Banyole

The Banyole are one of the smaller Bantu ethnic groups in Uganda. They are sometimes called "Abalya Lwooba", meaning "mushroom eaters". They speak the Nyole language. They are mostly polygamous, and are divided into many clans.[2] They have similar language and traditional customs to the Bagwe people, and like the Bagwe claim origins with the Banyala of Kenya.[3] The traditional founder of the Banyole came from near the point where the Yala River enters Lake Victoria.[4] He was named Omwa and lived 45 miles (72 km) west of their present location. They were forced to move east due to pressure from Nilotic people.[4]

According to a 2014 report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics the Banyole population is about 300,000.[5] Possibly there is confusion with speakers of the related Nyole language of Kenya. In September 2019 the clan leaders of the Banyole elected their first cultural head. At least 148 clan leaders participated. There was controversy because one of the two candidates was not a resident of the district.[5]

Butaleja District

Yala River

Lake Kyoga

Mount
Elgon

Locations in Uganda

The Banyole were one of the ethnic groups in the plains between Lake Kyoga to the west and the slopes of Mount Elgon to the east when the British established the Bukedi District in this area at the start of the 20th century. Bukedi district also contained Gisu people in the populous and mountainous northeast, and several other ethnic groups in the western and southern plains including the Nilotic Teso people and the Bantu Gwere people.[6] The plains peoples were mostly acephalous.[7]

The Banyole today live mostly in Butaleja District in the east of Uganda. They also live in the nearby Budaka, Mbale, Tororo, Bugiri, Namutumba and Pallisa districts The surrounding peoples are the Gisu people to the east, Adhola people to the south, Soga people to the west and Gwere people to the north. The Banyole typically live by subsistence agriculture.[2] The region is one of rolling grassland surrounded by papyrus swamps. The land is now densely populated and mostly cultivated. Rice, cotton and coffee are grown for cash. Their staple food crop is finger millet, and they also grow sorghum, maize, cassava and sweet potato.[8]

According to the 2002 Census of Uganda about 56.2% of the Banyole tribe are nominally Christian, mostly Anglican estimated at 42.6%. Due to low levels of literacy and lack of Christian texts in their language they have only a basic understanding of this religion, and may also follow traditional religious practices. About 41.6% have converted to Islam.[9]