Central People Groups
Population: 64,000 Location and Background: The Didinga live in the Didinga hills—in the valleys, on the plateaus and slopes, and on the adjacent plains of the region. Their neighbors include the Boya, Toposa, Dodoth, Dongotono and Lotuka/Lopit. There were tensions in the past but now they are generally on friendly terms and intermarry and speak a similar language to the… Read more »
Population: 6300 Location and Background: The Ik (called “Teuso” by their neighbors) are a small farming and hunting community squeezed between the large, powerful Karamojong and Turkana pastoralist tribes. The Ik have struggled to survive in harsh ecological conditions—droughts and floods. They continue to fight against isolation and marginalization to overcome their difficult circumstances and enter Ugandan national life as… Read more »
Population: 30,000 Location and Background: The Kacipo (Suri) live on the Boma plateau with their tribal headquarters at Koma. They live in two villages, Meyun and Rumiit. They are a predominantly sedentary agrarian community, with rich fertile soil which allows them to grow a quantity of crops. History: They believe they originally lived on the banks of the Nile River,… Read more »
Population: 20-30,000 Location and Background: Also known as the Boya or Narim, the Laarim are a Nilotic people living in the Boya Hills. It’s a rugged and hilly terrain with rich savanna, high grasslands and scrub bushes. They live in small settlements, with the main town being Kimatong. History: The Laarim are close relatives of the Didinga, Murle and Tenet…. Read more »
Population: 30-40,000 Location and Background: A sub-tribe of the Lango, the Lokwa are agriculturalists and pastoralists living near the border with Uganda on the slopes of the Imatong massif. The area is mountainous with gentle slops and valleys, good rainfall and fertile soil. Their relationships with the Lotuka is not good due to cattle raiding and occasional feuds. History: The… Read more »
Population: 70-80,000 Location and Background: The Lopit inhabit the Lopit hills in Torit district in S. Sudan. They are eastern Nilotic who practice traditional agriculture as well as rearing livestock on the mountain slopes and in the plains. They also harvest forest products such as honey and shea nuts. History: Very little is known about the origin of the Lopit… Read more »
Population: 15-18 million Location and Background: The Mbororo (“cattle herder” in Fulfulde) are a sub-group of the larger Fulani group that is spread across a horizontal zone from West Africa into central Africa, bound by the Sahara desert to the north and the tsetse fly to the south. They are semi-nomadic, keeping a homestead where they do some farming, as… Read more »
Population: 15,000 Location and Background: About 15,000 Asians live in Uganda, most of them involved in business—they are believed to control about 40% of the country’s economy with their involvement in manufacturing, pharmacies, insurance companies, sugar industry, banks, real estate and hotels. History: The Portuguese brought Asian laborers to East Africa in the 16th c to build Fort Jesus in… Read more »
Population: 700,000-1 million Location and Background: One of the largest tribal groups in S. Sudan, the Toposa live in organized villages in an arid, rugged, hilly land with vegetation of shrubs and grass, and seasonal streams. History: The Toposa are part of the Ateker cluster, believing they moved away from the Losolia Mountains in Uganda due to drought. They believe… Read more »
Population: 105,000 Location and Background: The Ttingo (also called Mamvu) live on the edge of the forest near the Leses & Efe Pygmies with whom they have a close relationship. They are farmers, fishermen and hunters. The area is rich in minerals. History: Long ago, farmers and foragers lived in small communities of extended families in the Ituri forest. In… Read more »
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