CULTURE
Uganda enjoys a rich cultural heritage stemming from the country’s ethnic diversity.
Uganda is country with a pronounced pluralistic society. Deep-rooted demarcations
permeate the fabric of society in population structures and locations, languages,economic activities and religious beliefs and so on. As a result of colonial rule, new
religions, modernization, and education cultural practices have undergone some
changes, and adherence to tradition is not as strong as it once was. However,
traditions in marriage, dress, and diet still hold. Settlement is generally dispersed.
Language Structure
More than forty languages are spoken in Uganda
may be classified into four major language groupings: Bantu, Nilotic (western
Nilotes), Nilo-Hamitic (eastern Nilotes), and Sudanic. There are differences within
each group. The Bantu groups occupy most of the southern half of Uganda. The
Nilotic (Luo) speaking groups occupy the central section of northern Uganda, while
the Nilo-Hamites live in the northeast and the Sudanic in the northwest.
The Bantu tribes comprise: Bafumbira, Baganda, Bagisu, Bagwe, Bagwere, Bakenyi,
Bakiga, Bakonjo, Bamba, Banyankole, Banyarwanda, Banyoro, Banyuli, Basoga,
Batoro, Batwa, and Samia.
The Nilotics comprise: Acholi, Alur, Jonam, Langi, Luo, and Padhola.
The Nilo-Hamites comprise the Iteso, Kakwa, Karimajong, Kumam, Labwor, Sebei
Pokot (Suk), and Tapeth.
The Lendu, Lugbara and Madi make up the Sudanic group.
The official language in Uganda is English. Swahili is spoken and understood by
some but has not been accepted as the lingua franca.
Religion
The major religions in Uganda are Christianity, to which about 85% of the people
nominally belong, and Islam, of which 11% are followers. Those who do not fall
within these two broad categories practise either the traditional (animist) religions or
are atheists.