The Imperial British East Africa Company recruited troops from the Sudan, Swahili speakers from the East African coast, Egyptians, and Indians.

Frederick Lugard recruited troops for the Imperial British East Africa Company

Source: Elliott & Fry, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

These forces made up the Ugandan Rifles which was formed when the IBEAC transferred its territories to the British Crown to form the Protectorate of Uganda in 1894.