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Information About Luo People of Uganda in Africa: History Unveiled:
They luos are said to have originated from Rumbek in southern Sudan. During the 15th century, they were faced with many calamities which forced them to move away in search of new areas for settlement.Overpopulation, human and animal diseases, natural hazards like droughts and floods, external pressure from the Galla tribes’ men, as well as internal conflicts. Some moved northwards to Shiluk, others moved eastwards to Anuku and some of them continued through Ethiopia past Agoto Hills to northern Uganda.
The majority group, however is said to have moved from Rumbek southwards along the Nile, and settled at Pubungu near Pakwach. This group is said to have been under the leadership of Olum. Olum had three sons namely; Gapiri (Nyapiri), Labongo (Kyebambi), and Tiful. It is said that at Pubungu, Gapiri and Labongo conflicted over the royal spear which was their symbol of Power. Thereafter, they separated.
Gapiri leading a group of people crossed the Nile and went to the land of Lendu and and produced the Alur. The speak Lwo and maintain other elements of Luo culture. Tiful is said to have moved to west Nile also but little is known about his movement and settlements there.
Labongo moved northeast wards from Pubungu towards present Acholi. In the process, the Labongo group intermarried with and assimilated some Sudanic speaking people in northern Uganda and produced the Acholi people of Uganda.By the beginning of the 18th century they were firmly settled in Acholi. There, they encountered the Langi who had been living in Acholi for about two hundred years.
Soon conflicts emerged between the Acholi and the Langi and this forced the Langi to move southwards to Lake Kioga region. The Acholi continued to interact and intermarry with the Langi. In the process, the Langi lost their Ateker language and began speaking this language. They also lost their pastoral element and became settled agriculturalists because the area around L. Kioga was not conducive for pastoralism. Therefore, although the Langi speak Lwo, in actual fact they are Nilo-Hamites.
Another group of these people moved southwards from Pubungu and settled in Pawir which today is settled by the Bagungu People. A small group known as the Bito-Luo led by Isingoma Mpunga Rukidi moved on and settled in Bunyoro peacefully and established the Babiito dynasty.
The political influence was limited to a new kingdom which came to be known as Bunyoro Kitara.
It lasted until 1967 when the new constitution introduced by Milton Obote the first president of Uganda abolished Kingdoms in Uganda and set up a republic.
Those who went to Bunyoro were assimilated. They lost their language and culture and became bantuised. However, they introduced pet names among the Banyoro. It is not clear whether there was an interaction between the Bachwezi and Babiito although traditions attempt to link them but the Batooro people of Uganda still use them up to present day.Between the middle of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century, some Luo groups pushed eastwards.
One group led by Adhola settled in Budama around the first half of the17th century. They chose to settle in a thickly forested area as a defense against the attacks from the Bantu neighbors who were already settled there. This self imposed isolation helped them to maintain their language and culture amidst Bantu and Ateker communities.
Between 1550 and 1800, other Luo groups crossed into the Nyanza province of Kenya. By 1800, the Luo had completed their migration and settled in present northern, western and eastern Uganda.Their migration in Uganda brought about a lot of changes. In the first instance, their migration marked the last major influx and settlement of Uganda. The migration led to the peopling and settlement of large parts of northern Uganda, West Nile and eastern Uganda.
It was due to their migration that Uganda came to have such people as the Alur, the Acholi, the Japadhola and the Kumam. These people are said to have been the off springs of the intermarriages the local people and the Luo arrivals.During their migration in various parts of Uganda, theyo introduced their culture, language and some animals and crops to areas where they settled.
The Langi for example speak Lwo and the Kumam language has a high percentage of their words. Besides, This language is an important medium of communication among the peoples of northern Uganda.
In Bunyoro, though they were assimilated, they left a mark in the form of the pet names, empaako, which the Banyoro and the Batooro very much cherish.Although their communities do not have the empaako, it is generally agreed that the concept of empaako is of Luo origin.
Some historians assert that they introduced the idea of centralized states in Uganda. It is said that the Bito-Luo founded the Kingdom of Bunyoro Kitara and that Buganda was founded by Kato Kimera who was a twin brother of Isingoma Rukindi Mpuga, the Luo founder of the Babiito dynasty.
It assertion is generally correct but it should not be carried beyond its limits to assert that they introduced the idea of centralized states in Uganda. Indeed their movement coincided with the period of state formation in Uganda but the actual idea may not necessarily have come with them.
After all the Batembuzi and the Bachwezi dynasty had existed long before them.What is clear is that the Luo founded the Babiito dynasty in Bunyoro-Kitara to replace the collapsing Bachwezi dynasty.
One could say with ease, that they have the effect of speeding up the collapse of the Bachwezi. But to assert that they came with the idea of state formation is grossly exaggerated because such an idea was not introduced in those areas where they settled predominantly such as Acholi apart from chiefdoms.
They are also said to have founded the Baisengobi principalities in Busoga such as Bugabula, Buswikira, Bukasanga and Bukoli. Indeed the connection of these principalities with the Kingdom of Bunyoro- Kitara lends emphasis to the assertion.
They are also credited for having founded the Rwotodoms (chiefdoms) in Acholi, Langi and west Nile. These seem remarkable achievements but they could have borrowed the idea of state formation from the Bantu of the interlacustrine region. In Bunyoro, they were bantuised, while in Acholi, Alur and Japadhola; they retained their Luo culture and customs.
About the Author
Twinomugisha Charles is a Retired Tour and Travel Guide in Millennium Tours and Travel Company in Uganda and now works with E-Office Management a company that deals in Computers and Computer Accessories. More of his articles can be found at The Luo People in Uganda and at The Culture of Ugandan Luo people in Afica
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