Uganda My Village

Do you know why Oburunga (Rosary pea) is Abasyaba clan’s totem? Rosary pea or Abrus precatorius is commonly known as jequirity bean, a climbing herbaceous flowering plant in the bean family Fabaceae. As you may know, Abasyaba love/like meat. So, long - long ago, a group of the original basyaba who liked meat so much were hunting and they saw a flowering plant with ‘attractive’ Rosary pea/seeds – oburunga but it was in the middle of a lake.   They were attracted to go for the Rosary pea regardless of the water. In the process,they drowned. Since then, Rosary pea / oburunga became Abasyaba clan’s totem.

The history of establishement of Christianity in Ibanda Sub- Region.   Rev. Can. George Nkoba who researched from UCU Mukono archives dates back to 1899, when Rev.  Apollo Kivebulaya went through Kashangura in Ibanda and planted a memorial tree, as a sign of establishing the Native Anglican Church (ANC).  The first church was later established by Joseph Balikudembe, a Muganda from Salama in Mukono. In 1901, Rev. Herbert Clayton whom the Banyankore called "KIRINTONI" came to Ibanda from the Church Missionary Society (CMS) station in Mbarara and established the main church in Ibanda. Ibanda was the second church station in Ankole sub region after Mbarara.   One of the most prominent Christians to be baptized in 1903 was Julia Kibubura, a former diviner of the King of Ankole. Julia Kibubura and 25 other readers travelled by foot to Mbarara for baptism. The first person to be baptized at Ibanda as per the old age records still kept intact at St. Paul COU...

ABATSYABA CLAN. ORUGANDA RWA MUGARA. The Abatsyaba clan is a very largely  established and one of the sound  clans that dates its existance and roots from a woman who was called NYINARUSYABA. NYINARUSYABA was a daughter to such a rich and wealthy man but had took long and failed to get a suitor.                          Suddenly, she got pregnant to the surprise of many and gave birth to a son called MUGARA. It is alleged that she could not reveal who MUGARA'S father was, which explains the reason why it's one of the few clans without subclans.                         Depending on location,  people who belong to this clan may be called ABACYABA, in Kisoro, Rwanda and Burundi ie among the Baryarwanda, Bafumbira and Barundi. Abatsyaba in Rukungiri, among the Bahororo and Banyankole of Nkole. Among the Bakiga in kabale and Kanungu districts...

Ankore Culture   Deaths The Banyankole did not believe that death was a natural phenomenon.  According to them, death was attributed to sorcery, misfortune and the spite of the neighbors.  They even had a saying: Tihariho mufu atarogyirwe. Meaning; “there is no body that dies without being bewitched”. They found it hard to believe that a man could die if it was not due to witchcraft and malevolence of other persons.  Accordingly, after every death, the persons affected would consult a witch doctor to detect whoever was responsible for causing the death. A dead body would normally stay in the house for as long as it would take all the important relatives to gather. Among the Bairu, a person would be buried either in the compound or in the plantation.  Among the Bahima he would be buried in the kraal. Burial was usually done in the afternoon and the bodies were buried facing the east. A woman was made to lie on her left while a man was made to lie on his righ...

EKITAGURIRO DANCE  This is a dance performed by the Banyankore. The Banyankore are from Ankole land, found in the Western part of Uganda. This originates from the Nkore or Ankole kingdom which is one of the oldest traditional dynasties in Uganda.  Ekitaguriro is a dance performed by both men and women. They use it to tell stories, communicate vital cultural information, good harvests as well as a celebrate fundamental life changes like birth and marriage but mostly to show appreciation for their cows. The men step from one leg to another imitating the back-and-forth movement the cows make when walking and the women spread their hands across and above their heads in the representation of the long-horned cattle and majestically sway from side to side in unison. The dance is performed whilst wearing the Banyankore traditional dancewear known as ‘Bitambi’ or ‘lessu’ (wrapper) which is tied tightly around their waist and another lighter cloth around the shou...

Omusheshe! Many non Banyankore always ask me what the word Omusheshe means. Omusheshe is a name of a tree known as Rhus Natalensis. The tree is a shrub that grows averagely three metres high but can go up to 8 Metres up. Omusheshe tree has many branchlets with small compound leafs with a network venation and small seeds called obukanja edible when ripe. It has a greyish bark that turns whitish when old. Omusheshe tree is a good source of firewood to Banyankore, it's freshly grown small branches make one of the finest toothbrushes of the world. The dry wood from Omusheshe has a pleasant smoke when burnt. It is used to do "Okwitira" amate (the process of adding smoke to milk containers (ebyanzi, ebishabo, ebirere) to bring a pleasant smell onto milk). Leaves are used to cure heartburn (ekyaata) juice made from pounding of it's leaves cures stomachache in humans, deworming (esp hook worms), diarrhea in both humans and livestock esp goats and cows. Leaves, che...

Embiire, enkeiga and entondore Before a lot of genetic mixing came, there were broadly two types of ebitookye in the Kigezi region, namely:enyamwonyo and embiire.  The nyamwonyos were generally for cooking, while the mbiire were for making rwaarwa, tonto or omutahe or the real end product: manyinya--embandure.   There was another subcategory of bananas in between for eminekye--yellow bananas.  These included kabaragara and musa.  In the nyamwonyo category, you had the likes of kibuzigye, enjagata or mbwazirume.  While embiire was generally for alcohol making, there were times when people would be forced to cook embiire.  Normally this would be in times of famine and hunger, like the famous enjara rwaranda rukuura mahega. But embiire could also be cooked out of choice.  The best mbiire meal would be the one of mixing it with enkeiga and young beans known as entondore.. Enkeiga is the equivalent of the French beans--the young shoots that...

These two pictures have really taken back down memory lane in regards to village weddings. Unlike today's ostantatious and high end weddings we witness today. In the late seventies, early 1980's till upto mid 1990's weddings were simple,budget freindly,fun yet not pompous and we enjoyed them to the fullest. For example what you see here is a make shift reception hall "Ekidaara" aka "Ekizaraaza" aka "Ekigango" that hosted the invited guests. A person incharge of decoration only needed toilet papers of different colours by wrapping them around banana stems and poles supporting then the rest was covered with fresh banana leaves.  But at the high table where the Groom and Bride sat women clothing "Gomesis" did the work of decoration,a white table cloth laid on the "high table" with a Pepsi,Mirinda,Vimto and sweepps sodas to give it "colour" and "class!" Youth were mobilised in the village to carr...

Akaro/oburo is one of Nkore's most treasured dishes.  It is believed to be a food that brings strength and was common on the dinner menu ahead of the next day's work. Months through the processes of tilling the ground,planting,weeding ,harvesting and drying the millet,the millet is kept in sacks and huge baskets in granular form.The brown grains are ground to flour by use of a grinding stone (now scarce) 'orubengo' or milling machine.  Prior to milling,the millet is separated as plain millet for flour meant for millet porridge 'obushera',some grains can be soaked in water for days to have them ferment to be ground and used as a sweetener 'amamya' in porridge served as a soft drink 'obushera obuteire/obwamamy' and the rest is mixed with cassava flour for preparing millet bread. The cassava flour helps with softening of the final product.     Once ground,the flour is carefully stored in large baskets and sacks and covered to...

Reasons why you should choose to visit western Uganda ! Okunyuka, a local economic activity of squeezing banana 🍌 juice out of bitter bananas known as Embiire from Musa acumininata species of Musa genus.  The juice is then diluted and filtered using lemon grass (Omuteete) or spear glass (Omushojwa) working as a filter placed in newly emerging banana leaves that are funnel shaped before adding Soghurm (Omugusha) . The solution is then put in a boat shaped wooden trough (Obwaato) buried in the ground (Entabo) to ferment (okuheisa / okutsya ). They burry them in the ground to provide them with heat necessary for Fermentation with the aid of yeast and bacteria Producing fine 🍷 wine known as Tonto sometimes referred to local beer  Tonto just like otherWines gets fine with age. Before Facebook came Tonto was the leading social network that would collect men from all four corners of the world For such experience you can contact Oweitu...

Discover the breathtaking Bihingi Twin Waterfalls, located in Kabegaramire, Kicuzi sub-county, off the Ibanda-Mbarara road. This natural wonder is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Ibanda. What makes Bihingi Twin Waterfalls unique is its two-tiered waterfall system. One side is perfect for kids, while the other offers a bigger volume of water, ideal for adults. Whether you're looking for a fun family outing or an exhilarating adventure, Bihingi Twin Waterfalls has something for everyone. The waterfalls are nestled in a stunning landscape, requiring a hike to reach the top. But the scenic views and serene atmosphere make the journey well worth it. Once you reach the falls, you'll feel relaxed and rejuvenated by the natural beauty surrounding you. On your way back, consider a detour to Ibanda's iconic Hanging Bridge, connecting Nyamirima and Kihani. Located in Nyamirima, just a few kilometers from Ibanda town, this engineerin...

Discover the Hidden Gem of Ibanda: Golden Hotel Tucked away in the heart of Ibanda, Uganda, lies a hospitality treasure waiting to be uncovered – Golden Hotel Ibanda. This charming hotel offers a unique blend of comfort, convenience, and warm hospitality, making it the perfect destination for travelers seeking a tranquil retreat. Unwind in style Golden Hotel Ibanda boasts an array of elegantly designed rooms and suites, each equipped with modern amenities to ensure a relaxing stay. From plush beds to spacious bathrooms, every detail has been carefully considered to provide guests with a home away from home. Savor Local Flavors The hotel's on-site restaurant serves a delightful range of local and international cuisine, using only the freshest ingredients sourced from the surrounding region. From traditional Ugandan dishes to continental favorites, there's something to tantalize every palate. Located in the heart of Ibanda town along the Ibanda-Mbarara roa...

The Tale of Magdalena Kikwangire, Ibanda's Unsung Martyr In a heart-wrenching story of faith, courage, and sacrifice, Magdalena Kikwangire, a devout Christian from Ibanda, Uganda, gave her life rather than surrender her body to a group of men who sought to rape her. This unsung martyr's story serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of faith and the enduring legacy of a life dedicated to God. Early Life and DevotionBorn in 1922, Magdalena was raised in a devout family and demonstrated a profound commitment to her faith from an early age.  She was baptized on November 18, 1922. Her grandfather, Dezide, had migrated from Bunyoro to Ibanda, settling in the area and developing an interest in trading salt. Magdalena's parents, Agostino Kasharura and Kandida Kabajungu, had another daughter named Maria Bagaine.Education and Teaching CareerMagdalena began her educational journey at Ekigango Kyabaronde, located at Ibanda Parish, before proceeding to Nyamitanga in Mb...