Gwere people
The Gwere people, or Bagwere, are a Bantu ethnic group in Uganda. The Bagwere constitute an estimated 4% of Uganda's population.
Contents |
[edit] Location
They live in the eastern Uganda, mostly in Budaka District, Pallisa District and Kibuku District, where they make up over 80% of the population. They have the Bagisu, the Basoga, the Balamogi and the Iteso, the Banyole and the Jopadhola (Badama) as their neighbors. The city of Mbale, one time reputed to be the cleanest city in Uganda is home to some Bagwere. Bagwere are also found in the following towns in Eastern Uganda: Pallisa, Budaka, Kibuku, Kagumu, Kamonkoli, Kadama, Iki-Iki, Bulangira, Kaderuna, Tirinyi, Butebo and Kakoro.
The Bagwere are said to have emigrated to their present area from Bunyoro and Toro, and travelled along Lake Kyoga, crossing River Mpologoma. 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.
[edit] Language
The language of the Bagwere is Lugwere. It widely spoken in Pallisa District and in Pallisa town. The language is very similar to Lunyole and to Lusamia.
[edit] Cultural structure
The Bagwere have many clans including the following:
- Bagema Clan
- Baloki Clan
- Balalaka Clan
- Baikomba Clan
- Bakomolo Clan
- Balangira Clan
- Baganza Clan
- Badaka Clan
- Baumo Clan
- Banaminto Clan
- Bapalama Clan
- Banyekero Clan
- Batoloyi Clan
- Bambirwe Clan
Intermarriage among members of the same clan is prohibited, as is the custom in most Bantu cultures.[1]
[edit] Music
Their traditional music is called Tongoli, a five stringed hand held instrument, modeled along a one string instrument elsewhere in Africa known as the Kora. The Bagwere are also identified with Namadu, a set of seven (7) drums as one of the famous traditional musical instruments.
[edit] Education
The Bagwere are very proud of their heritage especially as they are few in number but are very well educated. Over fifty (50) of them hold either PhD or Masters degrees from world class reputable universities. Their most prominent son is the late Balaki Kebba Kirya, one of the founding members of Independent Uganda who died in 1994. Some notable Bagwere personalities over the years include:
- Gwanyi
- Yoswa Kirya
- Kabazi
- Kageni
- Isaac Kichodo
- Professor Jovan Kiryabwire R.I.P., Africa's first black neurosurgeon
- Colonel Paul Babula, an Israeli-trained Mig Fighter Pilot. He also served as the presidential pilot for the following Ugandan presidents: Idi Amin, Godfrey Binaisa, Obote II, Tito Okello and Yoweri Museveni
- Ambassador Edward M K Wakida, one time Vice President of ICAO in Montreal, Canada
- Philip Wabulya, Director and Head Treasury & Global Markets, Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited
- Engineer Albert Dihson Rafiki Muloiti Director of Multiplan Consulting Engineers
- Engineer Johnathan Mwedde
- Professor George Kirya, Chairman, Uganda Health Services Commission, former Vice Chancellor Makerere University and former High Commissioner to UK
- Engineer Kabanda, once a principal private secretary to the President of Uganda
- Justice Geoffrey Kiryabwire, the youngest judge of the High Court of Uganda
- Ambassador Dr. Tomasi Sisye Kiryapawo, former High Commissioner to the UK. Currently, a member of Uganda's Electoral Commission.
- Professor Ruth Mukama
- Ambassador Mr. Taliwaku R.I.P
- Ambassador Mrs. Taliwaku
- William Mukama, the renowned teacher and politician
- Professor Phillip Wabulya
- Juliet Rainer Kafire, once Vice President of the Democratic Party and a remarkable woman said to have built many schools in Uganda
- Bishop Emeritus Alpakusad Gonahasa, Assistant Archbishop of the Church of Uganda
- Jennifer Namuyangu, former State Minister for Water Resources (2006 - 2011) & former MP for Pallisa District Women's Representative (2001 - 2011)
- Dr. Laban Kirya, District Chairman, Pallisa District
- Dr. Kalebbo, Principal of Uganda Management Institute
- Dr. Allan Kwabe, a computer engineer in the UK
- Edmund Wakida, an Attorney
- Dr. Talisuna of the Uganda Ministry of Health
- Mr. Swaya of the Ministry of Finance
- Bob Wasugirya
- Dr. Mutono of the Lodoi Foundation
- Pakoyo Kamba, Former Chair Pallisa District Youth Council, Pharmacist and Lecturer Makerere University, Fulbright Scholar- Michigan State University, USA.
- Dr. Anthony Kebba, a renowned AIDS vaccine researcher for the World Health Organisation
- Dr.Sam Lyomoki the Workers Representative in Parliament and Secretary General of the Uganda Trade Union Federation ( Central Organization of Free Trade Unions)
- Engineer Wilson Mulebeke, one of the few meteorological engineers in Uganda
- Professor ABCD Kweri
- Dr. Jeremiah Twatwa - Physician & politician, the elected Member of Parliament for "Iki-Iki County", Budaka District (2011 - 2016)
- Dr. Basima Mpandey, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University and brother to Professor ABCD Kweri
- Professor Yoswa Dambisya of Limpompo University in South Africa.
- Dr. Isaac Magoola, a lecturer at Makerere University Business School
- Dr. Dan Wagaine
- Dr. Kawuuta, a Commissioner in the Ministry of Agriculture
- Dr. Wilson K. Kasolo, a board member of the National Forestry Authority and the Principal of Nyabyeya Forestry College
- Moses Mugombesya, an Accounts Expert currently working with lweza Clays
- Grace Nakirya, a Prominent Child Activist with Child Fund International, Uganda
- Dr. Kinani, one time Permanent Secretary of the Uganda Ministry of Health
- Professor Vinand Nantulya, who resides in Switzerland
- Esther Baluka, a Management & Information Systems Analyst working with Stanbic Bank Uganda
- Fred Tabiruka Sabakaki, a Management & Information Systems Developer working with Appliance world ltd LG Distributors in Sales and I.T stand in.
- Mr. Mulekwa Eriakimu Namooni, an academician at Makerere University, an upcoming politician and Director of Youth Awaken Organization, a local charitable non-profit organisation
- Michael Daka an Infrastructure Consulting Engineer and a Member of the Panel of Experts for the Daily Monitor Newspaper.
- Francis W. Balya, a Computer Systems Expert and son to the late Edward M.K. Wakida
- Bob Mubaala, the Bagwere's Paramount Cultural Leader, referred to as 'Ikumbania.
- Eleazar John Waana Musannyana, an Educationalist.
- Nathan Namooni, the Clan Head of the Balalaka Bakomba Clan
- Samson Gwali, a plant taxonomist and research scientist with the National Agriculture Research Organisation
- Dr. Charles Musannyana Waana, a Physicist and IT Professional working in Canada and son to the late Eleazar John Waana Musannyana, a noted Educator
- Daniel Francis Mbulaiteye RIP son of Musana (Mumbirwe) and Nabejja (Mulalaka)and grandson of Mwiidu. Prominent Forester. Responsible for Planting and Maintenance of Forests in Uganda 1950s-1970s. Ancestral home in Kibuku Bumiiza and other established homes in Kadama and Kamonkoli.
- Mrs Elizabeth Sarah Mbulaiteye Retired Senior Instructor Min of Culture & Comm dev. First female representative of Bugwere in Local District Colonial Legislature. Actively promoted adult literacy and women empowerment. Former Chairperson Widows and Orphan Association, Tororo District. Nowdays an active member of Isa Masiya christian believers.
Some of the prominent Chidren of Mbulaiteye:
- Dr Margaret Saimo Mbulaiteye First female veterinary graduate Makerere University 1975. Alumini of Brunel Uni London, Wagenigen Netherlands, Lecturer, MUK, Local NGO Activist on Women Issues.
- Fiora Mbulaiteye Abe old girl Gayaza High School, Fresno College USA. Former vice president Bank of America. Entrepreneur and founding member UNAA. Resident Texas USA.
- Engineer Stephen Kirya Mbulaiteye old boy Budaka, Masaba SS, Teso College Aloet. Alumini MUK, Kumasi Inst of Tech, Laghborough UK. Electrical Engineer. Based in Ghana.
- Dr Fred Musana Mbulaiteye old boy Kibuku, Busoga College Mwiri. Alumini MUK. Senior Anaesthetist. based in Mbale, Uganda.
- Engineer Bernard Mbulaiteye Kamya old boy Kamonkoli Mixed, Busoga College Mwiri. Alumini MUK, Dundee Uni, RGU Scotland. Chartered civil & Structural Engineer. Director Kamya Consulting. Based in Scotland UK.
- Dr Sam Mwiidu Mbulaiteye Old boy Kamonkoli Mixed, Manjasi High sch, Kisubi College. Alumini MUK, Cambridge. Former Chairperson of Uganda Medical students. Specialist in Cancer & HIV. Active researcher with widespread publications. Based in Maryland USA.
- Fred Musana RIP Former Lt UPDF. Head of Bambirwe Clan.
[edit] Economic activities
The main economic activity of the Bagwere is subsistence crop agriculture and animal husbandry. To a lesser extent, fishing, fish farming and bee keeping are increasingly practiced in Pallisa District.[2] The major crops include:
- Cassava
- Millet
- Sorghum
- Maize
- Groundnuts
- Beans
- Peas
- Sweet potatoes
- Rice
- Cotton
- Sunflower
- Soybeans
- Bananas
- Matooke
Cattle, goats, sheep, poultry, pigs, are some of the animals raised in the district. The district is further blessed with nine (9) minor lakes that comprise part of the Lake Kyoga system. The following are the nine lakes:
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:
