Playne - It is impossible to imagine life in Uganda for a European without the ricksha, and the tourist or passing visitor will find this useful vehicle even more indispensable than the acclimatised settler or planter. The ricksha may almost be said to have opened up the country to travel. Any one wishing to tour Uganda should take advantage of the facilities offered by Mr A.E. Bertie-Smith, of Entebbe. If a telegram is sent to the firm from Mombasa, arrangements for transport will be made by the time the traveller arrives in the country. The firm has branches at Kampala, Jinja, and Bombo. Rickshas can be had on hire to any part of Uganda, and are run from Entebbe to Fort Portal and Butiaba, to Lake Albert, to connect with the Nile Steamers. Rickshas are also run from Jinja to M'Bale, near Mt. Elgon. Mules, transport waggons, and ricksha can be hired at any of the firm's branches. Mr Bertie-Smith's firm acts as official brokers, merchants, and are the managing directors of the Uganda Land and Building Company Ltd., The Rubber & Cocoa Estates Ltd., and the Uganda Jinricksha Company. Mr Bertie-Smith came to Uganda, in 1903, from England, and joined the Government service, but later in the same year he resigned, and started business as official broker and curio dealer. He was the founder, and is the president, of the local Chamber of Commerce, and is also agent for Reuters. Genuine Congo, Uganda, and German East African curios of large variety and number are on sale, and among them are war drums, bark cloth, and ivory of all sorts. This branch of the business is a speciality, and visitors should inspect the stock. Elephant feet and black pottery may also be mentioned as of unique interest. The firm are exporters of coffee, and have a plantation of 4 acres in Entebbe, and 2 square miles are shortly to be planted at Singo.

Drumkey 1909 - President, Uganda Chamber of Commerce, Entebbe

Drumkey 1909 - Broker - Entebbe

Uganda Journal - Vol. 2 No. 2 - Further Memories of Uganda by Sir Albert Cook - The Uganda Chamber of Commerce was established in 1905, the first President being, I think, A.E. Bertie Smith, while Dr. H.H. Hunter, Ramsay Shields, C.H. Werner, and J.B. Struthers were original members. Bertie Smith started a rickshaw service between Entebbe and Kampala.

Uganda Journal - Vol. 36, p. 85 - Bertie-Smith was appointed a dispenser in the Medical Department on 14 August 1903. Early in 1905 he resigned his government post at Entebbe to begin buriness there as a curio dealer and official broker. Later the same year he founded the Chamber of Commerce and became its first president. In addition to his rickshaw, curio and brokerage business, his other commercial interests included general merchandise, hiring of mules and transport wagons, and management of the Uganda Land & Building Co. Ltd., Rubber & Cocoa Estates Ltd., and the agency for Reuters. He was also a coffee exporter with a 4-acre plantation at Entebbe and, in 1908, he was planning to cultivate two square miles at Singo. The date of his death or departure from Uganda is not known; his name is not among those listed in C.J. Phillips 'Uganda Volunteers and the War' 1917.

North - From New Malden, Surrey; Appt. dispenser EA Medical Dept. to be resident at Entebbe 14/8/1903; 'European Dispenser' Entebbe Dec 1903, Oct 1904; resigned to go into business at Entebbe 9/3/1905; First President of the 'Uganda Chamber of Commerce' 1905

Entebbe European cemetery - A.E. Bertie Smith, (no dates)