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The first time I went to the summit of Arua Hill, I was a teenager (Above 16). I literally drooled because of the unexpectedly-wide and hypnotic view of Barifa Forest as seen from above compared to the limited appearance from ground level in Anyafio. Like Saul (who turned into Paul) on the road to Damascus, I made a se... |
To get to Arua physically, either you fly in via the Idi Amin Dada International Airport (with a terminal foundation laid by Zaire President Mobutu Sese Seko in 1976 alongside Idi Amin) for less than 2 hours from Entebbe Airport or use the roads: It takes at least 7 hours to travel from Kampala City to Arua (IATA: RUA)... |
Trivia: UG's 3rd President (Idi Amin Dada) was half Kakwa, half Lugbara. Dorcus Inzikuru, the first Ugandan woman to win a gold medal in steeplechase athletics (during Helsinki 2005) is from Vurra. One of Uganda's Best Divas of All-Time Jackie Chandiru is half Muganda, half Lugbara. Zuena (Bebe Cool's wife) lived in Ar... |
One day while travelling by bus with two Bantu youngmen beside me around the early 2010s, they kept belittling West Nilers; I did not say anything in defence of my people, but commented on other topics during the daytime-journey. I believe their contemptuousness was based on hearsay and prejudice mixed with ignorance. ... |
Back when airtime was sold on scratchcards, I was sent with my half Lugbara, half Itesot 2nd cousin to buy a card. As we walked towards Mvara on Oluko Road, he kept abusing people in English (while asking them: Do you know Kampala?) like they had never been outside Arua; I tried to calm him down in vain. Somewhere near... |
When my parents moved their home from KLA to Arua in 2001, they set up a shop at the old Arua Central Market and asked me to design a doorpost on wood for "Ndedra Stores"; that was my first signpainting in Arua; others include: Springs Kindergarten (2017), Charis International School, etc. In 2016 while anticipating Ar... |
Arua City Tower is the Tallest Monument in East and Central Africa, but 2nd in Sub-Saharan Africa after Senegal's African Renaissance Monument. It was commissioned on MTN Uganda's 27th birthday in October 2025, a month after Arua hosted the national World Tourism Day celebrations at the Golf Course nearby. Symbolic of ... |
Three things I admire about Arua are: Ori Yo [No Fear]; Young Mothers and Mputa [Nile Perch (fish)]. |
One Friday, I travelled from KLA to Arua by private means. Then a friend in KLA called me and I told him that I would be in Najjanankumbi the following Tuesday. I was so tired because of the journey that I briefly forgot that Mt. Wati Road (Anyafio Village in Arua) was hundreds of kilometres away from Entebbe Road. Whe... |
Since 2020, Arua Regional City of West Nile Subregion (which has 8 to 13 districts) is a beacon of African excellence. Arua Hill Stadium and Business Park is a different, head-turning and multi-purpose venue under construction that will feature a 20,000-seat stadium, shopping mall, Arua Hill Hotel, banks and hospital. ... |
Why do Lugbara want to study English, Swahili, French, Japanese, Arabic, German, Spanish, Russian plus Chinese, but ignore their own language (Trinity Peace Gorondru of the Sudanic Academy calls it "inferiority complex")? Why can't I master Lugbara like English? Is it because our land or civilisation is not considered ... |
Madi-Lugbara Community Museum at Social Centre on Ediofe Road offers you a glimpse of shared local culture while the (Sultan) Isara Memorial Cultural and Community Library in Eruba (Vurra) opens your mind to new possibilities in this world. The Lugbara cultural symbol is a leopard with 300 spots while each clan has its... |
There is a notion that if you go to New York City, London, Dubai, Beijing or any of the World's biggest capitals, then you have lived. There is also life in Arua (Lugbara capital); am grateful to GOD for peace and tarmac. I can sit in the grass and chill; boredom is a choice. Synthetic Happiness is deliberate elevation... |
While in KLA before Twenty13, I used to review tourism maps of Uganda (eg in Eye Magazine and so on) and find West Nile blank; not even Ajai was mentioned nor Pakwach Bridge, Salia Musala, various rivers besides Enyau, waterfalls, Mt. Oce, etc. So, I made it my business to do research. I hope Arua is mentioned somewher... |
Architecture (Tallest Buildings in Arua/ Bha Da Sende Tawuni-a Tipasi/ The Stones Will Praise GOD): Desert Breeze Hotel near Osu River (10-storey Extension), Noble Unit Building (9 house-stomaches or floors on Adumi Road), Arua Hospital Doctors Quarters (8 floors), Shopping Centre blocks (7 floors), Aza Plaza (6 storey... |
Brands: Ozuu Brothers, KKT, Springs, Omia Agribusiness Group, Terah Fish, Adrikos (Sunshine Mineral Water, Tolo Sweets, etc), WENRECo, Malayika Bread, Barolls, Mungufeni Foundation, etc... |
Cathedrals: Emmanuel (Mvara), Ediofe (Vatican City of Arua)... |
Churches: St. Philip's (Golf Course), Christchurch Ediofe, St. Chrysostom Adalafu, Christ the King, Arua Pentecostal Church, SDA Church (Arua Hill), Agape... |
Ecotourism: Oluko Falls (Abairo and Oloporoporo) in the East with peninsula pier or runway for closer view and plunge pools for swimming offers a different gamepark-like experience from the urban view near the city. Other places are: Ragem Beach meanders, Ogurugu Beach in Dadamu, hiking plus biking trails, nature walks... |
Events: Duluka, Eucalyptus xylophone or banana-stem percussion music festivals, drumming, Okuza, West Nile Corporate Comedy, Anyoya Festival like at Coco Palm, Koro Dance, Adi [Lugbara legend]... |
Healthcare: Arua Regional Referral Hospital, Rhema Hospital, Kuluva Hospital (with 5 MW Hydropower Dam), Pioneer Hospital, MBN (Clinical) Labs, Novafinia... |
Heritage: Lugbara Kari (Chiefdom) Palace in Giligili on Ovisoni Bypass after shifting from Arua Hill, Madi-Lugbara Cultural Foundation (MALUCUFO) Museum at Social Centre, Lugbara Kari Cultural Centre, Arua City Tower Mini-Museum... |
Hospitality: Hotel Pacific (Oldest Hotel in Arua City), Desert Breeze, Le Tsuba Hotel, Golden Courts, Santa Maria, 6A, Dreamland Hotel, Heritage Courts and Park, Royal Crane Resort, Prince Palace Kuluva, New Dawn Guesthouse, Le Confidentiel Eruba, Hotel Arua, Harriton Hotel, Eripak Resort Beach, Slumberland, White Cast... |
Markets: Arua Central Market (2021), Lopalopa Fish Market 1 and 2, Awindiri, Gaagaa Market (Hawker), Lobida, Social Centre (Ediofe Road), Okuambo, Otokoa, Ediofe... |
Mass graves: Ombaci Massacre (Wednesday 24th June 1981), Lokiragodo, Muni... |
Mosques: Safi, Irshad, Riyadh, Hijra, Muhibeen, Tawfik, Sambya... |
Radios: Voice Of Life (VOL) is the Oldest FM radio station in West Nile since 1997; it started in Jiako, but then moved to Arua Hill. Others include: Paidha FM, Nile FM, Arua One since 2002, Radio Pacis (1 and 2), Access, UBC West Nile, Spirit FM Koboko, Christ the King FM, BBC World Service (99.4 FM), Voice Of Madi, R... |
Rivers: Nile in the East, Enyau (Longest tributary in West Nile), Asa, Acha, Osu, Oli, Jordan, Ala... |
Roads: Weatherhead Park Lane surrounds the Golf Course like an oval ring dissected by Mango Road, Arua Avenue links with Adumi Road in the north, Enyau Road connects Nebbi Highway in Sambia to Ediofe Highway and School Road which ends at Smash Roundabout, Idi Amin Road, Go Down Road was transformed from a narrow road t... |
Roundabouts: Knew only one (Main near Arua Hill) when I first came to Arua during Y2K, but about six or more others were constructed around the city in addition to usual junctions... |
Schools: Muni University, UCU Ringili, Bugema, MUBS, Nile University, Springs Kindergarten, St. Joseph's College Ombaci, Muni Girls, Mvara SS, Arua Public, Arua Hill Primary, Ediofe Girls SS... |
Shopping: Esomart, West Nile Supermarket, Doudou, Orasea, Jin Hong Yun, KKT Plaza, Xin Fu Lai, Safi Mosque Building, Mvara Mission Plaza... |
Temples: West Nile Hindu Union |
Trading centres: Eruba, Manibe, Muni, Dubai, Lia, Odramacaku, Ajia... |
Transportation: Nilestar Bus, YY, Baby, California, Nile Coach, (James Nyakuni's) Gaagaa brought the daytime-departure revolution in the mid 2000s, KKT closed though used to be very vibrant, other companies like Link Bus also came in from Western UG, (Former transporters included Ankk Bus, Gateway, Lonyi, Regional, etc... |
TVs: Bornfree Technologies Network (BTN) was the first TV station in Arua since 2003 on UHF 23 in Arua and 61 in Kampala; its sister station was 94.1 Nile FM and they migrated from Awudele Crescent (Anyafio) to Arua Hill in 2015. Other TV stations that came after include Westnile TV (2020) in Anyafio on Weatherhead Par... |
Neighbourhood: |
Adjumani: Zoka Forest Reserve (Only forest in UG where three distinct vegetation types exist and various coffees grow plus has flying squirrels), Ara Fishing Lodge, Sunset river cruises, Peninsula (Almost island) views, Awindiri Market, Ogujebe Eco Lodge, Fofo Island, Paridi Stadium, Leisure Park, Ferry... |
Ayivu: Onduparaka is the headquarters of Ayivu Clan, Greenlight Stadium hosts Onduparaka FC that took Ugandan top-flight football by storm in 2016, Mt. Oci marks the boundary between Ayivu and Vurra plus is visible from Arua Hill, Adumi Hill, Abi ZARDI Farm, etc... |
Koboko: Salia Musala (is where you can be in three republics at the same time about a 2-hour journey by car from Arua City), Awudi Caves, Giriye streetfood, Mt. Liru (Origin of Kakwa), Dabaracha Falls, River Kochi... |
Madi Okollo: Ajai Wildlife (Game) Reserve is the White Rhino cradleland though has other animals like the Ugandan kob, shoebill (whale-headed stork), etc and is an extension of Murchison (Kabalega) Falls National Park, Ituka Solar PV (Photovoltaic) Plant in Uleppi, River Ora Bridge, Rhino Camp, Stone music... |
Maracha: Headquarters at Nyadri, Miriadua Falls, Ajupani Hill, Curube Hill, Anyavu Park, Alikua Pyramid, Lake Rokoze (in Nyoro), St. Joseph's Cathedral Ovujo, Tara is a subcounty next to Koboko-Yumbe-Terego with several hills (eg Kodro, Gala, Kadri, Adrofiya, etc), 1991 Ojapi Air Raid sites including Woodland Peony Bom... |
Moyo: Predominantly Madi, Mt. Oce (arguably Tallest in West Nile), Nyeri, Ilo, Metu Hills and Caves, Fort Dufile, Laropi Ferry Crossing for about 14 minutes, Era Forest, Moki Springs, Arapi Limestone Factory, Dolo Island (with black and white collobus monkeys, birds plus reptiles)... |
Nebbi: Alurland (Emblem is Leopard), Biku Hill near Goli (Smallest Church on Earth), Paidha Hill, Agwara Dance... |
Obongi: Opi Island, Boat cruise (Sailing), Comboni Missionaries Farm (Agrotourism), Sportfishing, Waka Forest, Obongi Ferry... |
Orientale Province (DR Congo): There are about six Lugbara clans in former Zaire; many place names actually have meanings in Ugandan Lugbara... |
Pakwach: Albert Nile Bridge, Wang Lei (Separation point of Alur and Acholi ancestors), Owiny(i) Total Solar Eclipse Monument (Sunday 3rd November 2013), Fort Emin Pasha in Wadelai, Panyigoro Camping Site... |
Republic of South Sudan (ROSS): According to Madi oral tradition, their tribe came from Nigeria and moved eastwards. At Rejaf near present-day Juba, a woman broke away at lunchtime to look for her missing lugba [desert dates] which she had wrapped in leaves. The group that moved southwards with her were called "Lugba n... |
Terego: Headquarters at Leju, Mt. Wati, Ujuku Hill, Olewa Falls, Onayi, Tooth Can Lost, Leju Stadium... |
Vurra: Ovisoni, URA Customs, Isara Memorial Cultural and Community Library (IMCCL), Ezuku Forest Reserve (Source of River Enyau), Agoi Falls, Laura Hill, Meridien Tobacco Company, Logiri Forest, Bondo Hills... |
Yumbe: Aringa dialect is considered Low Lugbara (differences are not too many) though the clan broke away as a tribe on its own (as shown by 1995 Uganda Constitution) - Try comparing British, Jamaican, Nigerian, Ugandan and American English (Spellings, pronunciations and slang can separate them, but mutually intelligib... |
Zombo: Nyagak Hydropower Project, River Ora, Mt. Zeu, Alur Kingdom Palace, Tomb of Ubimo Jalwere Jalusiga (considered 1st Agofe of Lugbara Kari) and Chief Ajai, Agrotourism, Ngbungbu Falls, etc. |
(CC) Aiko (Y2K-Now) |
PARAMETERS: |
Consonants do not have to be repeated when writing Lugbara eg Mekki = Meki; Oluffe = Olufe; Owaffa = Owafa; etc, but repeating vowels means something or becomes ambiguously redundant eg leta-a [in love]... |
Every Lugbara word ends with a vowel eg simu [phone]... |
In consonant clusters DJ, GB and KP, the first letter is silent eg odji = oji [wash]; gbanda = banda [cassava]; okpo = opo [power]. Meanwhile MV is pronounced NV eg omve [call] while NZ is pronounced NJ eg Inzikuru... |
Letter C is always pronounced CH as in Church eg candi = chandi [sorrow]... |
Letters Q and X are not used in Lugbara, but four unique ones are added with an apostrophe to indicate the sound H eg 'B = Bha, etc meaning the Simplified Lugbara Alphabet has 28 letters... |
Some words have more than one meaning depending on the tone of the vowel(s) eg ai can mean salt, pray, beg or Atifiso Intelijensi, etc... |
Various Lugbara dialects (Aringa, Ayivu, Maracha, Madi-Okolo, Terego, Vura, Zaki, etc) may pronounce words differently eg nya (in Ayivu) = na (in Terego) [eat] |
SIMPLIFIED LUGBARA (The words below are exactly 140 though possible English meanings are so much more. Only letters Q and X are missing, but four new ones are added with an apostrophe representing the sound H): |
aa ae ai ao au |
ba be bi bo bu// 'ba 'be 'bi 'bo 'bu |
ca ce ci co cu |
da de di do du// 'da 'de 'di 'do 'du |
ea ee ei eo eu |
fa fe fi fo fu |
ga ge gi go gu |
ha he hi ho hu |
ia ie ii io iu |
ja je ji jo ju |
ka ke ki ko ku |
la le li lo lu |
ma me mi mo mu |
na ne ni no nu |
oa oe oi oo ou |
pa pe pi po pu |
ra re ri ro ru |
sa se si so su |
ta te ti to tu |
ua ue ui uo uu |
va ve vi vo vu |
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