Ugandan National Anthem

Below are the lyrics of the Ugandan national anthem in both Runyankole and English. We've also got a video of children singing the anthem (below) but in English! Shortly before independence from Great Britain in 1962 a competition was held to establish the new national anthem and none of the entries were deemed suitable so composer George Wilberforce Kakoma (above) was asked to step in and try his hand.

And he did. And his work was accepted. However, because what he came up with was one of the world's briefest national anthems, it's often performed twice in a row for longevity! Ironically it was because it was so short that the anthem was selected in the first place but was over too quickly at events like international football matches thus the repetition!

English Words	Runyankole Words
Oh Uganda!	O Yuganda!
May God uphold thee,	Ruhanga akubangire,
We lay our future in thy hand.	Niiwe matsiko gaitu
United, free,	Tukwataniise
For liberty	Twiin'obusingye
Together we'll always stand.	Nitwija kuguma tuhamire!
Oh Uganda!	O Yuganda!
The land of freedom,	Ensi y'obusingye
Our love and labour we give,	Tukunde tukwehenengyere
And with neighbours all	Nabataahi beitu boona
At our country's call	Abara twiijemu
In peace and friendship we'll live.	Tugire obumwe nkabanywaine!
Oh Uganda!	O Yuganda!
The land that feeds us	Ensi eturiisa
By sun and fertile soil grown.	Ahabwomushana neitaka ry’orwezo
For our own dear land	Iwe nyamurungi we
We'll always stand:	Tubeere eruru
The Pearl of Africa's Crown.	Nkekiruunga ky'Afirika!

Learn Runyankole

Runyankole is a Bantu language spoken by around two and a half million people in south-west Uganda. Here is our free online guide to the basics of the lanuguage to help you get around while you travel in the region.

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Uglish (Ugandan English)

Tune into and understand the local use of English in Uganda often referred to as "Uglish". It can be confusing as English words can have a different meaning in the Runyankole speaking areas of Western Uganda!

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