Ugandan

Written By CRIS Ohio
Photo credit: www.operationworld.org

Photo credit: www.operationworld.org

Why are individuals fleeing from Uganda?

The current president, Yoweri Museveni, has held power for 30 years due to unfair and fixed elections. Additionally, citizens’ rights are being violated in many ways, such as police opening fire on peaceful protests and sometimes causing death. Currently, resettlement of Ugandans is only open to those who identify as LGBTQ. In Uganda, members of the LGBTQ community are discriminated against by law.

Primary Languages(s) in Uganda (Statistics from “The World Factbook” on CIA website)

  • English

  • Luganda

  • Swahili

  • Arabic

  • Other Niger-Congo languages and Nilo-Saharan languages

Religions in Uganda (Statistics from globalreligiousfutures.org)

  • 86.7% Christian

  • 11.5% Muslim

  • <1% Other religions

Common Phrases

Luganda
Source: http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/luganda.htm

  • Welcome: Tukusanyukidde

  • Hello: Gyebale ko

  • How are you?: Oli otya?

  • Yes: Yee; Mm

  • No: Nedda

  • Thank you: Weebale

  • Also – a video of greetings in Luganda.

Swahili
Source: http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/swahili.php

  • Welcome: Karibu

  • Hello: Habari

  • How are you?: Harabi

  • Response: Nzuri

  • Yes: Ndiyo

  • No: Hapana

  • Thank you: Asante

  • Also – a video of greeting in Swahili.

Guidelines For Interacting With Ugandan Refugees

What are some cultural differences?

  • Food is usually eaten while sitting on the floor.

  • Physical contact between genders in public is generally unacceptable, but physical contact within the same gender is friendly and acceptable.

  • Ugandans usually marry someone of the same faith.

What are some resettlement considerations?

  • Refugees from Uganda almost always arrive as single individuals, which makes finding affordable housing difficult.

  • Finding roommates for Ugandan refugees may also be difficult due to their status as LGBTQ.

  • Ugandan refugees usually speak English.

*This collection of information is neither perfect nor comprehensive.  Each culture is unique and cultural norms are diverse even among individuals from the same culture.  Additionally, the refugees from the following places are diverse, as is easy to see in the guidelines in this report.

CRIS Ohio
Previous

Syrian