L.A. Leakey; 'Field Research in TseTse Control,' by W.R. Wooff.

East African colonial officers were confronted with several alternatives in developing local political bureaucracies which could exercise external authority over their clientele and operate efficiently by bureaucratic standards. In tribal systems with articulated political roles (e.g., Uganda) attempts to adapt the traditional roles to modern usage frequently resulted in decreased bureaucratic efficiency. In acephalous societies similar policies led to similar results (Tanganyika), but attempts to graft on efficient roles resulted in decreased authority, as in Kenya. The maximization of one goal seemed to minimize the achievement of the other. Eventually role stress caused by increasing bureaucratic complexity endangered internal efficiency, and external authority was vitiated by the growth of modern competing political structures. It is suggested that the apparent incompatibility between the requisites of internal efficiency and external authority was due to overemphasis on one goal or the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article shares the author's thoughts concerning the development of three East African countries. The author notes that like most other developing countries, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have recently become independent in which they engaged in combatting the human problems. He said that the problem of the three East African countries are very basic that include, to be able to produce enough food in order to feed the populations, to be able to fight the diseases by using curative methods and to be able to open the eyes of the people to what is happening on around through the right type of education. The author points out that the problem of the three East African countries will become much more complex when their overall setting is taken into consideration.

This article discusses a study which explored the origin and distribution of valley grasslands in east Africa. The study investigated several species of grasslands, their stature and status, and their phenological and ecological attributes. Results of the study demonstrated that grasslands are of ancient origin. The study obtained further evidence of the long history of formations of grasslands from an examination of the riverine grasslands of the Malagarasi (Tanzania) and Kafue (Zambia) drainage lines. The study suggested that optimum utilization and management of grasslands depend largely on background information.

The article presents an experiment which examines the significance of light rainfall to the survival of plants, particularly maize, in East Africa. Maize, a type of corn, is an annual field crop across the region. It explores the water distribution of the plant's root system during dry seasons. Findings reveal that the amount of water available to the plant from each shower depends on the water holding capacity of the soil. It states that the plant's surface, which will be exposed to the rain, varies to its canopy structure.

The article discusses ecological observations on Mt. Hanang, an extinct volcanic mountain in East Africa. The observations were conducted from February 4-15, 1946, and specimens from 187 plants and bird skins collected have been deposited in the East African Herbarium, the Kew Herbarium and the National Herbarium in Pretoria, South Africa. There are three distinguishable summits at the mountain as a result of volcanic activity and subsequent erosion. These include the Main Peak, the highest point, Werther Peak and the Three-ridged Peak.

The article discusses findings of a chemical and physical study of the soils of termite mounds in East Africa. Three species that cause the large termite mounds found in East Africa include Macrotermes goliath, Macrotermes bellicosus and Macrotermes natalensis. The process of building termite mounds is described. First, a worker termite fills its mouth with clay which there becomes mixed with saliva, and selects a grain of sand which it carries in its mandibles. After placing the sand grain in position, the termite squirts the wet clay around it and kneads it with its head and mandibles. A diagram is presented that illustrates the sections of a termite mound.

The article presents a discussion about climatic classification based for East African biology. The article provides a brief introduction and knowledge about the relevant characteristics of East Africa. It explores the classifications of climate using Köppen system and derivatives, functions of rainfall, evaporation, and temperature, and months with a defined climatic ratios. The article is also supplemented with details regarding the importance of mist and cloud, meteorology, and precipitation.

The author suggests several locations in South, Central and East Africa that he considers desirable for ecological surveys. The territories suggested for consideration include the Union of South Africa, Swaziland, Basutoland, Bechuanaland, Southern and Northern Rhodesia, Nyassaland, Uganda, Tanganyika and Kenya. The objectives of the ecological surveys are outlined, including gaining information as to the nature, development and ecological interrelations of the more important biotic formations and the succession stages leading to these. The suggested procedure for the ecological survey is described.

The article examines the growing shortage of agricultural land and its role in the occurrence of social change and conflict in East Africa. The land shortage is due to a rapidly increasing population, a greater demand for land for other economic purposes and the development of new techniques that permit individuals to work larger areas. Conflict is caused by two kinds of competition over land, including competition between individuals for access to the land for agricultural and economic purposes and competition between individuals for authority and control over land allocation, distribution and usage.

This article presents the findings of a sample survey on the social positions Africans who were former Makerere College students in East Africa. Makerere College, founded in 1922, was in the thirties mainly concerned with the training of Africans for the professional branches of the Uganda Government service, though a few students were also admitted from the other East African territories. The predominance of the Ganda among its students at that time reflects an educational lead which has since been reduced. The impression gained from the figures, that Makerere was in the past filled from a relatively narrow privileged class of the wealthy and educated, is borne out by the extent of literacy among the parents of members of the sample. Such facts provoke interesting reflections about the part played by higher education in social stratification and social mobility in East Africa. Failure to pass the professional examinations at the college did not in every case mean failure to secure responsible and relatively well-paid employment. Government service was, then, the usual career for all Makerere men and most of the sample have stayed in it, showing indeed a remarkable stability. At work, Europeans were found fair and efficient, expecting hard work within normal office hours but making no extravagant demands outside them.

Studies the effects of irrigation, cultivation and some insecticides on the soil arthropods of an East African dry grassland as of 1968. Group of soil arthropods dominant in the grassland; Effect of permanent moisture on the population of various species of arthropods found in the grassland; Insect group dominant in the grassland; Influence of destruction of nests of ants on host-specific arthropods, saprophytes and preditors.

Analyzes the technique of identifying fragments of leaf epidermis in faeces in East Africa. Qualitative identification of foodplants in the faeces; Estimation of the proportions of epidermis from the different species in the faeces; Comparison of the proportions of epidermis in the faeces with the proportions of different species ingested.

Focuses on weight estimation methods for wild animals and domestic livestock in East Africa. Description of methods used for weight estimation of wild animals and domestic livestock; Comparison of weight estimation methods for wild animals and domestic livestock.

This study was conducted as an ancillary to research on the East African Common Market and the politics of economic interdependence. Different land policies were among the least important factors which divided the governments during the abortive negotiations on federation in 1963-64. Even at this time, policy differences on this question were wide and freely admitted, and all parties agreed that within a federation each regional government would have exclusive jurisdiction over the sensitive issue of land. While investigating the failure to federate and the subsequent strains on the Common Market, it became apparent that the three countries were moving apart because of different value systems held by the national elites. This led to an examination of these differences in relation to such questions as the appropriate balance between the private and public sector of the economy, land and land tenure, politics and the civil service, and the politics of culture in relation to language, education, customary and civil law, and other topics. The political and economic importance of land and agriculture in each country meant that although national land policies were not discussed during the federation negotiations, they were present in the reluctance of each government to jeopardize its emerging distinct national policy through increased political or economic interdependence on an East African basis. African elites in East Africa were and are most conscious of their national identity in relation to land questions. The Kenya civil servant who has freehold title to a consolidated farm is aware that his Tanzania counterpart may not purchase land and vice versa, just as Baganda landholders knew as early as 1921 that white highlands existed in Kenya and not in Uganda. The theme of different land policies has been one of the most persistent factors throughout the discussion on closer union in East Africa since 1894. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents estimates about the general age distribution, fertility and rate of natural increase of the African population of British East Africa. The African population has all the characteristics of a demographically backward people at the end of an emergent stage. The birth rates are high, possibly as high as they have ever been, but the death rates are falling owing to better living conditions and an improved knowledge of hygiene. The age distribution indicates that the population had been small in the past with a low rate of growth. High birth rates are often associated with high death rates, the latter being the result of tribal warfare, pestilence, disease and slave raiding. This would appear to have been the demographic picture in the early years of the twentieth century. The fertility of the African women, while not low, is not as high as found among certain other communities. It is, however, high enough, should the death rates fall, to result in a tremendous increase in population. There would appear to be no reason at present why fertility rates should fall and it is even possible that with improved conditions they may rise. It is known that the load carrying and agricultural work undertaken by many African women is detrimental to health and childbearing, and tends to induce abortions.

The article gives an account is given of the Indian population of East Africa. An indication of its fertility, age structure and outlook for future development of this population is also discussed. For the purpose of this study, British East Africa has been defined as including the territories of Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda but excluding the Protectorate of Zanzibar. The largest community numerically in this region is Indian. The influx of Indians began with the building of the Uganda Railway which was started in 1896. They were recruited as labourers for the construction of the railway, and after the work had been completed they were permitted to remain. They spread throughout the territories, entering mainly wholesale and retail trade. With the gradual development of the territories, the Indian community increased both from natural causes and from immigration. The importance of the latter can be easily recognized from the figure of 50% of the Indian population recorded in the 1948 population census as born outside the East African territories. The table given in the article shows the distribution of the Indian population among the territories. In 1948, 54% of the Indian population were resident in Kenya, Tanganyika ranking second with 26 %.

The difficulties encountered by those responsible for carrying out censuses and vital registration in colonial territories are, perhaps, not unfamiliar, and several accounts, such as those of sociologist P.G. Edge, have been given of the physical and administrative problems, the reticence and suspicions, which confront the administrator. These problems are well exemplified in East Africa. Sociologist C.J. Martin has described in detail the careful organization necessary to overcome them in 1948, when the first census in the full sense of the term was carried out in the British East African territories. The shortage of literate persons to act as enumerators, people's ignorance of their ages, and the natural suspicion of the African, are among the factors mentioned, and they are taken for granted in what follows. The problem of suspicion, while perhaps more immediately daunting, seems to be more susceptible to short-term remedies. It seems likely that even the extensive and careful publicity which took place before the 1948 Census was not sufficient to prevent many people from having a false idea of its real aims and probable consequences. Suggestions made in the article for overcoming these difficulties fall into four categories. As a long-term policy, education was favored. A number of suggestions were made for more effective publicity and explanation. The improvement of communications was urged; and some mention was made of the desirability of abating interracial and intertribal animosities, which are at present sources of suspicion about the census.