Among the forty-three ethnic groups in Uganda, Ganda are the largest one. Baganda, or Waganda are two different names given to Ganda. These people speak a language popularly known as Ganda or Luganda, which simply means the “Language of Ganda People.” Primarily Luganda is the trade language across central, southern and eastern regions of Uganda. European missionaries first wrote this language and its pronunciation pattern is quite similar to that of an Italian.
The territory of Ganda people is most fertile and productive in Uganda. Half of the Ganda over ten years old are illiterate and data shows that only ten percent of these people have post-primary education.
Originally, the Ganda are from Central Africa and a part of the Bantu people. By 1858 they had developed a complex system of central government, army, court taxation and custom regulations. Their administrative hierarchy and political system centered on the institution and person of the Kabaka, or king. They also ranked Kabaka as the high priest and the supreme judge of the land. Kabaka dominated the village economic system through land allocation. Ganda were the first in the region to be influenced by British and in that way they achieved more power and a good status in the politics of Uganda Protectorate.
The traditional Ganda are known as hoe cultivators. Their main exports are coffee and tea. They are known to be good at keeping sheep, goats, chickens and cattle.
Anglicanism, Catholicism and Islam heavily influenced the Ganda tribe. While people claim one religion, they often participate in the all of the religions. For example, Catholic rites and practices may be done as well as traditional religious rituals. Twenty percent of the population are Muslim. In the late 1800s, Swahili and Arab traders introduced Islam.
1)“Ganda” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. http://search.eb.com/bol/topic?idxref=214555
2) The Ganda of Uganda http://calebproject.org/obj16.htm
Written by- Diwas Neupane