The East African country of Uganda faces extremely high levels of poverty. Because of this, many Ugandans have emigrated to try and find a way to make a better future for themselves and their families. Some expatriate communities come together in their adopted countries and use their better access to resources to help improve the lives of Ugandans back home. For example, in the United States the people originating from Busoga do much to help the people who still live in this region of Uganda.
The Busoga region is one of Uganda's five kingdoms that still exist and means 'land of the Soga'. The Soga people are known as the Basoga. The kingdom lies in eastern Uganda, on the shores of Africa's biggest lake, Lake Victoria. The town Jinja, the second largest in Uganda, is situated in this kingdom too.
The history of the kingdom dates back to the sixteenth century. Prince Mukama Namutukula, who was from the Bunyoro kingdom, left his home and moved towards the east. At Iyingo he settled with Nawudo, who was his wife, as well as with several servants.
Years later Prince Mukama decided to return to Bunyoro. He gave each of his five surviving sons a piece of land to rule over while he was gone. However, he didn't return and each son continued ruling over his area, which over time became a chiefdom. When the British colonized Uganda, the five chiefdoms were joined together as a federation.
A new title came into being in around 1918. Called 'Isebantu Kyabazinga', it translates as 'father of the people'. An alternative name for this position is the 'Kyabazinga of Busoga'. Elected from within the ranks of the five chiefs, the Kyabazinga serves as a kind of king to rule over the Basoga as a people.
Even though Jinja is developing many industries, modern-day Basoga still have to deal with many problems, from dire poverty to disease. In fact, many diseases are preventable and are the result of inadequate drinking water and sanitation in Uganda. Various NGOs run projects all over the country to try and improve things. One of these NGOs is Twegaite, which works specifically in Busoga.
Twegaite is a Boston-based NGO made up of Basoga and others who are interested in this community. The organization not only helps Basoga who live in the United States, but also aims to improve the lives of those back in Uganda. They hold regular conventions where they plan projects to help improve conditions in Busoga and they have several projects in campaigns up and running in Uganda already. This is a prime example of how Africans give back to the continent, even if they live elsewhere.
The Busoga region is one of Uganda's five kingdoms that still exist and means 'land of the Soga'. The Soga people are known as the Basoga. The kingdom lies in eastern Uganda, on the shores of Africa's biggest lake, Lake Victoria. The town Jinja, the second largest in Uganda, is situated in this kingdom too.
The history of the kingdom dates back to the sixteenth century. Prince Mukama Namutukula, who was from the Bunyoro kingdom, left his home and moved towards the east. At Iyingo he settled with Nawudo, who was his wife, as well as with several servants.
Years later Prince Mukama decided to return to Bunyoro. He gave each of his five surviving sons a piece of land to rule over while he was gone. However, he didn't return and each son continued ruling over his area, which over time became a chiefdom. When the British colonized Uganda, the five chiefdoms were joined together as a federation.
A new title came into being in around 1918. Called 'Isebantu Kyabazinga', it translates as 'father of the people'. An alternative name for this position is the 'Kyabazinga of Busoga'. Elected from within the ranks of the five chiefs, the Kyabazinga serves as a kind of king to rule over the Basoga as a people.
Even though Jinja is developing many industries, modern-day Basoga still have to deal with many problems, from dire poverty to disease. In fact, many diseases are preventable and are the result of inadequate drinking water and sanitation in Uganda. Various NGOs run projects all over the country to try and improve things. One of these NGOs is Twegaite, which works specifically in Busoga.
Twegaite is a Boston-based NGO made up of Basoga and others who are interested in this community. The organization not only helps Basoga who live in the United States, but also aims to improve the lives of those back in Uganda. They hold regular conventions where they plan projects to help improve conditions in Busoga and they have several projects in campaigns up and running in Uganda already. This is a prime example of how Africans give back to the continent, even if they live elsewhere.
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People can learn more about the communities of busoga can find more information online. You will also find out more about water and sanitation in uganda when you visit the website today.
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