“Hey, my name is… or my names are… I am by the names of…” is typical of introduction sessions for Ugandans during workshops in Kampala. Whether you get bored or not, Ugandans will always be unbothered and continue with their call of duty.
The devil is in the details, goes an old saying; indeed, the real devil is in the names of Ugandans. The surname or second name will always be native while the first name is usually Christian, Muslim or Western. But one wonders why the first name should be foreign? I thought the first name should be African or Ugandan.
What is the purpose of an African or native name? “It gives you a tribe, clan and totem,” says Busuulwa Musoke, a resident of Kampala. “The totems are animals or plants which people in a given clan do not eat. It partly contributes to conservation of certain animals and plants.”
This identity crisis has taken away something from Ugandans, but it seems it is the least of their problems. So, they continue practising what they know best. “I love Ugandans for their hospitality. They are very friendly people,” says Jayne Meyers, a tourist from the US, as she responded to my inquiry about who is a Ugandan.
Who can dispute strong opinions of visitors like Meyers. Even the African Economist remarked that Ugandans are the world’s friendliest people about a decade ago.
In Central Uganda, visitors are known as Abagenyi. This is derived from Abageyi, which means ‘fault-finders’. Generally, Ugandans take great pride in presenting themselves well to their visitors, a trait that has become deeply ingrained in their culture.
In some parts of the country, such as Busoga in eastern Uganda, they have an elaborate and prolonged way of greeting. The greeting involves telling a series of stories about their domestic animals, the people back home and the weather. In the course of the greeting, do not expect any break until you also say something about the sick and old people as well as your neighbours. Yes, they come from a community, which has many others, who also share with them the little they have.
As the greeting progresses, Tooro and Bunyoro will offer you a pet name. There are 12 pet names among the Batooro and Banyoro. The pet names are: Akiiki, Adyeeri, Apuuli, Araali, Amooti, Abooki, Ateenyi, Atwoki, Abwoli, Acaali, Bbala and Okaali.
Do you know that each of the pet names carries a meaning? “We give pet names according to the attributes and values of someone. It is not a random thing,” says David Adyeri, an elder from Tooro.
In neighbouring Ankole, it is not offensive if you are offered a hug, it is a way of welcoming you to the land of milk and honey.
As you enjoy the warmth of Ugandans, take note that your hosts may take something away from you. For example, they have a name for someone who seems to be moving aimlessly. This is Muzungu in Luganda or Mzungu in Kiswahili.
In central and eastern, Ugandans will not point at you; they will elongate their lips as a gesture to communicate amongst themselves that they are referring to you. They never point fingers at any one more so the visitors.
In terms of language, Luganda is the most widely spoken language in the country. East Africans speak Kiswahili, a regional language, with words borrowed from Bantu languages and Arabic. This was given a cold shoulder in Uganda because Kiswahili was previously used by security forces and thieves to terrorise people.
English is Uganda’s official language and Kiswahili is the second official language, according to Uganda’s Constitution.
Does a traditional dress or wear define who is a Ugandan? “Yes, it does,” says Hebert Byaruhanga, a birder and a tour operator of about two decades.
At the traditional ceremonies, men will turn up in white tunic or Kanzu and a jacket. This makes them feel that they have stood out. But this too, has been borrowed from the Arab world which gave Ugandans the Kanzu and the Western World which gave Ugandans the coat or jacket. That is how far the imported culture has influenced the way Ugandans dress.
In Karamoja, the traditional dress includes skins of animals. In recent years, they have taken up clothes (suka or Shukas) similar to the one popular with the Masaai in Kenya and Tanzania. The Bahiima in western Uganda also put on multi-coloured shuka.
Origin
The main ethnic groups are Bantu, who migrated into Uganda from West Africa (Cameroon), Nilotics or Luo from South Sudan, and Nilo-Hamites from the Horn of Africa.
The Bantu means people and this goes with what they refer to as “Obuntubulamu” meaning humanity. Uganda’s Bantu tribes include Baganda, Basoga, Bagwere, Batooro, Bakiga, Banyankole, Bafumbira, Bagisu, Banyoro, Basamia, Bakonzo and Banyole.
The Nilo-Hamites came from Ethiopia and settled in parts of north-eastern Uganda. Others moved southwards. The Nilo-Hamites include Teso, Karamojong, Kumam, Sebei, Pokot, Labwor, and Tepeth.
The Luo, who are Nilotics migrated from South Sudan migrated into northern Uganda and parts of eastern Uganda and Luo-Nyanza province of Kenya. Today, they are represented by the Acholi in northern Uganda, Alur in West Nile (Uganda) and DR Congo, Japhadhola in eastern Uganda and Jaluo in Kenya.
According to Uganda’s Constitution of 1995 (amended in 2005), there are 56 tribes and nine indigenous communities such as the Batwa in western Uganda and the Ik in north-eastern Uganda.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Standards (UBOS), the population census 2024, Buganda has 11 million people, followed by Busoga with 7 million, and third is West Nile 3.9 million people. UBOS put Uganda’s population at 46.9 million people.
The first ethnic group to settle in Uganda were probably the Bantu who came about 3,000 years ago. It is also said that their knowledge of agriculture and of superior iron technology at that time helped them to feed the larger numbers of settlers.
The earliest form of political organization was the Cwezi empire of the Bacwezi who ruled over parts of Uganda, Eastern DR Congo, Rwanda and northern Tanzania. The kingdoms of Buganda, Tooro and Bunyoro under the Babiito dynasty that came after the Cwezi empire collapsed.
Food
In terms of food, Uganda is a banana-loving country. Western, central, and eastern Uganda widely consume bananas, also known as matooke. Millet is the most popular food in parts of northern, eastern, and western Uganda. Other cereals, like sorghum, are popular in north-eastern Uganda. In the north, the dishes are enriched with ground nuts and sim-sim paste and vegetables.
Much as the diet is changing across Uganda, there are at least two traditional foods for each of the tribe. This is sometimes referred to as the staple food, for given localities across the country.
However, Ugandans in the urban areas are spoilt for choice as most of the food produced upcountry will end up in the cities and towns. The urbanites have a lot of food on their menu, including bananas, potatoes, Irish potatoes, and cassava.
There are also delicacies like grasshoppers, which are popular with people living in central Uganda as well as white ants. In Buganda, the special guests have tasty Luwombo cooked in banana leaves. The Bagisu have Maleya or smoked bamboo shoots as a delicacy.
In northern Uganda, lovers of Anyeri, which is an edible rat, will set the whole village ablaze as they hunt for this little mammal so that they take a piece of meat home.
The western part of the country, the meals come with dairy products including eshabwe. The culture is deeply connected to cattle. This is seen at the entrance into Mbarara City, which has a statue of a bull with wide horns.
Ugandans have come up with ‘rolex’, a form of fast food. It is made out of chapati and then rolled with eggs or beans to make a meal. This is a stop-gap measure that is threatening to enter the mainstream of food across Uganda.
Dances
Who would marry someone from Uganda without showing that they are talented dancers? There are courtship dances where you have to prove your worth. There are also dances performed for the royals, such as Runyege in Bunyoro and Amagunju in Buganda. The circumcision dance, Akadodi, brings the best out of life on Mountain Elgon and beyond.
Games
There are also popular board games known as Omweso, or, in short, Mweso (traditional chess). This is believed to have been introduced during the time of the Bachwezi Empire. It is a popular leisure activity in central, eastern, and mid-western Uganda.
Apart from this, traditional games like wrestling are popular in Buganda, Busoga, and Bunyoro. There were legends like Meremenya in central Uganda who have not been replaced as traditional wrestling keeps fading. This traditional sport is also traced back to the times of the Bachwezi Empire.
Kingdoms (except Ankole) have been restored after being abolished for about two-and-a-half decades (1966–1993). The kings and most of the traditional sites are still active. The rich culture, historical sites, and artefacts are reminders of Uganda’s heritage.
The imported culture has eroded parts of African culture to such an extent that Ugandans have forgotten to conserve parts of their heritage and the environment. Our children and grandchildren should cherish, protect, and value what remains for sustainability to thrive.
