Eric Arnold Temple-Perkins (1890-1972) was born in New Zealand. After serving throughout World War I with the Royal Field Artillery he joined the Colonial Service; his first posting was as Assistant District Commissioner in Teso, a post he held for three years. In 1922 Temple-Perkins became District Commissioner of Karamoja, however, after only three months he was made Labour Commissioner in charge of the newly formed Labour Department.

Over the next (circa) fifteen years Temple-Perkins served as District Commissioner of Ankole (1924-ca.1929), District Commissioner of Masaka (ca.1929-1932) and Provincial Commissioner of Buganda (1932-1934) of Toro (1935-1936) and of the Eastern Province of Uganda (1937-1938).

During World War II he was made Director of Security and Intelligence in Uganda. In 1944 he became Resident of Buganda; this was his last official appointment until his retirement in 1945.

Temple-Perkins chose to remain in Uganda after he retired and lived on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. He had always been interested in wildlife and had been on many safaris to shoot big game; he had also made studies of African birds and snakes. In 1952 he was made an Honorary Warden of Uganda's National Parks. He published one book about his many hunting experiences entitled Kingdom of the Elephant.