The Bakiga tribe
The Bakiga are a tribe in South western Uganda in the highlands of Kigezi on the border of Uganda and Rwanda. The Kigezi region is similar in geography and climate to Switzerland – the reason it was called the ‘Switzerland of Africa’ by the British colonialists.
The Bakiga belong to the Bantu ethnic group and are said to have migrated from Rwanda to Uganda between 1600 and 1700. However, some of the Bakiga became Ugandans automatically after the colonial British and Germans signed the 1910 Anglo-German Agreement that modified part of the boundary between British and German territories. The Bakiga that were on the Uganda side after the boundary modification automatically became Ugandans.
The Bakiga are agricultural people. They farm on the hills in the Kigezi highlands, farming Irish potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, beans, sorghum, groundnuts, vegetables, cassava, bananas, coffee among others. Their farming is done on the different plots on the hills which give the Kigezi region a stunning scenery of green patterns.
In Uganda, the Bakiga are known as strong people with an energetic traditional dance that involves a series of strong jumps. Their dance is called “the kizino” and it’s said that the jumping is because the kizino was founded as a revenge dance. The dance was believed to be for bringing warmth given the fact that their region is very cold.
They have a surname structure that was largely influenced by the East African Revival, a 1931 Anglican revival that took place in South western Uganda, western Uganda, and Rwanda. As a result, their surnames have a gospel theme.
The Bakiga are the custodians and guardians of Lake Bunyonyi, a beautiful and popular lake with numerous islands and birds. Lake Bunyonyi is one of the most popular tourism attractions in Uganda for many Ugandans and international visitors.
The Bakiga are known for their traditional drink called “Enturire”, a drink that is made out of sorghum. It’s a popular refreshment among them. They are also known for the “Bakiga Nation Festival”, a popular annual festival that brings Bakiga together to celebrate their culture.
After Second World war, there was a high population growth in Kabale, a Bakiga region, which forced so many Bakiga to migrate north to other regions in Uganda. One of the regions where they settled is Toro region, a region of the Batoro tribe, in western Uganda. Today, there is a moderately high Bakiga population in Toro region and the Banana farming that has made Toro (Kabarole District), Uganda’s biggest banana producing region is due to the Bakiga farmers there. The population growth in Kabale was partly due to Rwandan refugees who had crossed to Uganda.
There are 2,390,446 Bakiga (2014 census) in Uganda. The Bakiga are mainly found in Kabale, Rubanda, Kanungu, Rukungiri and Kabarole Districts.
The Batooro tribe
The Batooro are a tribe in Western Uganda in the beautiful crater lakes region of Uganda. There are 52 crater lakes, the world’s highest in one region, in Tooro region.
The Batooro belong to the Bantu ethnic group and they are believed to have come from the Bunyoro-Kitara dynasty that existed in Uganda’s north Western region. It’s said that in 1830, their founding king, Omukama Kaboyo Olimi I, who was the eldest son of the Omukama (King) of Bunyoro Kingdom, Nyamutukura Kyebambe III, seceded and established his own independent kingdom in Bunyoro kingdom’s south. It’s that new kingdom that became Tooro kingdom.
The current king of Tooro kingdom, Omukama Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, is the youngest king in the world. He became king at the age of 3 years in 1995 after the death of his father. King Oyo is now 27 years old and he will become 28 on 16 April.
The Batooro are agricultural people. They farm millet, sweet potatoes, yams, beans, groundnuts, vegetables, cassava, bananas, tea, coffee, and also keep livestock. Their staple food is millet from which they make millet bread. Tooro region is Uganda’s biggest banana growing region.
The Batooro are the custodians and guardians of Fort Portal, Uganda’s tourism city. It’s also Uganda’s cleanest city and was named after Sir Gerald Portal, the colonial British consul in Zanzibar.
The Batooro are the guardians of Kibale Forest: The World’s Primates Capital, home to a large number of primates. There are 13 primates species in Kibale Forest. Kibale Forest is home to Kibale Forest National Park, the world’s most popular chimpanzee trekking national park.
Mpanga valley, believed to have been a home to dinosaurs is located in Tooro region (Kitagwenda District). Cycad plants which are believed to have been dinosaur food are found in that valley. The Batooro are also custodians of the Amabere caves and Nyakasura hill, both of which are popular tourism attractions in Uganda. The Amabere cave rocks are a formation of stalagmites and stalactites and hold important historical value to the Batooro.
The Batooro are known for pet names which they give to their children in addition to their surnames. These pet names are a sign of prestige, respect, honor and love. They must be mentioned as part of a greeting. The process of giving pet names is called “Empaako”. It’s also common for Batooro to give non-Batooro, pet names. The Empaako Festival is a popular event among the Batooro. In 2013, the Empaako tradition was inscribed by UNESCO as an intangible heritage in need of safeguarding. Batooro are soft in speech and character.
There are 810,708 Batooro (2014 census) in Uganda. The Batooro are mainly found in Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Bunyangabu and Kitagwenda districts.
The Lugbara tribe
The Lugbara are a tribe in North-western Uganda west of Albert Nile, also called West Nile, on Uganda’s borders with DR Congo and South Sudan.
The Lugbara belong to the Nilotic ethnic group. They migrated from Sudan to Northern Uganda between 14th and 16th centuries. Their founding father travelled from present-day Acholiland in Northern Uganda and settled at Mount Wati, West of Albert Nile (West Nile). The Lugbara belong to Lugbara region and are governed in a clan system.
The Lugbara are agricultural people. They farm maize, millet, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes, simsim, and vegetables. Their staple food is Cassava, Millet, and Sorghum which are eaten independently. Cassava flour is used to make cassava bread called “Enyasa”, Millet flour is used to make millet bread called “Anya enya”, and Sorghum flour is used to make sorghum bread called “Ondu enya”. Their drinks are: “Nzaiza”, and “Kwete/Kpete”, both made from Maize.
The Lugbara dress code is Kitenge (modern), but traditionally their dress code is animal hides and leaves. The Lugbara have a number of dances among which is “Nambi” dance, a celebration dance. The Lugbara language is called “Lugbara”.
The Lugbara are the guardians and custodians of Uganda’s first-and-only female world gold medalist history. Dorcus Inzikuru, a Lugbara, won the 2005 World women’s 3000m steeplechase in Helsinki, Finland. Her gold medal was the 2nd athletics gold medal in Uganda after the 1972 Olympics gold medal by John Akii-bua. Her gold medal was, and is also the first-and-only female-won gold medal in Uganda to this day.
The Lugbara are the guardians and custodians of Arua city, the biggest commercial center of West Nile. They are also the guardians of Arua Hill which offers great views of Arua town.
The Lugbara are the guardians and custodians of Ajai Wildlife Reserve, the only wildlife reserve west of Albert Nile. Ajai Wildlife Reserve used to be home to Uganda’s biggest white rhino populations before they became extinct in Uganda in 1980s. Ajai Wildlife Reserve is located in Arua (Lugbara region).
The Lugbara are the guardians and custodians of Mount Wati, the largest mountain in West Nile. The mountain offers great hiking experiences and it’s where the forefather of the Lugbara first settled. Mount Wati is located in Arua (Lugbara region).
The Lugbara are the guardians and custodians of Muni University, the most popular university in West Nile. Muni University is one of the newest universities in Uganda (established in 2013). It’s located in Arua (Lugbara region).
The Lugbara are the guardians and custodians of Alikua Pyramid, a 5 metre high, conical, stone, and mud structure build by Belgian colonialists, who were ruling West Nile, in 1911. The pyramid is located in Maracha (Lugbara region). The Lugbara are also the guardians and custodians of Yia Calu Waterfalls in Arua, and Miriadua Falls in Maracha.
There are 1,099,733 Lugbara (2014 census) in Uganda. The Lugbara are mainly found in Arua, Maracha, and Yumbe districts.
The Acholi tribe
The Acholi, also called Acoli, are a tribe in Northern Uganda East of River Nile’s Albert Nile on the border of Uganda and South Sudan.
The Acholi belong to the Nilotic ethnic group and the Luo sub ethnic group. They originated from 16th century Luo migration from Bar-el Gazel in South Sudan to Northern Uganda. According to the Acholi and Alur legend of Spear and the Bead, also called Story of Gipir and Labongo, after the Luo had arrived in Northern Uganda, two sons of a Luo clan chief who had passed away, parted ways. These two sons, Gipir and Labongo, gave birth to two different tribes: Alur and Acholi. Labongo gave birth to the Acholi. The Acholi belong to Acholi region led by a Rwot (Paramount Chief). The current Rwot is: Rwot Onen David Acana II.
The Acholi are agricultural people. They farm maize, millet, sorghum, cassava, sweet potatoes, simsim, and vegetables. Their staple food is Millet and Cassava eaten independently. From Millet flour they make Millet bread called “Kwonkal” and from Cassava flour they make cassava bread called “Kwonboot”. Their drinks include: a sorghum drink called “Kwete”, and a simsim drink called “Kanyimuru”.
The Acholi dress code is animal skin. Men wear a feather crown. The Acholi have a number of dances amongst which includes “Larakaraka dance”. Larakaraka dance is a courtship dance involving every male dancer holding and hitting a calabash or drum with a stick. This dance is a very vigorous dance and it’s also a very popular dance. The Acholi language is called “Acholi” or “Acoli”.
The Acholi are the guardians and custodians of Aruu Falls, a beautiful waterfall that passes over a series of naturally cascading black rocks. These cascading black rocks give the falls wonderful sights and sounds as the water passes over them. The water keeps on making thunderous roars and sprays as it moves from one rock step to another. The falls are located in Pader (Acholi region).
The Acholi are the guardians and custodians of Uganda’s 8th presidential history. General Tito Okello Lutwa, an Acholi, was the 8th president of Uganda
The Acholi are the guardians and custodians of Patiko hill, a beautiful rocky hill located in Gulu (Acholi region). The hill offers great hiking experiences and great views of surrounding areas. Patiko hill is also home to Fort Patiko, a 19th century structure that was built by Arabs as a collection center for slaves collected from the Equatorial province before being taken to the Mediterranean Sea.
The structure was taken over by Sir. Samuel Baker, a colonial British explorer, in1872. Samuel Baker stopped the slave trade business there and converted the structure into a military fort for British colonialists. Fort Patiko is also called Baker’s Fort. It’s where Samuel Baker and his army took refuge when they were being fought by then King of Bunyoro, Omukama Chwa II Kabalega. The Fort’s current structures offer great historical experiences.
The Acholi are the guardians and custodians of Amoro Hot Springs, the largest hot springs in northern Uganda, covering an area of approximately 100 sq metres. These hot springs are found in Gulu (Acholi region).
The Acholi are the guardians and custodians of Guruguru hills which have giant rock formations balanced together with caves in between. These caves acted as hiding places for Luo fighters during the 1911 Lamogi rebellion against British colonialists. The hills are found in Gulu (Acholi region) and they offer great hiking and historical experiences. The Acholi are also the guardians and custodians of Kilak hill, and Moro hill, also found in Gulu (Acholi region).
The Acholi are the guardians and custodians of Gulu University, one of Uganda’s popular biological sciences universities, and are also the guardians and custodians of Atiak Forest Reserve, home to large concentrations of Colobus monkeys. Atiak Forest Reserve is located near Albert Nile in Amuru (Acholi region).
The Acholi are the 8th largest tribe in Uganda (after Bagisu) constituting 4.4% of Uganda’s population. There are 1,470,554 Acholi (2014 census) in Uganda. The Acholi are mainly found in Gulu, Agago, Pader, Kitgum, Amuru, Nwoya, and Lamwo districts.
The Langi tribe
The Langi are a tribe in North-central Uganda on the northern shores of Lake Kyoga.
The Langi belong to the Nilo-hamitic ethnic group. One legend has it that they originated from the same migration as the Iteso and Karimojong tribes: from the Habesha people of the Solomonic Dynasty that existed in Ethiopia from AD 1270 to 1974. From Ethiopia they moved southward to North Eastern Uganda from were they split from their counterparts (Karimojong and Iteso), and moved westward settling at Got Otuke (Otuke Hill) before occupying North-central Uganda. Another legend says that they were part of the 16th century Luo migration from Bar-el Gazel in South Sudan to North-central Uganda. This legend connects them to the same migration as the Jopadhola and Acholi tribes. The Langi belong to Lango region led by a Won Nyaci (Paramount chief). The current Won Nyaci is: Won Nyaci Yosam Odur Ebii
The Langi are agricultural people. They farm maize, millet, sorghum, rice, cassava, and vegetables. Their staple food is cassava, which is locally called “Mogo”. Cassava is boiled fresh and eaten, or boiled first and then pounded to make cassava bread, “Kalo”, or sliced into chips when fresh, dried and pounded to form cassava flour from which cassava bread is made. Millet bread called “Kwonkal” or “Kwonlango” is also eaten. Cassava is used to make cassava brew, and millet is used to make millet brew called “Kongoting”.
The Langi dress code is similar that of the Iteso with a Masai shuka skirt and scarf, a Lango feather helmet, Lango sandals, a beads belt and beads/animal skin/leather pockets. A full “Lesu” attire is also worn. The Langi also have small wooden stools similar to those of the Karimojong.
The Langi dance is called “Okoce”, a drum dance involving 12 or 16 drums, called “Bul-lango”, drummed by one person. Okoce dance is a celebration dance involving multiple dance movements and singing. The Langi language is called “LebLango” and their animal symbol is a Rhino. Thus the Langi are also called the “Rhino-tribe”.
The Langi are the guardians and custodians of Uganda’s first prime ministerial history and Uganda’s only double presidency. Dr. Apollo Milton Obote, a Langi, was the first Prime minister of Uganda, the 2nd and 7th president of Uganda, and the only president in Uganda to have a double presidency with non-consecutive presidential terms.
The Langi are the guardians and custodians of the World’s first 400m hurdles record which was made by John Akii-Bua, a Langi, during the 1972 Olympics in Munich. John Akii-Bua run the high hurdles in a world record time of 47.82 sec and also won a gold medal in the same race. This gold medal was the first Olympic gold medal in Uganda and Africa’s first in 400m hurdles. No Ugandan has beaten John Akii-Bua’s record to this day.
The Langi are the guardians and custodians of Ngeta Hills, gigantic rock formations located in Lira (Lango region). These hills offer great hiking experiences and wonderful views of the vast plains from the hill top. The Langi are also the guardians of Otuke Hill in Otuke (Lango region), Ibuje Hills in Apac (Lango region), Lake Kwania, and the Northern shores of Lake Kyoga .
The Langi are the 6th largest tribe in Uganda (after Iteso) constituting 6.3% of Uganda’s population. There are 2,131,495 Langi (2014 census) in Uganda. The Langi are mainly found in Apac, Lira, Amolatar, Dokolo, Oyam, Kole, Alebtong, and Otuke districts.
