 People and Culture:
Uganda is a study in cultural diversity. To talk about one Ugandan
culture is therefore wrong. Uganda has diverse cultural groups speaking
over thirty different languages. The people can be classified into the
following broad categories, the Bantu, the Nilotics, the Madi-Okoru or
the Sudanic speaking and the Pygmoid people.
The Bantu:
The Bantu who constitute more than 50% of Uganda's total population
occupy the southern part of the country. The Bantu were the earliest
group to come to Uganda. They comprise the Baganda, Banyoro, Basoga,
Bagishu, Banyankore, Bakiga, Batooro, Bakonjo, Bamba, Batwa, Bagishu,
Basamia-Bagwe, Bakenyi, Baruli and the Banyole. They are found in the
east, central, western and southern parts of the country.
Nilo Hamites/Atekerin:
The second group is the category of people called the Atekerin group.
The group is sometimes known as the Nilo-Hamites, Para Nilotes or the
Lango. They live in the north, east and northeastern parts of the
country. The group constitutes the Langi, Iteso, Kumam, Kakwa and the
Karimojong.
This group traces its origins to Ethiopia where they are said to have
been one people. Migration pressures made them settle in different
parts of Uganda, which led to marked differences between them. For
instance the Langi lost their Ateker language and took up Luo spoken by
their Acholi neighbours. The Sebei constitute the Highland Nilotes.
The Luo:
The Luo constitute the other nilotic group. This group originated from
southern Sudan. They live in West Nile, the northern and eastern parts
of the country. The Acholi, Alur, Jonam and the Jophadola are part of
this group. The Basamia who have sometimes been linked with the Kenya
Luo are basically Bantu.
The Sudanic People:
The Sudanic speakers of West Nile form another group. The Lugbara,
Madi, Okebu, Bari and Metu are counted among this group. They are
sometimes referred to as the Madi-Moru group. Their origin can be
traced to Sudan. Their language and culture are completely detached
from their places of origin. This group is dominated by the Lugbara.
This is because Lugbara was used by the colonial administration as the
medium of instruction.
The Pygmoid People:
These are closest surviving relatives of the stone Age Man. They
Constitute the Batwa and the Bambuti who live in western Uganda
bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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