Conversation Uganda Style – How To Talk in Uganda

 You might speak English but come from a far away from such as Ireland, the south of the USA, from Australia or New Zealand or you might speak English as a second language coming from Germany, Italy or India.

You assume that everyone who speaks English will understand you, not quite so.

There are nuances, different uses of words, there is the speed with which you might speak or that a Ugandan will use, all making a conversation even if your mother tongue is one form of English or another hard to understand.

There is also some social etiquette involved, we might be used to being direct and to the point whereas here conversation is relational and you being to the point will seem rude to a Ugandan.

Hopefully, this will help you on your visit for Business, Uganda Safari, or Short Term Volunteer work.

This page is to help you to have a good conversation Ugandan Style…enjoy.

•Begin any conversation with a greeting: Never ask for anything first such as directions first. If you cannot speak any Luganda or Swahili the simple “how are you” will be understood by almost anyone even if they do not understand English.

That phrase, a three-year-old will answer in Uganda with “fine.” Speak in a soft tone as is the practice here until people get to know you, then you will find the volume can go up quite a bit.

Even waiters and waitresses will respond positively if you greet them first before ordering a coke or something. Keep your questions simple, especially if you are out in the country and someone speaks a limited kind of English.

Ugandans will speak at least two, but many speak three languages and in some cases, the two Ugandan languages will not be related since a person may be from the North and not of Bantu origin, but Luganda Phrases helpful during your trip to Uganda speak Luganda because they reside in Kampala.

Yet they grew up with a form of Swahili and or Luo for example, most Westerners especially coming from the USA will only speak one language. If you are both standing, greet by offering your hand, a handshake does miracles here, usually, it is not too firm.

•If you know someone: Treat them with kindness such as you would your own family. Greet with a handshake inquiring as to how they are, how their family is, and so on. This is respect; in Buganda culture, direct eye contact is avoided out of respect, not a sign of rudeness or an attempt to hide something.

•Introducing someone: Not too long ago I heard a famous person in Uganda, a person who had written countless newspaper articles, had been interviewed by national and international press both printed and TV, simply by his last name. His title “Pastor” was never used, his first name not included, in Uganda, we would say “that’s bad manners.” When introducing someone says something complimentary, yet truthful, showing that you respect the person that is being introduced.

•When a child or woman kneels in front of you: That is a Buganda culture sign of respect. Whenever my house girl (Ugandan term for a domestic servant) comes back from shopping, she kneels as she gives me the balance (change).

When she arrives in the morning in the morning with her child, she will do the same and I will inquire how her night was? How her daughter is? Simply a sign of respect, young boys will do the same. In this culture, a man of my age is called a Mzee, an elder a person who has acquired wisdom along his journey in life.

I do not know about that but I need to respect the local culture and give time to the person who every day comes to my house to clean things up. When I give a treat to the little daughter who is three, she will also kneel and say thank you in Luganda. I can only accept it and be humbled by it since the culture where I come from is quite direct, to the point, and does not make the effort to be relational.

•Speaking down to a person: I have often seen Westerners speak down to people if they were a little child in a most patronizing way. At times the recipients have been University students. Africans are not stupid, but we leave a bad impression on them and disrespect them if we speak down to a person and the communication between us will be blocked.

•Do not make promises or hints of such: I have often seen and overheard Westerners make promises as to this or that. Never make promises that you do not intend to keep or cannot keep simply by trying to impress. Africans have been disappointed enough by idle promises coming from the lips of Westerners. (Privately they will tell you of their disappointment)

•When a Ugandan asks you for something: Asking in Ugandan culture is not wrong and neither is saying no. I live in a Ugandan neighborhood and am approached all day long with requests and most often in a smiling manner I will politely say no and not lose the friendship that is there.

•Remember the Keep it simple principle: If you see signs for guest houses, lodges, hotels, do not ask if there are any accommodations in this town? If the special hire is the term for taxi and taxi is a mini-bus and part of the mass transport system in Uganda, do not ask for a taxi when you want a special hire. If you ask if there is a vacancy you will get a stare, but if you ask for a room, most likely you will have one.

You will learn quickly. If you use tea for dinner in your use of English, it is not used here, use dinner, or simply you would like to eat your meal this evening. Begin simple and you can increase your level of sophistication and vocabulary depending on the response. I have a friend who lives in a village in a small house, wears sandals outside, looks anything like a person who is extremely good at the use of the English language. Looks deceive, he has traveled all over the world as a speaker at conferences and is a former professor at Makerere University.

•Listen carefully: And you will learn.

•Do not use slang: You will get a look like you just came from another planet

•If frustrated keep calm: Losing your cool is generally seen as bad manners and you are seen as a weak person.

•Toilet, washroom, bathroom: You will get a blank stare at times when asking for such, but mention short call, everyone here will know that you are not making a short phone call, but need to use the facilities.

•Yes and Yes: If a Ugandan does not understand you at times, they will still answer with “yes” so as to not be humiliated. Keep that in mind.

•Pronunciations: Don’t laugh at such things.

•You are fat: Here it is not an insult but an observation, and in some cases, a compliment, simply laugh. Enjoy Uganda and Ugandans, take it easy and you will have a great time.