The Gwere people, also called Bagwere, are a

Bantu Bantu may refer to: *Bantu languages, constitute the largest sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages *Bantu peoples, over 400 peoples of Africa speaking a Bantu language * Bantu knots, a type of African hairstyle *Black Association for National ...

ethnic group in

Uganda Uganda, officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the ...

. They are among the 65 ethnic societies of Uganda. ''Gwere'' is the root word, and the people are referred to as Bagwere (endonym) or Mugwere (singular). According to the 2002 Census of Uganda, 23.6% of Bagwere are

Roman Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics worldwide as of 2025. It is among the world's oldest and largest international institut ...

, 46.8% are

Anglican Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

(

Church of Uganda The Church of Uganda (C/U) is a member province of the Anglican Communion. Currently, there are 37 dioceses that make up the Church of Uganda, each headed by a bishop. Each diocese is divided into archdeaconries, each headed by a senior priest k ...

), 23.9% are

Muslim Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...

and 3.1% are

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

Location

The Bagwere occupy an area of 2,388.3 km in eastern Uganda, mostly in Budaka District,

Pallisa District Pallisa District is a district in Eastern Uganda which was carved out of Tororo district in 1991. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its main town, Pallisa, where the district headquarters are located. Location Pallisa Distric ...

and

Kibuku District Kibuku District is a Districts of Uganda, district in Eastern Region, Uganda, Eastern Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town', Kibuku, where the district headquarters are located. Location Kibuku District is bordered by Pallisa District to th ...

Butebo District Butebo District is a district in the Eastern Region of Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its chief town, Butebo, where the district headquarters are located. Location Butebo District is bordered to the north by (from ...

, where they make up over 80% of the population. They have the

Bagisu The Gisu people, or ''Bamasaba'' people of Elgon, are a Bantu tribe and Bantu-speaking ethnic group of the Masaba people in eastern Uganda, closely related to the Bukusu people of Kenya. Bamasaba live mainly in the Mbale District of Uganda on t ...

, the

Basoga The Soga (also called Basoga) are a Bantu ethnic group native to the kingdom of Busoga in eastern Uganda. The Basoga live in Uganda's districts of Bugiri, Iganga, Jinja, Kamuli, and Mayuge (formerly known collectively as Busoga) though new distr ...

, the Balamogi and the

Iteso ''ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara'' — distinct from the University of Guadalajara — also known as ''Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente, ITESO'' (Western Institute of Technology and Higher Education), is a ...

, the Banyole and the Jopadhola (Badama) as their neighbors. The city of

Mbale Mbale is a city in the Eastern Region of Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative, and commercial center of Mbale District and the surrounding sub-region. Location Mbale is approximately northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital city, on ...

is home to some Bagwere. Bagwere are also found in the following towns in Eastern Uganda: Pallisa, Budaka,

Kibuku Kibuku is a town in Eastern Uganda. It is the chief municipal, administrative and commercial center of Kibuku District. Location Kibuku is located approximately , by road, west of Mbale, the largest city in the sub-region. This location is appro ...

, Kagumu, Kamonkoli, Kadama, Kabweri, Iki-Iki, Bulangira, Kaderuna, Tirinyi, Butebo and Kakoro. The Bagwere are said to have emigrated to their present area from

Bunyoro Bunyoro, also called Bunyoro-Kitara, is a traditional Bantu kingdom in Western Uganda. It was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Central and East Africa from the 16th century to the 19th century. It is ruled by the King ('' Omukama'') of ...

and

Toro Toro may refer to: Places *Toro, Molise, a ''comune'' in the Province of Campobasso, Italy *Toro, Nigeria, a Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria *Toro, Shizuoka, an archaeological site in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan *Toro, Zamora, a ''m ...

, and travelled along

Lake Kyoga Lake Kyoga or Lake Kioga (literally 'the place of bathing' in Runyoro language) is a large shallow lake in Uganda, about in area and at an elevation of 1,033 metres. The Victoria Nile flows through the lake on its way from Lake Victoria to Lake ...

, crossing

River Mpologoma A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of its course if it run ...

. For this reason all the tribes that settled along the shores Kyoga like; Baluli, Bakenye, Balamogi have a similar language to Lugwere. Their initial area of settlement has shrunk considerably as the Iteso and the Bagisu have pushed the Bagwere's frontiers inwards. The language of the Bagwere is Lugwere

Cultural structure

The Bagwere are one of the 65 indigenous communities in Uganda according to the Third Schedule of Uganda's Constitution ( Uganda's indigenous communities as at 1 February 1926). The Bagwere have many clans originating from different tribes including the following: •Mubbala Kinyu Samuku Balamu Balalaka-Bengoma Clan •Tazenya Henry Kamu Bakomolo-Nkobyokobyo Clan •Kiore George William Bangwere Clan •Kagino Obadia Bakaligwoko-Banamei Clan •Tawonia Wilson Bapalama Clan •Maiso Jonathan Kwiri Badeuke Clan •Mulaiguli J. Samson Bakatikoko-Katikati Clan •Mutono Eriamu Balunde Clan •Wanzige Abel Balocho Clan •Namoni Nathan Balalaka-Bakomba Clan •Kirya Badru Babulanga Clan •Gabbengere Christopher Balemeri (Nkembo) Clan •Mwereza Gastavas Bakabweri Clan •Kirya Geoffrey Bakaligwoko-Bakituti Clan •Wagombolya Amos Banyekero Clan •Gwaku Yeku Esau Badaka Clan •Padere K. Claudius Basobya Clan •Kaali Akabu Bagolya Clan •Mongosi Yokolamu Basikwe Clan •Kanku Francis Bakaligwoko-Bagolo Clan •Wasugirya Fred Bob Baikomba Clan •Kabala Malijani Baganza Clan •Dr. Kiryapawo Tomasi Baloki Clan •Mwanika Kirizanto Banghole Clan •Muwandiki Jamada Balumba Clan •Bulolo Patrick Bakawolya Clan •Kamusaiza Stephen Balalaka-Bayumbu Clan •Waletelerya Abudu Badoba Clan •Mbulambago James Bagema Clan •Nabbola Abimereki Badukulo Clan •Mbulakyalo Alozio Balabya Clan •Tazenya Tomasi Bakatikoko-Bakidi Clan •Muluga John Bosco Baigembe Clan •Musayenka Dominic Bakyesa Clan •Okou Danieri Bakamugewo Clan •Guloba Peter Balefe Clan •Abenga Kamya Abed Bakomolo-Bombo Clan •Hajji Nfunyeku Jafali Balemeri Clan •Kirya Felix William Banongo Clan •Talyankona Yokosani Bawunga Clan •Mukonge Issa Babeera Clan •Seebe Twaha Bakyabulya Clan •Nduga Wilson Banaminto Clan •Kapisa Michael Bakaligwoko-Barweta Clan •Hajji Nabwali Saibu Bafukanyi Clan •Sisye Joram Bakalaga Clan •Gantwase Efulaimu Baluba Clan •Kadugala Isaa Balalaka-Bakidi Clan •Wabwire Lala James Balala Clan •Gole Nicholas Banamwera Clan •Kisense Samuel Bansaka Clan •Ochola Ben Baibere Clan •Wadugu George Baseta Clan •Taaya Peter Bagamole Clan •Mugoda Ahamada Banyolo Clan •Mivule Nimrod Balinda Clan •Sajjabi S. Sulaiman Abengo Clan •Wulira Abudalla Batego Clan •Kasinyire Peter Bamango Clan •Keni Bulasio Basobya Clan •Mbulakyalo Geresom Baumo Clan •Mugoya Samuel Bakoolia Clan •Ntawo Boniface Balomi Clan •Nakibbe Peter Bagoye Clan •Onyait Zerubaberi Bakatikoko-Izima Clan •Mujere Hamuzata Bakambe Clan •Okurut Nikanoli Balalaka-Abanyana Clan •Nabesya Jafali Banswenza Clan •Tudde Abuneri Bakinomo Clan •Napoma Christopher Bamesula Clan •Onepuru Amuza Bangokho Clan •Bonyo Talikula Stephen Bakaduka Clan •Mukidi Moses Banyulya Clan •Wakamba Samwiri Bakone Clan •Wampula Rovers Bakaligwoko-Bayesi Clan •Mudenya Sowali Baerya Clan •Kitebe Twaha Boluko Clan •Ochomo Michael Bakaligwoko-Baseta Clan •Kamiza Abudu Basuswa-Abampiti Clan •Yusufu Sadi Baisanga Clan •Kidimu Bruhan Batenga Clan •Igandi Ben Balemo Clan •Mbulakyalo Alozio Balabya Clan •Wenge Anthony Bayangu Clan All clans of Bagwere are headed by a clan leader or the chief and one of the clan leaders is elected to be the "IKUMBANIA" and 86 Clans leaders of Bugwere subscribed to the Constitution of the "OBWA IKUMBAANIA BWA BUGWERE" of 14 November 2009 and elected the first chief cultural leader of the Bagwere His Highness KINTU SAMUKU BALAMU. Intermarriage among members of the same clan is prohibited, as is the custom in most

cultures. The Bagwere culture has got traditions that include celebration of births, marriages and deaths. Girls may marry as young as fourteen years of age, when they usually are solicited by a boy who is willing to pay a bride-price (cattle) to her parents. Once parents agree, the boy's mother will arrive to pick up the girl and bring her to her husband-to-be. The ceremony involves the ritual washing of the girl's back by her mother-in-law. This ceremony is celebrated with music played on traditional instruments made out of natural substances like lukeme (thumb piano) made from clay.

Education

The Bagwere are few in number but many are very well educated. Over fifty of them hold either PhD's or master's degrees, degrees and diplomas from world-class reputable universities and other universities and institutions. Some notable Bagwere personalities over the years include: * Kirya Balaki Kebba, Minister of State (for Security) Office of the President, NRC Member, Elected Member of Parliament 1962; Appointed Minister without portfolio; Minister of Works 1963; Minister of Mineral and Water. * George Kirya, chairman, Uganda Health Services Commission, former vice chancellor of

Makerere University Makerere University (; Mak) is Uganda's largest and oldest institution of higher learning, first established as a technical school in 1922, and the oldest currently active university in East Africa. It became an independent national university in ...

, and former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom *

William Mukama William Mukama (1951–2002), was a Ugandan businessman, college headmaster and politician. Makama served as a founding member and financial backer of the Ninth October Movement, a Ugandan rebel movement that was created in late 1985 to try and re ...

, teacher and politician * Jennifer Namuyangu, former State Minister for Water Resources (2006–2011) & former MP for Pallisa District Women's Representative (2001–2011) * Jeremiah Twatwa - Physician & politician, the elected Member of Parliament for "Iki-Iki County", Budaka District (2011–2016) * Mulabbi Elliot - Engineer and politician, former district engineer Pallisa and Budaka districts, commissioner MoW eastern region. *Botyo George- Engineer/ construction manager cantilever contractors limited *Sowali Mading Mwanga - Engineer & Aviator, former air traffic controller (ATC) at Entebbe International Airport & one of the former pioneer district engineers for greater Pallisa district and former Budaka district service commission member.

Economic activities

The main economic activity of the Bagwere is subsistence crop agriculture and animal husbandry. To a lesser extent,

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...

fish farming Fish farming or pisciculture involves commercial breeding of fish, most often for food, in fish tanks or artificial enclosures such as fish ponds. It is a particular type of aquaculture, which is the controlled cultivation and harvesting of ...

and

bee keeping Beekeeping (or apiculture, from ) is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in artificial beehives. Honey bees in the genus '' Apis'' are the most commonly kept species but other honey producing bees such as ''Melipona'' stingless bees are also ...

are increasingly practiced in Pallisa District. The major crops include: *

Cassava ''Manihot esculenta'', common name, commonly called cassava, manioc, or yuca (among numerous regional names), is a woody shrub of the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, native to South America, from Brazil, Paraguay and parts of the Andes. Although ...

Millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most millets belong to the tribe Paniceae. Millets are important crops in the Semi-arid climate, ...

Sorghum ''Sorghum bicolor'', commonly called sorghum () and also known as great millet, broomcorn, guinea corn, durra, imphee, jowar, or milo, is a species in the Poaceae, grass genus ''Sorghum (genus), Sorghum'' cultivated for its grain. The grain i ...

Maize Maize (; ''Zea mays''), also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. It was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 9,000 years ago from wild teosinte. Native American ...

* Groundnuts *

Beans A bean is the seed of some plants in the legume family (Fabaceae) used as a vegetable for human consumption or animal feed. The seeds are often preserved through drying (a ''pulse''), but fresh beans are also sold. Dried beans are tradition ...

Peas Pea (''pisum'' in Latin) is a pulse or fodder crop, but the word often refers to the seed or sometimes the pod of this flowering plant species. Peas are eaten as a vegetable. Carl Linnaeus gave the species the scientific name ''Pisum sativum ...

Sweet potatoes The sweet potato or sweetpotato (''Ipomoea batatas'') is a dicotyledonous plant in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Its sizeable, starchy, sweet-tasting tuberous roots are used as a root vegetable, which is a staple food in parts of the ...

Rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

Cotton Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...

Sunflower The common sunflower (''Helianthus annuus'') is a species of large annual forb of the daisy family Asteraceae. The common sunflower is harvested for its edible oily seeds, which are often eaten as a snack food. They are also used in the pr ...

Soybeans The soybean, soy bean, or soya bean (''Glycine max'') is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean. Soy is a staple crop, the world's most grown legume, and an important animal feed. Soy is a key source of f ...

Bananas A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – berry (botany), botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large treelike herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa (genus), Musa''. In some countries, cooking bananas are called pla ...

Matooke Matoke, locally also known as matooke, amatooke in Buganda (Central Uganda), ekitookye in southwestern Uganda, ekitooke in western Uganda, kamatore in Lugisu (Eastern Uganda), ebitooke in northwestern Tanzania, igitoki in Rwanda, Burundi and by th ...

Cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...

goats The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a species of goat-antelope that is mostly kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the famil ...

sheep Sheep (: sheep) or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are a domesticated, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to d ...

poultry Poultry () are domesticated birds kept by humans for the purpose of harvesting animal products such as meat, Eggs as food, eggs or feathers. The practice of animal husbandry, raising poultry is known as poultry farming. These birds are most typ ...

pigs The pig (''Sus domesticus''), also called swine (: swine) or hog, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is named the domestic pig when distinguishing it from other members of the genus '' Sus''. Some authorities cons ...

, are some of the animals raised in the district. The district is further blessed with nine (9) minor lakes that comprise part of the

system. The following are the nine lakes: * Lake Lemwa * Lake Kawi * Lake Nakwa * Lake Meito * Lake Geme * Lake Omunuo * Lake Nyanzala * Lake Nyaguo There are nine (9) stocked fish farms in the district. Fish farming offers a big potential to increase the supply of fish for the population and hence improve on the nutrition of the population. Fish species include: * ''

Carp The term carp (: carp) is a generic common name for numerous species of freshwater fish from the family (biology), family Cyprinidae, a very large clade of ray-finned fish mostly native to Eurasia. While carp are prized game fish, quarries and a ...

'' * ''

Oreochromis niloticus ''Oreochromis'' is a large genus of oreochromine cichlids, fishes endemic to Africa and the Middle East. A few species from this genus have been introduced far outside their native range and are important in aquaculture. Many others have ver ...

'' * ''Clarias spp''.

References

External links