Bakiga

The Bakiga are a Bantu-speaking ethnic group in the Kigezi sub-region of southwestern Uganda, mainly in the districts of Kabale, Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kanungu. They constitute one of the region’s largest communities and also have populations in neighboring districts and across the border in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Language and identity: The Bakiga speak Rukiga, a Bantu language closely related to Runyankore; together with adjacent groups they form part of the Runyankole–Rukiga language area. In daily life many Bakiga are multilingual, using English in education and administration and Luganda or other regional languages in informal settings.

History and society: Traditionally, Bakiga communities were organized around kinship groups and clans. They have long been farmers, cultivating bananas (matooke), maize, beans, and coffee on the highland hills. Social life historically revolved around extended families, village elders, and customary rites; contact with Christian missions and colonial administration brought changes to governance, schooling, and land tenure.

Culture and economy: Cultural practices include ceremonies, cuisine centered on matooke, music and dance, and crafts. The terraced landscape shaped agricultural practices and settlement patterns. Education and migration have increased mobility, contributing to urbanization and to Ugandan and international diaspora communities.

Today: The Bakiga remain a prominent community in southwestern Uganda, with ongoing efforts to preserve language and culture while engaging in national development, politics, and economic life.