Siege of Mbombwe

The Siege of Mbombwe started on 25 January 1915 when soldiers of the Government of Nyasaland attacked the rebel capital of Mbombwe. The siege ended on the next day when troops from the King's African Rifles stormed the rebel capital after a fierce fight with the rebels.

Background
For most of the rebellion, John Chilembwe remained in Mbombwe praying and leadership of the rebels was taken by David Kaduya, a former soldier in the King's African Rifles (KAR). It was an ambush executed by rebels upon a small party of government soldiers near Mbombwe on 24 January. The ambush has often described as the "one reverse suffered by the government" during the entire Chilembwe uprising.

The Battle
After arriving outside Mbombwe the troops of the King's African Rifles launched an attack on rebel stronghold on 25 January, however the engagement proved inconclusive. Chilembwe's forces held a strong defensive position along the Mbombwe river and could not be pushed back. Two African government soldiers were killed and three were wounded; Chilembwe's losses have been estimated as about 20 killed and many more wounded. The military assaulted Mbombwe again on 26 January but encountered no resistance and were able to capture the town with ease.

Aftermath
Many rebels, including Chilembwe, had fled the village disguised as civilians. Mbombwe's fall and the government troops' subsequent demolition of Chilembwe's church with dynamite ended the rebellion. Kaduya was captured and brought back to Magomero where he was publicly executed.