Gwere people

Last updated
Bagwere
Group of Bagwere.JPG
Total population
621,150 (2014 Census) [1] [2]
Regions with significant populations
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
Languages
Lugwere, English
Religion
Christianity, African Traditional Religion, Islam [3]
Related ethnic groups
Basoga, Baganda and other Bantu peoples

The Gwere people, also called Bagwere, [4] are a Bantu ethnic group in Uganda. They are among the 65 ethnic societies of Uganda. Gwere is the root word, and the people are referred to as Bagwere (endonym) or Mugwere (singular). [5] According to the 2002 Census of Uganda, 23.6% of Bagwere are Roman Catholic, 46.8% are Anglican (Church of Uganda), 23.9% are Muslim and 3.1% are Pentecostal. [3]

Contents

Location

The Bagwere occupy an area of 2,388.3 km in eastern Uganda, mostly in Budaka District, Pallisa District and Kibuku District, Butebo District, [5] where they make up over 80% of the population. They have the Bagisu, the Basoga, the Balamogi and the Iteso, the Banyole and the Jopadhola (Badama) as their neighbors. The city of Mbale is home to some Bagwere. Bagwere are also found in the following towns in Eastern Uganda: Pallisa, Budaka, Kibuku, Kagumu, Kamonkoli, Kadama, Kabweri, Iki-Iki, Bulangira, Kaderuna, Tirinyi, Butebo and Kakoro. [6]

The Bagwere are said to have emigrated to their present area from Bunyoro and Toro, and travelled along Lake Kyoga, crossing River Mpologoma. For this reason all the tribes that settled along the shores Kyoga like; Baluli, Bakenye, Balamogi have a similar language to Lugwere. Their initial area of settlement has shrunk considerably as the Iteso and the Bagisu have pushed the Bagwere's frontiers inwards. [7]

The language of the Bagwere is Lugwere [8]

Cultural structure

The Bagwere are one of the 65 indigenous communities in Uganda according to the Third Schedule of Uganda's Constitution (Uganda's indigenous communities as at 1 February 1926).

The Bagwere [9] have many clans originating from different tribes including the following:

•Mubbala Kinyu Samuku Balamu Balalaka-Bengoma Clan •Tazenya Henry Kamu Bakomolo-Nkobyokobyo Clan •Kiore George William Bangwere Clan •Kagino Obadia Bakaligwoko-Banamei Clan •Tawonia Wilson Bapalama Clan •Maiso Jonathan Kwiri Badeuke Clan •Mulaiguli J. Samson Bakatikoko-Katikati Clan •Mutono Eriamu Balunde Clan •Wanzige Abel Balocho Clan •Namoni Nathan Balalaka-Bakomba Clan •Kirya Badru Babulanga Clan •Gabbengere Christopher Balemeri (Nkembo) Clan •Mwereza Gastavas Bakabweri Clan •Kirya Geoffrey Bakaligwoko-Bakituti Clan •Wagombolya Amos Banyekero Clan •Gwaku Yeku Esau Badaka Clan •Padere K. Claudius Basobya Clan •Kaali Akabu Bagolya Clan •Mongosi Yokolamu Basikwe Clan •Kanku Francis Bakaligwoko-Bagolo Clan •Wasugirya Fred Bob Baikomba Clan •Kabala Malijani Baganza Clan •Dr. Kiryapawo Tomasi Baloki Clan •Mwanika Kirizanto Banghole Clan •Muwandiki Jamada Balumba Clan •Bulolo Patrick Bakawolya Clan •Kamusaiza Stephen Balalaka-Bayumbu Clan •Waletelerya Abudu Badoba Clan •Mbulambago James Bagema Clan •Nabbola Abimereki Badukulo Clan •Mbulakyalo Alozio Balabya Clan •Tazenya Tomasi Bakatikoko-Bakidi Clan •Muluga John Bosco Baigembe Clan •Musayenka Dominic Bakyesa Clan •Okou Danieri Bakamugewo Clan •Guloba Peter Balefe Clan •Abenga Kamya Abed Bakomolo-Bombo Clan •Hajji Nfunyeku Jafali Balemeri Clan •Kirya Felix William Banongo Clan •Talyankona Yokosani Bawunga Clan •Mukonge Issa Babeera Clan •Seebe Twaha Bakyabulya Clan •Nduga Wilson Banaminto Clan •Kapisa Michael Bakaligwoko-Barweta Clan •Hajji Nabwali Saibu Bafukanyi Clan •Sisye Joram Bakalaga Clan •Gantwase Efulaimu Baluba Clan •Kadugala Isaa Balalaka-Bakidi Clan •Wabwire Lala James Balala Clan •Gole Nicholas Banamwera Clan •Kisense Samuel Bansaka Clan •Ochola Ben Baibere Clan •Wadugu George Baseta Clan •Taaya Peter Bagamole Clan •Mugoda Ahamada Banyolo Clan •Mivule Nimrod Balinda Clan •Sajjabi S. Sulaiman Abengo Clan •Wulira Abudalla Batego Clan •Kasinyire Peter Bamango Clan •Keni Bulasio Basobya Clan •Mbulakyalo Geresom Baumo Clan •Mugoya Samuel Bakoolia Clan •Ntawo Boniface Balomi Clan •Nakibbe Peter Bagoye Clan •Onyait Zerubaberi Bakatikoko-Izima Clan •Mujere Hamuzata Bakambe Clan •Okurut Nikanoli Balalaka-Abanyana Clan •Nabesya Jafali Banswenza Clan •Tudde Abuneri Bakinomo Clan •Napoma Christopher Bamesula Clan •Onepuru Amuza Bangokho Clan •Bonyo Talikula Stephen Bakaduka Clan •Mukidi Moses Banyulya Clan •Wakamba Samwiri Bakone Clan •Wampula Rovers Bakaligwoko-Bayesi Clan •Mudenya Sowali Baerya Clan •Kitebe Twaha Boluko Clan •Ochomo Michael Bakaligwoko-Baseta Clan •Kamiza Abudu Basuswa-Abampiti Clan •Yusufu Sadi Baisanga Clan •Kidimu Bruhan Batenga Clan •Igandi Ben Balemo Clan •Mbulakyalo Alozio Balabya Clan •Wenge Anthony Bayangu Clan

All clans of Bagwere are headed by a clan leader or the chief and one of the clan leaders is elected to be the "IKUMBANIA" and 86 Clans leaders of Bugwere subscribed to the Constitution of the "OBWA IKUMBAANIA BWA BUGWERE" of 14 November 2009 and elected the first chief cultural leader of the Bagwere His Highness KINTU SAMUKU BALAMU.

Intermarriage among members of the same clan is prohibited, as is the custom in most Bantu cultures. [10] [6]

The Bagwere culture has got traditions that include celebration of births, marriages and deaths. Girls may marry as young as fourteen years of age, when they usually are solicited by a boy who is willing to pay a bride-price (cattle) to her parents. Once parents agree, the boy's mother will arrive to pick up the girl and bring her to her husband-to-be. The ceremony involves the ritual washing of the girl's back by her mother-in-law. This ceremony is celebrated with music played on traditional instruments made out of natural substances like lukeme (thumb piano) made from clay. [11] [12]

Education

The Bagwere are few in number but many are very well educated. Over fifty of them hold either PhD's or master's degrees, degrees and diplomas from world-class reputable universities and other universities and institutions. Some notable Bagwere personalities over the years include: [13] [14]

Economic activities

The main economic activity of the Bagwere is subsistence crop agriculture and animal husbandry. To a lesser extent, fishing, fish farming and bee keeping are increasingly practiced in Pallisa District. [15] The major crops include: [16]

Cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, pigs, are some of the animals raised in the district. The district is further blessed with nine (9) minor lakes that comprise part of the Lake Kyoga system. The following are the nine lakes:

There are nine (9) stocked fish farms in the district. Fish farming offers a big potential to increase the supply of fish for the population and hence improve on the nutrition of the population. Fish species include:

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbale District</span> District in Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Mbale District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after the largest city in the district, Mbale, which also serves as the main administrative and commercial center in the sub-region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pallisa District</span> District in Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Pallisa District is a district in Eastern Uganda which was carved out of Tororo district in 1991. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its main town, Pallisa, where the district headquarters are located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teso people</span> Nilotic ethnic group native to eastern Uganda and western Kenya

The Iteso are a Nilotic ethnic group in eastern Uganda and western Kenya. Teso refers to the traditional homeland of the Iteso, and Ateso is their language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gisu people</span> Tribe of people in eastern Uganda

The Gisu people, or Bamasaba people of Elgon, are a Bantu tribe and Bantu-speaking ethnic group of the Masaba people in eastern Uganda, closely related to the Bukusu people of Kenya. Bamasaba live mainly in the Mbale District of Uganda on the slopes of Mount Elgon. The Bagisu are estimated to be about 1,646,904 people making up 4.9% of the total population according to the 2014 National Census of Uganda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budaka, Uganda</span> Ugandan town

Budaka is a town in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the chief town of Budaka District, and the district headquarters are located there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budaka District</span> District in Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Budaka District is a district in the Eastern Region of Uganda. The town of Budaka serves as the district headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butaleja District</span> District in Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Butaleja District is a district in Eastern Uganda. It is named after its main town, Butaleja, where the district headquarters are located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khayo</span>

The Khayo is a sub tribe of the Luhya people of Kenya. They reside in Busia County, by the Kenya-Uganda border. Their Luhya neighbors are the Samia, Marachi, Wanga and Bukusu. The Bakhayo border the Bukusu on the East, the Republic of Uganda and Samias on the West, the Marachi on the South and the Wanga on the South East. On their north, they are bordered by the Iteso, a non-Luhya Nilotic people of Kenya.

Kibuku is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the chief municipal, administrative and commercial center of Kibuku District.

Buruuli (place) is a general term used to refer to the area where the Baruuli live. It is located in the district of Nakasongola, as well as in Bugerere Kayunga District. The Baruuli speak the Ruruuli language, a Bantu language closely related to Lunyala, a language spoken by the Banyala of Kayunga District. The Baruuli are ruled and governed by Ssabaluuli Mwogezi, who was crowned as their Kabaka by the president of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samia tribe</span> Kenyan and Ugandan tribe

Samia speaking people live in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda. They are composed of several clans and their ancient economic activities include fishing in Lake Victoria and other rivers such as River Sio, crop farming (obulimi), and animal farming (obutuki). The Samia speaking people, as widely known by other tribes, predominantly live in Busia districts and speak a dialect similar to the Luhya tribe in Kenya. However, on the Ugandan side there is a slight variation in the dialect spoken by the Samia of Southern Busia on the fringe of Lake Victoria and those of North Busia district closer to Tororo District. The former speak Olusamia while the latter speak Olugwe. The two dialects are difficult to differentiate by non Samia speaking people but easily discernible by the natives. and in Uganda mainly found inbusia and Namayingo district.

Fishing sites and villages/communities in Uganda are mostly on islands and at landing sites. These act as central points for fish trade and fishing.

The Baruuli or Baluuli, are a Bantu ethnic group native to Bunyoro-Kitara, a subnational kingdom within Uganda. They stay in an area called Buruuli. They share a common ancestry with the Banyala.


The Basimba are a Bantu-speaking community in Uganda. The name Basimba is a label of shared identity that predates the 13th century. Basimba has been alternatively associated with the people or their place of origin. The early Ovambo people applied the name to the whole group of the leopard totem clan, known as Bena Ngo in Zambia and Abe Ngo in Uganda.

Kirya Balaki Kebba the ex-rebel leader now-defunct rebel Uganda Freedom Movement who was kidnapped by security agents from Jamuhuri estate in Nairobi while in exile in the Republic of Kenya and brought back to Uganda. Kirya Balaki Kebba was acquitted of Treason charges in 1983 but was detained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butebo District</span> District in Eastern Uganda, Uganda

Butebo District is a district in the Eastern Region of Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its chief town, Butebo, where the district headquarters are located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukedi District</span> Former district in Eastern, Uganda

Bukedi District was a subdivision of the Eastern Province of the Uganda Protectorate, with headquarters in Mbale. In the early 1920s Bukedi was divided into the Budama, Bugisu and Bugwere districts. These were recombined into Mbale District during World War II (1939–1945), then split in 1954 into a new, smaller Bukedi District to the west and Bugisu District to the east, sharing Mbale Township as their administrative headquarters. In 1968 the administrative headquarters of Bukedi District were moved to Tororo. Later Bukedi District was split up into a number of smaller districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banyole</span> Ethnic group

The Banyole or Banyuli are a Bantu ethnic group of Uganda that live mainly in Butaleja District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda</span> Non-governmental conservation organization based in Uganda

The Environmental Conservation Trust of Uganda (ECOTRUST) is a Uganda based not-for- profit and non-governmental organization. It is a conservation organization whose aim is to conserve and improve biological diversity and social welfare through sustainable environmental management. ECOTRUST works on a principle of delivering conservation funds and finances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bakenyi</span>

Bakenyi tribe are a Bantu speaking ethnic group of people Uganda. they are believed to have migrated from Buganda central region eastwards to settle in the eastern parts of Uganda around Lake Kyoga basin in the Buyende district. The Bakenyi tribe speak the language called "Lukenyi".

References

  1. ↑ Uganda Bureau of Statistics. "National Population and Housing Census 2014 - Main Report" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Uganda". World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples.
  3. 1 2 "Population Composition" (PDF). ubos.org. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Essays on Music and History in Africa, Northwestern University Press, 1971, p. 109, ISBN   9780810103337
  5. 1 2 Isabirye, James (2020). "Namadu Drum Music and Dance as Mediation of Healing Rituals among the Bagwere People of Uganda". Journal of Music Research in Africa. 17 (1): 47 – via Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
  6. 1 2 "Bagwere People and their Culture" . Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  7. ↑ "THE BAGWERE | Uganda Travel Guide" . Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  8. ↑ "Bagwere People and their Culture in Uganda". Go Visit Kenya. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  9. ↑ A History of African Motherhood: The Case of Uganda, 700-1900. Cambridge University Press. 2013. p. 163.
  10. ↑ Intermarriage within Any Clan is Prohibited
  11. ↑ "AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Bagwere people". www.101lasttribes.com. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  12. ↑ "THE BAGWERE | Uganda Travel Guide". 2014-08-06. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  13. ↑ "Bugwere sets send-off date for Ikumbania". Daily Monitor. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  14. ↑ "Life and times of fallen Bagwere cultural leader". Daily Monitor. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  15. ↑ Economic Activities in Pallisa District
  16. ↑ "AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes - Bagwere people". www.101lasttribes.com. Retrieved 2024-01-23.

The Luapula Peoples of Northern Rhodesia: Custom and History in ...

Ian George Cunnison - 1959 - Bwili The Leopard and Goat clans are paired because leopards eat goats. ... personal prefix as in MuShimba, BaShimba, a Leopard clansman, and Leopard Clan.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.