Following appeals by figures such as Frederick Lugard (RCINs 1079785-7) in response to reports that the British East Africa Company was to abandon its colonisation efforts in Uganda, in 1893, the British government sent Sir Gerald Portal to the area to negotiate a settlement with the newly restored Bugandan kabaka (king) Mwanga II. On his return to London, Portal recommended to the government that Buganda and other kingdoms in the region should be united into one Protectorate under direct British rule. This led to the announcement of the Uganda Protectorate in June 1894. Portal did not live to see the declaration, having died that January at the age of 36. This book describing the mission was edited and published from his journals.
This copy was presented to Queen Victoria by Portal's father, Melville Portal, on 9 July 1894.