By Lokanath Mishra, MA, LLB, IRS ( retired)
Uganda, a landlocked country in East Africa, is a treasure trove of natural beauty, rich culture, and resilient people. Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda boasts breathtaking landscapes, from the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains to the vast savannas teeming with wildlife. The country’s diverse culture is reflected in its 56 tribes, each with their own language, customs, and traditions. The Baganda, Basoga, and Bakiga are some of the largest tribes, each contributing to the country’s vibrant cultural heritage.
Uganda is home to incredible wildlife, including the majestic mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and lions. The famous Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest are just a few of the many attractions that draw tourists and adventure-seekers.
Despite facing challenges like poverty and political instability, Uganda has made significant strides in recent years. The country has invested in education, healthcare, and infrastructure, leading to improved living standards and economic growth.
Uganda’s warm and welcoming people, stunning natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage make it a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. From the bustling streets of Kampala to the serene shores of Lake Victoria, Uganda is a true African treasure.
Uganda’s history includes a period of British rule, several coups, and a brutal military dictatorship, before the current president, Yoweri Museveni, came to power in 1986:
In 1894, Uganda became a British protectorate. In 1962, Uganda gained independence from Britain and Milton Obote became the first prime minister.
In 1966, a significant conflict occurred between Uganda and the Buganda kingdom. In 1971, Idi Amin overthrew Milton Obote and ruled Uganda for eight years. Amin’s rule was characterized by mass killings and economic decline. In 1979, Amin was ousted as a result of the Uganda-Tanzania war. After Amin’s fall, a series of other leaders came to power before Yoweri Museveni became president in 1986. Since Museveni’s rise to power, Uganda has also contended with a 20-year insurgency in the north led by the Lord’s Resistance Army.
Uganda is a presidential republic with a multi-party system. The government is divided into three branches : 1. Executive: The President is the head of state and government, and is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The President appoints a Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2. Legislative: The unicameral Parliament is composed of members elected by popular vote for five-year terms. 3. Judicial: The Supreme Court is the highest court, followed by the Court of Appeal and High Court.
However, Uganda has been criticized for its authoritarian tendencies and human rights abuses under the long-time rule of President Yoweri Museveni.
Hinduism in Uganda :
Hinduism in Uganda arrived when the colonial British Empire brought Hindus along with other Indian workers to its East African colonies in late 19th and early 20th centuries. The largest arrival of Hindu immigrants to Uganda, some educated and skilled but mostly poor and struggling from the famine-prone areas of Punjab and Gujarat, was to help construct the Kenya-Uganda Railway connecting landlocked parts of Uganda and Kenya with the port city of Mombasa. The largest departure of Hindus from Uganda occurred when General Idi Amin expelled them and seized their properties in 1972. In addition to building major infrastructure projects, Hindus were a part of a global movement of workers to parts of British East Africa, aimed at helping the British government to establish services, retail markets and administrative support. The British invited Indian laborers as local skilled labor was unavailable. At the peak of the infrastructure projects in Uganda-Kenya, 32,000 people were brought in from India. Nearly 2,500 workers died because of difficult and unsafe working conditions during these projects. After the project ended, nearly 70% of the workers returned to India, while some 6,000 were absorbed in railway and other British operations such as retail and administration. Those who remained included Hindus, Muslims, Jains and Sikhs. Many from this ethnic group became financially successful. There were about 355,497 (0.93%) Hindus in Uganda in 2015 .
After colonialism ended, Hindus (along with Jains and Sikhs) were discriminated against in East Africa including Uganda. This was a part of the policies of various East African governments in their promotion of Africanization based on laws and policies under which commercial and professional sectors of the economy had to be owned by indigenous Africans. The Hindus, along with Jains, Sikhs, Jews and other religious groups, were affected during this period of xenophobic targeting of Asians and Europeans by African leaders.
When General Idi Amin came to power by overthrowing an elected government in Uganda, he adopted a policy of religious and ethnic cleansing against people of Asian religions. Himself a Muslim, he announced that he had a dream, where “Allah told him that the Asians, exploiters who did not want to integrate with the Africans, had to go”. In 1972, he selectively expelled the Hindus along with other Asians from Uganda, and seized their properties. Most of those expelled were second or third generation Hindus, many with dual Ugandan and British citizenship. While he expelled Hindus and people of other religions with origins in India, Idi Amin did not expel Christians of British or French origins living in Uganda. The expelled Hindus mass migrated to other countries during this period, particularly the United Kingdom (28,000 refugees ) India (15,000 refugees), Canada (8,000 refugees), the United States (1,500 refugees) and in smaller numbers to other countries such as Australia. The expulsion removed most of Uganda’s “industrialists, traders, artisans and civil servants”, states Christopher Senyonjo, and their properties were re-allocated to civilians and Ugandan Army officials who supported Idi Amin. Uganda faced a shortage of skilled professionals such as doctors, bankers, nurses and teachers. It triggered a financial crisis and a collapse of businesses, including cement and sugar production, causing long-term economic devastation in Uganda. Twenty years after the Idi Amin expulsion, Uganda reversed its laws selectively targeting Hindus and other Indian religions. This policy, offered in cooperation with the World Bank, included a return of properties seized by Idi Amin’s government, such as empty and unused factories, back to the families if they returned and recreated employment.
Hindus are a tiny minority in the total Ugandan population of about 27 million. The official demographics lists Christians and Muslims separately, but includes Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and traditional African religions as others. Approximately 65% of the South Asians living in Uganda are Hindus.
The main religions in Uganda are:
- Christianity (around 85% of the population)
- Islam (around 14% of the population)
- Traditional African religions and other beliefs including Hindus around 1%.
In Uganda, marriage customs vary depending on the tribe and region. Here are some common practices: - Kwanjula (Introduction): A pre-wedding ceremony where the groom’s family introduces themselves to the bride’s family, asking for her hand in marriage.
- Kukyala (Dowry payment): The groom pays a dowry, usually in the form of money, cattle, or goods, to the bride’s family.
- Traditional wedding: A ceremony where the couple is blessed by elders and leaders, often involving music, dance, and feasting.
- Church wedding: A Christian wedding ceremony, common in Uganda, where the couple exchanges vows and rings.
- Polygamy: Allowed in some cultures, where a man can marry multiple wives.
- Clan compatibility: In some tribes, marriage is only allowed between specific clans or families.
- Banyakole Tribe : In the Banyakole tribe of Uganda, there is a unique tradition called “Omukago” or “Kukagara”. This involves a pre-marital sex test between the groom and with all the bride’s aunts both maternal and the paternal aunts. If the bride is not having any auntie, then sisters in law or elder sisters or wives of uncles ( maternal) of the bride are to be selected for the sex test. The purpose is to ensure the couple’s compatibility and fertility.
Here’s how it works:
. At least minimum four ladies are to be selected for testing. For maximum there is no limit.
- The selected aunts/ sisters in law / elder sisters are usually young and married women and are willing to sex with the groom.
- The sex with groom is to be done in well in advance by all the selected aunties/ sisters in law/ elder sisters much before the day of marriage ceremony.
- The selected women, then reports back to the family on the groom’s performance and fertility.
- If the groom passes, the marriage proceeds.
Nowadays throughout Uganda the marriage ceremony, involves testing the husband’s bed antics and potency.
The bride’s aunts/ sisters in law/ sisters will have a sex session with the husband to check how good he is and if he is a type of man who will give their girl children.
This is to make sure they are potent.
The selected women make sure to check how the man’s pipi works down there, and they report to the elders, whether he is a good man or not. During thy act with the man, the selected women note down his sex sweetness.
They try all his favorite styles so bride can take a good note of everything about him.
After these the selected women call the girl and explain to her how her husband behaves in bed and the styles he likes. They then teach her. After confirmation is done the marriage is allowed.
Marriage in Uganda is of great importance as parents derive joy and pride from their children’s marriage.
According to the Ugandan tradition, when a girl gets to the age of eight or nine, it is the duty of her aunt to groom her for family life.
Virginity in this culture is held in high esteem so the girls must abstain from premarital s€x.
The Tribes of Uganda consider the slim physique unattractive. To them, fat is simply sexy. So when girls get to the ages eight and nine, they are required to go through a fattening process. This is usually done to speed up the weight gain of the girls so they can attract a husband. Though the Banyakole marriage practice is unique , however it has been widespread in Uganda and now days all the tribal communities are following the same tradition/ practice . - Now all people of Uganda ( including Christians and Muslims ) except Hindus are following this tradition/ practice.
Interestingly, Modernization and Christianity have also led to an incline in this practice. Thus the above marriage traditions / practices at present are to be considered as representative of the entire tribe or region of Uganda 🇺🇬
At present all tribes in Uganda have taken aunties meddling in a couple’s marriage to another level.
Virginity is highly respected in the entire Ugandan. Since, the bride must be a virgin, the groom must also be great in bed.
At the age of eight, the aunt begins to groom the young girl for marriage. Once she develops breasts, she ought not to have sex. A bride who is not a virgin is considered of less value and suffers social exclusion or even the death penalty.
The tribes of Uganda consider fatness to be a sign of attractiveness. Young girls are kept indoors and fed non vegetarian meals , millet porridge and a lot of milk to make them fat. All the brother in laws of the groom are to certify the virgin test of the bride. The brothers in law are also asked to “test” to see if the bride is still virgin or otherwise.
After the marriage, the selected women will even observe or listen in while the bride and groom engage in sexual activity to help the couple improve their sex life.
Although this archaic custom may seem strange, it demonstrates how the tribal people, value virginity.