Sabiny

Sabiny, also known as Sebei, is an ethnic group in eastern Uganda. They are primarily concentrated in the Sebei Sub-region, which includes Kapchorwa and Kween districts, with smaller communities near the border with Kenya. Their language, Sabiny (Kupsabiny), is a Nilotic language belonging to the Kalenjin language group, and many Sabiny people are bilingual in English or Swahili.

Population estimates for the Sabiny vary, but they are generally counted in the hundreds of thousands within Uganda. The community is largely rural and agrarian, with a mixed economy of crop farming and livestock keeping. Common crops include maize, millet, sorghum, beans, and potatoes, supplemented by cattle and goat herding and local trading.

Culturally, the Sabiny have traditional social structures that include clans and elder leadership, and they celebrate various life events and harvests with dances and ceremonies. Traditional dress and beadwork are noted in some communities, though modern clothing is common in urbanized areas. Religion among the Sabiny today is a blend of Christian denominations—predominantly Catholic and Protestant—along with Islam and remnants of traditional beliefs.

Historically, the Sabiny occupy a foothold in the highlands of eastern Uganda and have interacted with neighboring groups such as the Bagisu and other Nilotic communities. In the modern era, they participate in Uganda’s political and administrative systems through district and national representation, while maintaining distinct linguistic and cultural practices.