Sometime back The Observer (Uganda) published an article using my research material which show that Bahima, Bahororo, Banyamulenge and Batutsi (who are cousins) were Nilotic Luo-speaking people from Bahr el Ghazal, southern Sudan. Some Ugandans called me and complained why I had written such an article. Some denied the research findings arguing that they were descendants of Bachwezi and white people and therefore not Luo. One Ugandan subsequently wrote that Bahima and their cousins were not Luo but Basoga were. I wrote back showing that Bachwezi were black and not white people. Bachwezi were a Bantu aristocracy.
In subsequent articles I showed that Batutsi, Bahima, Bahororo and Banyamulenge are scattered in many parts of Uganda and have maintained close relations with one another in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and eastern DRC. They have benefited from the NRM regime led by Bahororo and Bahima under the leadership of Museveni.
Bahima, Bahororo, Banyamulenge and Batutsi adopt local names and local languages wherever they settle but men do not marry outside their Nilotic ethnic group. Accordingly, they have retained their Nilotic identity and know one another very well. For example, a Mututsi may be registered in Buganda as a Muganda but knows who s/he is and whom to work with in political and economic matters. They do these things silently. Similarly an Itesot or Langi may be a Tutsi or Hima whose parents or grandparents moved into the area as cattle herders, have remained there and use local names and local languages.
Attached below are two maps which show the origin and ancestry of Bahima, Bahororo, Banyamulenge and Batutsi. The first map is taken from a book titled “The African Middle Ages: 1400-1800” by Roland Oliver and Anthony Atmore, published by Cambridge University Press in 1981. The map from Oliver and Atmore shows the origin and movement of Luo people from Sudan to the Great Lakes region. The second map is taken from a book titled “The peopling of Africa”, by James L. Newman, published in 1995 by Yale University Press, USA. These two maps confirm and put to rest the issue of the origin and ancestry of Bahima, Bahororo, Banyamulenge and Batutsi.
Also attached bellow is a third map which shows where Banyarwanda have settled in Uganda. It is taken from an article titled “Uganda and Rwanda: A Case of Neo-Colonial Politics Gone Beserk?” by Ondoga Ori Amaza, published by Political & Economic Monthly of Southern Africa magazine. Volume 7, No.10 July 1994.
Therefore it is imperative that Uganda government statistics particularly those on ethnic allocation of jobs in public service go beyond each incumbent’s official record as a Muganda, Munyankole, Itesot, Landi, etc. Because of what has transpired in Uganda since 1986, government statistics must also show the job incumbent’s ancestry and to whom they are married. This is the reality of the situation in Uganda and not sectarianism as some people would want us to believe so they can continue exploiting others.
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Eric Kashambuzi
UAH FORUMIST
Its appauling how people feel abused when they are called Nilotics, am amazed by the distiction that Africans still have, Am Bantu, those are Nilotics, those are Nilohamites its all vanity.All africans, indians, Orients, Red Indians, Aborigins actually have the same origin they are all descendants of Ham so if we unite on this found knowledge I believe we will be successful
very correct and iwish to learn more from you.
Dear editor,
Am a mushambo from the corridal of bagyesera, would like to know my origin on these clans mentioned above.
Ndyomugyenyi Darius
Haven’t you read what has been written about them from their own?
So the Bachwezi might not have been white, does it change what’s been written about the lineage of the clans? The clans never spoke about race, sir.
What made you research them?
am one the tribes mentioned,have live in rwanda,kenya and uganda but rwandese thought am one of them,bahima and somalis did the same and iwas worried why but now am starting to understand.thanks alot.my family name trace/india and russia according to my research,may if possible you can add the name articles in details
False
I am proud of being one of the above groups more so, the Hima.Unfortunately I am not well convinced about my true origin..Thanks researchers, discover more.