Bagisu

The Bagisu, also known as the Bamasaba, are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group in eastern Uganda. They inhabit the Bugisu subregion around Mount Elgon, with Mbale as a major urban center. They are one of the region’s largest cultural communities and have a long history of agriculture and trade.

They speak Lugisu, a Bantu language closely related to neighboring tongues. The people are also known as Bagisu or Bamasaba; Lugisu is the language name widely used by speakers.

A defining feature of Bagisu culture is the Imbalu, the public male circumcision initiation rite that marks the transition to manhood. The ceremony is a major cultural festival, featuring dances, songs, and displays of bravery, and it is traditionally held in cycles when youths reach initiation age.

Economy and social organization are centered on agriculture. Staple crops include matoke (banana), millet, maize, and beans; in higher areas, coffee is cultivated for cash income. Markets and trade with neighboring communities contribute to village economies. Clan and family ties shape social life, with customary practices guiding marriage and inheritance.

Religion in Bagisu communities today is predominantly Christian (Catholic and Protestant), a legacy of missionary work, though many rural areas retain elements of traditional belief and ritual.

Historically, the Bagisu are part of Uganda’s eastern Bantu-speaking population and have interacted with neighboring groups such as the Sebei and Sabiny to the north. Their distinct language, rites, and agricultural traditions continue to define Bugisu cultural identity.