Permanent Way - Lugard evidently had some difference of opinion with Macdonald, for he wrote that "Captain Macdonald was an able officer, but his methods in Africa and my own were at variance."

North - Appt. to carry out first survey for Uganda Railway, arr. Mombasa on s.s. Madura 24/11/1891 (aged 29); dep. Mombasa up country 24/12/1891; arr. Kampala 9/6/1892 left to return to coast a few days later; ordered back to Uganda from Kibwezi 10/9/1892 to report on Capt. F. Lugard, arr. Kikuyu 24/9/1892; Acting Commissioner Uganda after departure of Portal 1893; passing through Machakos on way to coast 10/5/1894; Major, appt. to command "Jubaland" expedition to Upper Nile, arr. Mombasa 9/7/1897; dep. Mumia's for Luba's 11/10/1897; took military command in Uganda after murder of Maj. A.B. Thruston during Sudanese mutiny 18/10/1897; relinquished military command April 1898 & resumed expedition, dep. Kampala for North 1/6/1898; dep. Mombasa for Zanzibar & London 17/3/1899 at end of expedition.

Genesis - 'as railhead passed mile 70 ...... Major MacDonald and party had arrived to delimit the boundary between the Italian and British spheres.'

Mills Railway - Macdonald's party comprised himself, Pringle, Lieutenants Austin and Twining and Sergeant Thomas as surveyors supported by 41 Indian survey assistants and draughtsmen, and 411 porters.

Mills Railway - Macdonald's report {on the troubles in Uganda} was not published and did not become available for study until 1943 under the rule that most classified papers are re-graded 'open' after 50 years. He probably found his task extremely distasteful and, lacking anyone to whom he could turn for legal guidance, was not altogether wise in the way he tackled it. His conclusions were based in part upon hearsay evidence and uncorroborated  testimony, whilst those who stood accused, Lugard and certain missionaries, were not given the opportunity to refute the evidence against them. Nevertheless he did his best to be impartial and may well have succeeded because both sets of missionaries were displeased by the outcome.

His main findings were that Lugard's recruiting safari to Kavalli's had been irresponsible and endangered the Company's position in Buganda (this may be a reflection of Macdonald's antipathy to the Sudanese), and that his "injudicious management" of the situation had precipitated civil war. Lugard, who was of course in England, defended himself strongly and found an ally in Bishop Tucker who was not favourably impressed by Macdonald. Macdonald had not helped his own case by enlisting the services of a German journalist named Wolf to assist him.