The IK tribe
The IK, also called Teuso, are a tribe in Uganda’s North-eastern corner on Mount Morungole on Uganda’s borders with Kenya and South Sudan.
The IK belong to the Nilotic ethnic group. They originated from Ethiopia and South Egypt, and migrated to Northern Kenya before moving to North-eastern Uganda settling first in Kidepo Valley, and finally moving to the top of Mount Morungole. They are said to be the first migrants to North-eastern Uganda. Their name, IK, means “ahead of migration or first to migrate here”. Their relocation to the top of Mount Morungole from Kidepo Valley was caused by the creation of Kidepo Valley National Park in 1958 which made Kidepo Valley a protected area. As a result, they are Uganda’s furthest tribe. The IK belong to the mountainous Ikland region located at the edge of Kidepo Valley National Park and the East Africa Rift Valley. They are governed in a clan system.
The IK are agricultural people. They farm maize, millet, sorghum, vegetables, and rear chicken and goats, and do beekeeping. Their staple food is Maize. Maize flour is used to make maize bread which is eaten with vegetables or chicken or goat meat. Before relocating to Mount Morungole, they were hunter gathers and cattle keepers in Kidepo Valley. Their relocation to the mountain, and cattle raids from rival tribes, caused them to adopt agriculture.
The IK traditional dress code is a Maasai shuka and beads jewelry, just like the Karimojong. Men dress in a Maasai shuka tied diagonally from their shoulder, or in form of a skirt. Women dress in a Maasai shuka skirt with a beads belt. Both men and women wear a series of bangles, necklaces, bracelets and headbands made out of beads.
The language of the IK is called “Ik” and it’s a very unique language.
The IK dance involves short vertical jumps while holding each other by the waists. In the dance, a woman on a man’s left keeps on making sudden moves to the man which appear to make him fall, but he dodges the fall. This happens as jumping goes on. The IK homesteads comprise of grass, mud and wattle huts built in a similar way to that of the Karimojong. Their homesteads are an impressive community design just like those of the Karimojong.
The IK are the guardians and custodians of Mount Morungole, a towering mountain range in the far North-east of Uganda, that rises 2,749m above the semi-arid plains of Kidepo Valley National Park. Mount Morungole is one of the defining landscapes of Kidepo Valley National Park. It’s sky-high ranges are a great sight from the Kidepo plains, and at the top of the mountain. The Mountain offers great camping experiences, hiking, climbing, biking and birding experiences. Its proximity to the borders of South Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia offer an amazing geographical and political boundary experience. Other nearby mountain ranges are a spectacular sight from Mount Morungole. IK communities are found 2,500m high on the mountain.
The IK are the guardians and custodians of one of the World’s most unique languages. The Ik language is not connected to any other known language in Uganda and the World. Not even the neighboring tribes can understand it. The closest it has been related to, are ancient people of southern Egypt and Ethiopia. It’s adjectives are foreign to any other language in the world. The Ik language is one of the best linguistic and anthropological tourism experiences in the world and in Uganda. Their language has attracted a number of linguists and anthropologists around the world in an effort to study and understand it. Some Anthropologists have referred to the Ik language as a gateway to the past.
There are 13,939 IK (2014 census) in Uganda. The IK are mainly found high on Mount Morungole in Kaabong district.
The Jie tribe
The Jie are a tribe in North-eastern Uganda in the semi-arid region of Karamoja.
The Jie belong to the Nilo-hamite ethnic group. They originated from the 16th century migration from Ethiopia which composed of all the Ateker people in Uganda (Karamoja tribes in North-eastern Uganda, and the Iteso tribe). It’s said that they came from the Habesha people of Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia) who were part of the Solomonic Dynasty that existed in present-day Ethiopia from AD 1270 to 1974. Another legend connects their origin, like all Karamoja tribes and the Iteso, to the Egyptian wife of the biblical old-testament, Joseph, who was a prime minister in Pharoah’s government. In all legends, from Ethiopia they moved southward to North-eastern Uganda. The Jie belong to Karamoja/Jie region and are governed in a clan system composed of clan elders and opinion leaders.
The Jie are majorly pastoral people but also do agriculture. They keep livestock especially short horned cattle, and farm sorghum, maize, and beans. Their staple food is Sorghum and Maize. Sorghum is called “Ngimomwa”, and Maize is called “Eburai”. Sorghum or maize bread is eaten with “Ngimare”(beans). Their drink called “Ebutiya”, is made from sorghum.
The Jie traditional dress code is a Maasai shuka and beads jewelry. Men dress in a Maasai shuka tied diagonally from their shoulder, or in form of a skirt. Men may also wear a cap/hat called “Akopiya”. Women on the other hand, dress in a Maasai shuka skirt called “Akabuka”, with a beads belt. Both men and women wear a series of bangles, necklaces, bracelets and headbands made out of beads.
The Jie language is called “Ngajiye”.
The Jie dance is called “Ewoya”. Ewoya dance involves a series of high verticle jumps made by both men and women. This dance is the same in all Karamoja tribes. According to the them, the man or woman who jumps highest gets the most beautiful woman or the most handsome man respectively. Just like all the Karamoja tribes, the Jie culture is similar to that of the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania.
The Jie, just like all Karamoja tribes, are known for their tiny wooden stool called “Ekicolong” and their homesteads called “Manyatta”. Manyattas comprise of grass, wattle and mud huts fenced in a community setup. These Manyattas are an impressive African community design.
The Jie are the guardians and custodians of Nakapelimoru village, the 2nd largest African village in East Africa, after the Ujamaa villages in Tanzania. Nakapelimoru Village, a sub-county of it’s own with three parishes, is completely made up of traditional African communities and structures. All the houses in this village are grass, wattle and mud huts with wattle fences. Nakapelimoru Village is located in Kotido (Karamoja/Jie region).
The Jie, together with the Karimojong, are the guardians and custodians of the semi-arid plateaus of Kotido district. These plateaus, which are dotted with a series of rock formations, are an amazing landscape with magnificent views of the horizons, in an authentic African environment.
There are 165,242 Jie (2014 census) in Uganda. The Jie are found in Kotido, and Abim districts.
The Dodoth tribe
The Dodoth are a tribe in North-eastern Uganda on Uganda’s borders with Kenya and South Sudan.
The Dodoth belong to the Nilo-hamite ethnic group. They originated from the 16th century migration from Ethiopia which composed of all the Ateker people in Uganda (Karamoja tribes in North-eastern Uganda, and the Iteso tribe). It’s said that they came from the Habesha people of Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia) who were part of the Solomonic Dynasty that existed in present-day Ethiopia from AD 1270 to 1974. Another legend connects their origin, like all Karamoja tribes and the Iteso, to the Egyptian wife of the biblical old-testament, Joseph, who was a prime minister in Pharoah’s government. In all legends, from Ethiopia they moved southward to North-eastern Uganda. The Dodoth belong to Dodoth region (part of Karamoja region) and are governed in a clan system composed of clan elders and opinion leaders.
The Dodoth are pastoral people but also do agriculture. They keep livestock mainly short horned cattle, and farm sorghum, maize, and beans. Their staple food is Sorghum and Maize. Just like the Jie tribe, Sorghum is called “Ngimomwa”, and Maize is called “Eburai”. Sorghum or maize bread is eaten with “Ngimare”(beans). A drink called “Ngagwe” is made from sorghum and maize.
The Dodoth traditional dress code is a Maasai shuka and beads jewelry. Men dress in a Maasai shuka tied diagonally from their shoulder, or in form of a skirt. Men may also wear a cap/hat called “Akopiya”. Women dress in a Maasai shuka skirt with a beads belt. Women also wear skins and hides. Both men and women wear a series of bangles, necklaces, bracelets and headbands made out of beads.
The Dodoth language is called “Ngadotho”.
The Dodoth dance is called “Ewoya”, just like all Karamoja tribes. Ewoya dance involves a series of high verticle jumps made by both men and women. According to the them, the man or woman who jumps highest gets the most beautiful woman or the most handsome man respectively. The Dodoth culture is similar to that of the Maasai in Kenya and Tanzania.
The Dodoth, just like all Karamoja tribes, are known for their tiny wooden stool called “Ekicolong”. Dodoth homesteads are called “Ere”. Each Ere is comprised of one big wooden fence with about 10 households called “Akal”. Each Akal is made up of grass, wattle and mud huts. Just like the Manyattas of other Karamoja tribes, the Dodoth’s Ere are an impressive African community design.
The Dodoth, together with the Karimojong, are the guardians and custodians of Kidepo Valley National Park, a beautiful national park and one of Africa’s finest wildernesses. Kidepo Valley National Park is home to the largest animal diversity among all Uganda’s national parks and it’s the 3rd largest national park in Uganda measuring 1,442 km². Kidepo Valley National Park is the only semi-arid national park in Uganda; offering both savannah and arid experiences. Kidepo Valley National Park is located in Kaabong (Karamoja/Dodoth region).
The Dodoth, together with the Karimojong, are the guardians and custodians of the rocky and hilly semi-arid region of Kaabong district. Kaabong’s rocks, hills, mountains, and valleys, are an amazing landscape with one of the finest sunset and sunrise views.
There are 129,102 Dodoth (2014 census) in Uganda. The Dodoth are mainly found in Kaabong district.
The Napore tribe
The Napore are a tribe in North-eastern Uganda, South-west of Kidepo Valley National Park.
The Napore belong to the Nilotic ethnic group. Their origins are not well documented. They belong to Karenga region (part of Karamoja region) and are governed in a clan system composed of clan elders and opinion leaders.
The Napore are pastoral people but also do agriculture. They keep livestock mainly short horned cattle, and farm sorghum, millet, maize, beans, and other vegetables. Their staple food is Sorghum and Maize. Bread is made from Sorghum or Maize flour. Just like the Dodoth, a drink called “Ngagwe” is made from sorghum and maize.
The Napore traditional dress code is a Maasai shuka and beads jewelry. Men dress in a Maasai shuka either tied diagonally from their shoulder, or in form of a skirt. Women dress in a Maasai shuka skirt with a beads belt. Women wear a series of bangles, necklaces, bracelets and headbands made out of beads.
The Napore language is called “Ngaporein”. Their dance is called Emuya dance.
The Napore are the guardians and custodians of Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area, a 956 sq km wildlife conservation area part of Kidepo Conservation Zone which also includes Kidepo Valley National Park. Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area is popular for the East Sudanian Savannah Biome, a unique vegetation type in Uganda. Its vegetation also includes Northern Acacia-Commiphora bushlands and thickets which extend to the nearby Kidepo Valley National Park. Karenga Community Wildlife
Management Area is home to a number of wildlife including animals like; leopards, lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and a variety of birds. Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area is one of the few wildlife reserves in Uganda where you can see lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes.
The Napore region, south-west of Kidepo Valley National Park, is home to a number of hills and beautiful views of Kidepo Valley National Park’s Mountain ranges. These mountains and hills are great for hiking.
There are 25,417 Napore (2014 census) in Uganda. The Napore are mainly found in Karenga district.
The Mening tribe
The Mening are a tribe in North-eastern Uganda on Uganda’s borders with Kenya and South Sudan.
The Mening belong to the Nilotic ethnic group. They are part of the larger Ketebo people in South Sudan and Uganda. The Katebo people in South Sudan are called Ketebo, while those in Uganda are called Mening. The Ketebo people are part of the Lango people in South Sudan, who are said to share a common ancestry with the Lango/Langi of Uganda. In 1800 the Mening were inhabitants of the northern parts of present-day Kidepo Valley National Park before it gazetted as a game reserve in 1958. After the area was gazetted, the Mening spread out to the eastern, western and southern areas bordering the then game reserve; which today is Kidepo Valley National Park. The Mening belong to Kaabong, Karenga and Kotido regions (part of Karamoja region) and are governed in a clan system composed of clan elders and opinion leaders.
The Mening are agricultural people. They farm sorghum, millet, maize, beans, and other vegetables. Their staple food is Sorghum and Maize. Sorghum is called “Ngamam” and Maize is called “Locheri”. Sorghum or Maize flour is used to make bread. A drink called “Mere”, is made from sorghum and maize. However, they were previously hunters. Their relocation from the game reserve caused them to adopt agriculture.
The Mening dress code is a Maasai shuka and beads jewelry. Men dress in a Maasai shuka either tied diagonally from their shoulder, or in form of a skirt. Women dress in a Maasai shuka skirt with a beads belt. Women wear a series of bangles, necklaces, bracelets and headbands made out of beads.
The Mening language is called “Ngamening”.
The Mening, together with the Napore, Dodoth, Jie, IK, and Karimojong are the guardians and custodians of the areas neighboring the east, western, and southern boundaries of Kidepo Valley National Park. These areas are home to beautiful mountain ranges that include Mount Morungole on the east, on Uganda’s border with Kenya, Loyilli hills and mountains on the west, and the beautiful semi-arid plateaus in the south. The regions east of Kidepo Valley National Park are also home to Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area, a 956 sq km wildlife conservation area popular for the East Sudanian Savannah Biome. Karenga Community Wildlife Management Area is home to a number of wildlife including; leopards, lions, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, and birds.
The hills, valleys, mountains, and plateaus in the areas east, west, and south of Kidepo Valley National Park offer picturesque views including views of Uganda’s Tripartite point with Kenya and South Sudan and the East African rift valley. These areas are also perfect for camping and hiking.
The Mening are Uganda’s 2nd smallest tribe (after the Mvuba tribe). The smallest are the Vonoma tribe.
There are 2,655 Mening (2014 census) in Uganda. The Mening are mainly found in Kaabong, Karenga, and Kotido districts.