Political hostilities between various religious factions in the Kingdom of Uganda had followed European missionary activity in the region from the 1880s. The Imperial British East Africa Company provided protection to Christian factions under Mwanga II. After hostilities subsided, the role of the IBEAC was transferred to the British Crown in 1894.

Present Proprietor (loq.). “SEE HERE, GOVERNOR! HE’S A LIKELY-LOOKING ANIMAL,—BUT I CAN’T MANAGE HIM! IF YOU WON’T TAKE HIM, I MUST LET HIM GO!!”

Cartoon, Punch Magazine vol. 103 (1892) depicting Uganda as a White Elephant which the East Africa Company is attempting to sell to Britain.