Kenya-Uganda-Tanganyika

Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika formed one of Africa's most successful postal and administrative unions under British colonial rule. Established in 1935 following the union of the postal services of Kenya and Uganda with Tanganyika, the arrangement continued after the three territories achieved independence, facilitating a common postal system across much of East Africa until it was replaced by the East African Community's postal administration in 1977.

The postal administration issued a wide variety of stamps depicting British monarchs, African wildlife, local cultures, transportation, economic development, and major historical events. After independence, designs shifted to reflect the region's shared identity while celebrating its diverse natural heritage and national achievements. These issues are especially popular for their striking wildlife artwork and their unique role in serving multiple sovereign territories under a single postal authority.

The postal union used the East African shilling throughout its existence, providing a common currency for postal services across the region. Its philatelic history stands as a remarkable example of international postal cooperation, bridging the colonial and post-independence eras in East Africa.

1938 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 5 Cents - Dhow on Lake Victoria

First issued: 11 Apr 19385 East African CentsKing George VI SeriesDe La Rue & Co. LtdSG: EA 132 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1938, depicts a traditional dhow sailing on Lake Victoria, the vast freshwater lake shared by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika (now Tanzania). The scene is paired with a portrait of King George VI.Part of the King George VI definitive series, the stamp celebrates one of East Africa's oldest and most enduring forms of transport. While dhows are best known for trading along the Indian Ocean coast, they also operated on Lake Victoria, carrying passengers, fish, agricultural produce, and other goods between lakeside communities. The lake itself, the largest in Africa and the source of the White Nile, has long served as a vital commercial and cultural link connecting the region's three territories.

1938 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 10 Cents - Lake Naivasha Oriental Overprint

First issued: 02 May 193810 East African CentsKing George VI SeriesDe La Rue & Co. LtdSG: EA 134 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1938, depicts Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake in Kenya's Great Rift Valley renowned for its rich birdlife and abundant hippopotamus population. The tranquil lakeside scene is paired with a portrait of King George VI, highlighting one of British East Africa's most picturesque inland landscapes.Lake Naivasha has long been an important centre for fishing, wildlife, and agriculture, while its surrounding acacia woodlands and wetlands support hundreds of bird species. Today, the lake is internationally recognized as a Ramsar wetland and remains one of Kenya's premier wildlife destinations.This stamp bears a commercial security overprint from The Oriental Assurance Company - a feature to prevent pilferage of stamps.

1938 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 1 Shilling - Lake Naivasha

First issued: 02 May 19381 East African ShillingKing George VI SeriesDe La Rue & Co. LtdSG: EA 145 Colnect Link

1952 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 10 Cents - Lake Naivasha

First issued: 01 Apr 195210 East African CentsKing George VI SeriesDe La Rue & Co. LtdSG: EA 136 Colnect Link

1952 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 30 Cents - Jinja Bridge by Ripon Falls

First issued: 01 Apr 195230 East African CentsKing George VI SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd, Designed by RN AmbasanaSG: EA 142 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1952, depicts the Jinja Railway Bridge spanning the Victoria Nile at Ripon Falls, near the town of Jinja in Uganda. Shown beneath a portrait of King George VI, the design commemorates one of the most important engineering works in British East Africa, linking the Uganda Railway with the growing transport network that connected Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika.Completed in 1926, the steel truss bridge carried both railway and road traffic, greatly improving communication and trade across the region. It stood beside Ripon Falls, then regarded as the point where the Victoria Nile flows out of Lake Victoria, before the falls were submerged following the construction of the Nalubaale (Owen Falls) Dam in the 1950s.

1954 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 30 Cents - Owen Falls Dam

First issued: 01 Apr 195430 East African CentsQueen Elizabeth II & Views SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd, Designed by OC MerontiSG: EA 171 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1954, depicts the Owen Falls Dam on the Victoria Nile at Jinja, Uganda, one of the largest engineering projects undertaken in British East Africa. Paired with a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the design symbolizes the region's drive toward industrial development and the harnessing of the Nile's waters for hydroelectric power.Completed in 1954, the Owen Falls Dam supplied electricity to Uganda and neighboring territories, supporting industry, transport, and urban growth. Its construction also submerged Ripon Falls, long regarded as the point where the Victoria Nile flowed out of Lake Victoria, fundamentally transforming one of the Nile's most famous landmarks.

1954 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 50 Cents - Giraffe

First issued: 01 Jun 195450 East African CentsQueen Elizabeth II & Views SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd; Designed by G. Gill HolmesSG: EA 173 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1954, depicts the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), the world's tallest living land animal and one of the most recognizable species of the East African savanna. Part of the Queen Elizabeth II and Views definitive series, the stamp highlighted the landscapes and fauna of the three East African territories, whose postal services were jointly administered by the East African High Commission. Giraffes are specially adapted for browsing the leaves of acacia and other tall trees, using their long necks and prehensile tongues to reach food beyond the grasp of most other herbivores. Their graceful silhouette has long made them one of the enduring symbols of East Africa's wildlife.

1954 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 20 Cents - Lion

First issued: 01 Jun 195420 East African CentsQueen Elizabeth II & Views SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd; Designed by OC MerontiSG: EA 170 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1954, depicts the African lion (Panthera leo), one of East Africa's most iconic predators and a symbol of strength, courage, and majesty. Part of the Queen Elizabeth II and Views definitive series, the stamp highlighted the landscapes and wildlife of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, whose postal services were jointly administered by the East African High Commission. Lions once ranged widely across all three territories and remain a flagship species of East Africa's famous national parks and game reserves, where they play a vital role as apex predators in maintaining the balance of the savanna ecosystem.

1954 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 1 Shilling - Lion

First issued: 01 Jun 19541 East African ShillingQueen Elizabeth II & Views SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd; Designed by OC MerontiSG: EA 175 Colnect Link

1955 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 1'30 Shilling - African Elephant

First issued: 01 Dec 19551'30 East African ShillingQueen Elizabeth II SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd; Designed by H. GriemeSG: EA 176 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1955, depicts the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the world's largest land mammal and one of the most iconic species of East Africa. Framed by a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the design highlights the region's rich wildlife while representing the Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika postal administration, which continued to operate jointly under the East African High Commission.Part of the Queen Elizabeth II and Views definitive series, the stamp showcased the landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage of the three East African territories. African elephants were once abundant across the savannas and forests of the region, where they played a vital ecological role by shaping vegetation, dispersing seeds, and creating habitats for other species.

1955 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 65 Cents - Mount Kilimanjaro

First issued: 01 Dec 195565 East African CentsQueen Elizabeth II & Views SeriesDe La Rue & Co. LtdSG: EA 174 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1955, depicts Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain and the world's tallest free-standing volcano, rising to 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) above sea level in Tanganyika (present-day Tanzania). The snow-capped peak is shown alongside a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, highlighting one of East Africa's most iconic natural landmarks.Kilimanjaro's volcanic massif consists of three cones—Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira—and its forests, alpine meadows, and glaciers support diverse ecosystems that have made the mountain both a symbol of East Africa and one of the continent's most celebrated natural attractions.

1960 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 30 Cents - Thomsons Gazelle

First issued: 01 Oct 196030 East African CentsFlora, Fauna & Landscape SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd; Designed by Michael GoamanSG: EA 188 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1960, depicts Thomson's gazelles (Eudorcas thomsonii), among the most abundant and recognizable antelopes of the East African savanna. Shown beneath a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the design captures the species' graceful form and remarkable agility, traits that enable it to evade predators through high-speed running and distinctive bounding leaps known as stotting.Part of the Flora, Fauna & Landscapes definitive series, the stamp celebrated the exceptional wildlife and natural heritage of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika.

1960 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 30 Cents - Thomsons Gazelle

1960 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 50 Cents - Zebra

First issued: 01 Oct 196050 East African CentsFlora, Fauna & Landscape SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd; Designed by Michael GoamanSG: EA 190 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1960, depicts a pair of zebras (Equus spp.), among the most distinctive mammals of the East African plains. Displayed beneath a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the design highlights the animals' striking black-and-white stripes, which are unique to each individual and are thought to aid in camouflage, social recognition, and deterring biting insects.East Africa is home to both the plains zebra (Equus quagga) and the Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), with the latter found primarily in northern Kenya and recognized as the world's largest and one of the most endangered zebra species.The postmark date reads as 7 December 1963 with the place as Nairobi.

1960 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika 1'30 Shilling - Murchison Falls & Hippopotamus

First issued: 01 Oct 19601'30 East African ShillingsFlora, Fauna & Landscape SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd; Designed by Michael GoamanSG: EA 193 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1960, depicts Murchison Falls on the Victoria Nile together with the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), one of Africa's largest and most recognizable mammals. Framed by a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the design combines one of East Africa's most spectacular natural landmarks with a species closely associated with the region's rivers and wetlands.Located in northwestern Uganda, Murchison Falls is where the Nile plunges through a narrow rocky gorge before cascading into the Albert Nile, while the surrounding national park supports one of Africa's richest concentrations of wildlife, including large populations of hippopotamuses, elephants, crocodiles, and numerous bird species.

1960 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 10 Cents - Cotton

First issued: 01 Oct 196010 East African CentsFlora, Fauna & Landscape SeriesDe La Rue & Co. Ltd, Designed by Michael GoamanSG: EA 184 Colnect Link
This definitive stamp, issued in 1960, depicts the cotton plant (Gossypium spp.), one of the most important cash crops cultivated in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika. Shown beneath a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, the design highlights cotton bolls, flowers, and foliage, symbolizing the crop's significance to the region's agricultural economy and textile industry.Cotton cultivation expanded rapidly during the colonial period, particularly in Uganda and western Tanzania, becoming a major export commodity and an important source of income for thousands of smallholder farmers, while supplying textile mills both locally and abroad.

1963 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 30 Cents - Red Cross Emblem

First issued: 02 Sep 196330 East African CentsRed Cross Centenary SeriesHarrison & Sons Ltd, Designed by Victor WhiteleySG: EA 205 Colnect Link
This commemorative stamp, issued in 1963, marks the centenary of the International Red Cross. Part of the International Red Cross Centenary omnibus issue released throughout the British Commonwealth, the stamp was issued to recognize the organization's worldwide humanitarian work. The Red Cross movement, established after the Battle of Solferino, also inspired the Geneva Conventions, which continue to provide the foundation of modern international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, medical personnel, and prisoners of war during armed conflicts.

1963 - Kenya Uganda Tanganyika - 50 Cents - Red Cross Emblem

First issued: 02 Sep 196350 East African CentsRed Cross Centenary SeriesHarrison & Sons Ltd, Designed by Victor WhiteleySG: EA 206 Colnect Link

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