Busoga

Busoga is a cultural region and an ethnolinguistic group in eastern Uganda. The Basoga are a Bantu-speaking people who speak Lusoga and are concentrated in the Busoga subregion, along the eastern shores of Lake Victoria and near the Nile. The Busoga Kingdom is a traditional, largely ceremonial monarchy headed by the Kyabazinga, who is elected from among eleven royal clans. The king’s seat is in Bugembe, a suburb of Jinja, and the kingdom coordinates cultural affairs for Basoga communities across several districts.

Geography and administration: The Busoga area covers parts of eastern Uganda, including districts such as Bugiri, Iganga, Jinja, Mayuge, Kamuli, Buyende, and Luuka. The Basoga maintain a clan-based social structure and a shared linguistic identity through Lusoga.

History: Historically, the Basoga formed a confederation of chiefdoms and princes before and during the colonial era. In modern Uganda, the Busoga Kingdom functions as a cultural institution with limited political authority, while governance and national law are exercised by the Ugandan state.

Economy and culture: Agriculture is the backbone of the Busoga economy, with staples such as matooke (plantains), millet, cassava, bananas, and coffee. The region includes industrial activity around Jinja, including sugar production from Kakira Sugar Works along the Nile. Cultural life centers on Lusoga language, traditional dances, and ceremonies that celebrate Basoga identity.