Fitting into Ugandan Culture as a West tourist
The Top Cultural Mistakes to Avoid in Uganda, The pearl of Africa
Tips and advice about Uganda culture, many travellers in Uganda often do not know the Uganda culture and how to behave while in Uganda. the cultural mistakes are often made westerners who come to Uganda and have know clear knowledge a bout the cultural norms and also the cultural mistakes, are also committed by the Ugandans who know not how to deal with the westerners. Therefore, the cultural mistakes, are often experience because of the difference in culture and people’s way of life in various countries in the world.
Looking at Uganda, Culture is a key factor for many tribes in Uganda, culture teaches people good moral on how to communicate with one another, most especially in offices, business among other places, where by, culture comprises the beliefs and the behaviour that influences how one interacts with one another and to handle communication effectively.
However, for the travellers who have never been or it’s the first time in Uganda, you could be having a wrong perception about Uganda, the best thing you can do is to stop believing in what you haven’t proved a bout Uganda. ‘’travel and discover that everything everyone said is wrong about the country you are visiting. Leave your prejudice and pigeonhole thoughts and what other nations say about Uganda.
For many travellers who have actually visited the country, will definitely have a different idea about Uganda from what they thought it was before visiting the country. At the end of the day, they are grateful and delighted by what they discovered.
How Ugandans see you, visitor to their country
Just like how a Ugandan may have a wrong sentiment a bout the visitors mostly the westerners in Uganda, the same way some visitors in Uganda too have the wrong information. There many perceptions Ugandans have about the visitors in Uganda, one of them is that they believe visitors coming from the western countries are all wealthy they see them like people living next to God and have everything plus all the luxury.
Most of ideas come from the movies people watch, stories in books and what they might have heard about people a broad makes them believe that everything abroad is Unique including the people themselves. These ideas have lived in the minds of the Ugandans right from the time of colonial when the Europeans came to Uganda. although Uganda is no longer under colonial rule the spirit of colonialism lives them.
Ugandan people are so different right from the way they treat the visitors, they are one of the friendliest group of people in Africa. They are well mannered and courteous people, some of the best characters you will discover about Ugandan people, despite the different cultures, they have been natured with different values and norms by the different cultural beliefs. The best way to find all these and see the difference and also see what you could have in common is to meet a Ugandan, you will ask some questions, listening as a visitor in Uganda, not knowing the Ugandan culture, you probably make cultural mistake, not knowing you even made that, but the well-mannered and gracious Ugandan person, will not even let you know about the mistake.
There are some practises westerners may do and totally, its against the cultural norms and belief in Uganda. and are not tolerated in Uganda. Africa is quiet conservative; the values and principles are based on faith and those cultures and beliefs are held as sacred.
Recommended How to avoid Making Cultural Mistakes in Uganda
Understand the Concept of African Hospitality as practiced in Uganda
Uganda is hospitable country; Hospitality is deeply rooted in the cultural tradition and belief in most Uganda’s.
the concept of Hospitality in Uganda means that you are welcomed in the family, the hospitality People in Uganda, is based on relationships, visitors in Ugandan homes, may be even referred to us Uncle or Aunty as a way of showing respect and harmony in the family.
You find there are some common mistakes made in the family and the members of the family, can tolerate that, in many occasions, when married people or family members quarreled with, he other, such issues stays within the family and third parties are not welcomed.
Hospitality in Uganda, is not just a greeting or sharing the meal, but the host takes full responsibility of the visitor until when he or she departs from the family. You will have all the full attention and care from the family.
Know how to Greet Ugandan style
In Uganda, you can never meet a person and a pass by without greeting them, Ugandan is required to greet any person you meet as assign of respect and being a well-mannered person. Greeting in Uganda, is best done by shaking hands when meeting someone, even a stranger will shake hands with you.
Greeting in Uganda, is also at times as a way of inquiring for direction in case your lost, also to know how the family is doing, business is running, life. Health among other things. You can not meet some here without greeting them even a stranger or not.
Both men and women shake hands you will learn this when you come to Uganda. its one of the cultural norms in Ugandan.
But the other cultural difference is that, the difference when it comes to holding hands, men and women and women and women are expressed by lightly holding hands. Another cultural difference is mostly in central regions of Uganda, when the visitor arrives, children and women kneel down to greet this is shown as respect and its accepted.
Try to Learn to speak like a local:
Although many may not be able to learn the local language, or speak like the local, learning a few phrases may not be of bad advantage, when you meet with the local Uganda and you speak some of the few words, it excites them and make them feel you care and took time to learn some words, they will feel you are part of them.
English is an official language in Uganda and its widely spoken by many people in Uganda, Uganda is considered one of the best English-speaking Nation in Africa. Despite, this, some of the Phases may not sound the same as for the westerners, since some words are the version of the local Ugandan version. Ugandans English is called Uglish. Some of the words may not mean the same as you may understand them for example; a Ugandan may say extend here, asking you to move over, or some one tells you slope down , meaning to follow the road down the hill, there is also short call it doesn’t mean making a phone call, but rather he means to pee or visiting the toilet.
Luganda in Uganda, has also covered many parts of the country and many people have learnt the language despite English being the official language, many people coming to Uganda, have always made efforts to learn Luganda and now its spoken more than even the official language.
You can as well learn some of the few phrases you can use while in Uganda, the common ones you can learn quickly is the greeting. That is; oli otya means, ‘’ how are you’’ and you can respond by sating Gyendi – meaning ‘’am fine’’, there is Geybale Ko Nyabo (woman), Sebbo (man), webale means thank you and when you meet or find something shocking, the expressions you show, you can say ‘’bananga’’ this is fun and you will even see laughing joyfully.
Despite your acescent, you may not speak the local but the words can be heard and understood, the few phrases will delightfully draw attention to some Ugandans you will greet.
Dress smart but keeping it Modest
Despite the fact that the majority of Ugandans, wear second hand clothing, but the like to dress smart and neat every where they go to. Most especially in Kampala, people always dress smart but conservatively, in that women do not wear short clothes in public and in case one wears the short skirt or dress, there is always legging, jeans or other slacks inside. Most women who dress indecent here are the girls going top bars or Night clubs.
In Kampala city, dressing smartly gains you respect and every person tries to do, Ugandans find it as insult to wear dirty, clothes that are not neatly pressed, cleaned and torn, is bad and people see you as some one insane. Women wearing short skirts, mini skirts are seen as prostitutes and are not respected but for the women who dress decently and men, are respected in the society and their opinions are always heard by people.
Although many men are seen with suits, but also neatly pressed and clean clothing is appropriate too. Women in village areas, wear traditional clothing such as the Butuusi known as Gomesi and the men wear Kanzu, these clothing are worn most especially in events like weddings, tradition ceremonies or when visiting an In-law.
Show respect for the elderly
In Uganda, the young people and anyone else, are always encouraged to respect the elderly, you are supposed to listen to the advice given by the elder person and follow closely, if one needed to achieve great opportunities in life and to get blessings.
Also, when you meet an elder person, you are supposed to greet them appropriately, you can engage in conversations with them, they have all the information about the Ugandan History and very interesting stories you will love them.
The elderly, most especially the grandmothers and fathers in village areas, are the backbone of Uganda. they believe much in culture and tradition and have always encourage the young generation to embrace and respect their cultures regardless of the different values and norms in different regions of the country.
Engage in Meaning and respectful Conversations:
While in Uganda, you can get involved with people, meet the locals, engage in significant conversations, listen to the stories about Uganda, the tough times people went through and how they make ends meet, Tell your story too of where you come from, this way of interacting helps draw a picture of the Ugandan life of people also what you don’t understand, ask and you might just get the answer that will shed light on the burning issue you may be having.
Many people who have not heard time to spend with the people in Uganda may draw wrong perceptions, write stories and hateful things among others that do not reflect the nature of people and Uganda as a country.
Listening is one of the key aspects of a meaning conversation in Uganda, the conversations with the Ugandan, will help you get to understand the mindset, the principles and the values and the true lives of Ugandans and also you can tell them yours. It makes the conservation feel better and you will love it. The one and the most hateful things Ugandans do not condone is to be lectured, listening is the most key aspect of the conversation.
Uganda is relational:
In Uganda, it takes the village to raise a child, the village is where life starts from, teaching of the child, adopting to culture and its also where relations are formed from. The children will go to schools in the city during the school times, and when its holidays, they all return to the village to help their parents and also do some work inform of raising money for the coming terms school fees.
Ugandans live together and do most of the things together, westerners are seen in most times as being alone whereas for the Ugandans, that are related to one another, they follow ties, families, church, mosque brings them together and have the common goal.
While planning to visit Uganda, do have some family photos with and show them to the Ugandans you will have an opportunity to interact with they will love it. Family relationships here in Uganda, is strong and binds people together.
Do not show Emotions to Ugandan- such as Anger or Frustration:
Whereas many things may not go as you would expect it, also remember, while in Uganda, things may not be as you would have expected to find it. The last thing in life and in Uganda or any part of the nation, is explore a huge cultural mistake and bear it for the rest of life. When some thing is not going according to plan. The best way to solve it, is to ‘’keep quite’’ having a confrontation, with the Ugandan will lead you nowhere but instead, create more problems.
In Ugandan culture, for a person to admit a mistake, is rare they keep saying’’ I don’t know’’ and you can not extract any truth from them but you insist, you create hatred that will last for a very long time, therefore, it best to keep quite and keep the relationship rather than pouring out your emotions.
No affection in Public
Ugandans look at kissing in public as a western culture and its not acceptable in Uganda, Ugandans do not show affection either to your spouse in Public they often see as the Muzungu thing but here its assign of bird manners and lack of respect for your selves. However, you will see men holding hands, women holding the fellow woman shoulder while walking, that is assign of friendship.
Kissing in Public, is against the cultural norms and belief and it’s not accepted here, although some times people hug but most especially done by the middle, class and people who have been in school.
President of Uganda, President Museveni, stated this in his interview, that he has not kissed his wife in public and does not encourage this kind of act in Public.
Avoid Western Savior Selfies
We suggest that visitors in Uganda, do not take exploitative Poverty Tourism pictures , the best you can do, is to visit the homes of these poor people or instead mobilize fundraise for the poor children and help to provide some basic needs to the families like constructing water projects, dressing the children, feeding the hungry among others. Some people take these photos and use them wrongly to get funds from many fund-raising companies across the world. Therefore, we recommend you do not do this kind of act while in Uganda, Ugandans are powerless victims they can not help themselves but instead wait and expect some one to rescue them.
Our Final Advice on Cultural Mistakes to Avoid in Uganda
Its good to know about Uganda when visiting the country, The above is just a few of the cultural mistakes you ought to know and avoid making them in Uganda, it’s a sign of respect of cultures in Uganda when they see you a voiding such mistakes they will be pleased that you have made efforts to embrace and learn their culture.
There may be difficulties faced to adopt to the different cultures and the ways of life of the Uganda and the westerners but when you engage your self with the local people, having meaningful conversations, you will begin to understand how grateful and interacting to live with the people in Uganda.
Uganda is one the best and safe countries in Africa and safe for the visitors. Uganda is a stable country and secure for the tourism purposes. All you need is to embrace the Culture of Uganda while here and avoid the common cultural mistakes, you will love and enjoy your visit in Uganda ‘’ The Pearl of Africa’’.
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