Kakwa people

For other uses, see Kakwa (disambiguation).

Kakwa people

Regions with significant populations
Uganda South Sudan DR Congo

The Kakwa are an ethnic group of Nilotic origin residing in northwestern Uganda, south western South Sudan, and northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. They are part of the Karo people (East Africa), who also include the Bari, Pojulu, Mundari, Kuku and Nyangwara. Their language, Kutuk na Kakwa, is an Eastern Nilotic language. The economy consists of cultivating corn, millet, potatoes, cassava, and cattle, and has experienced strong business growth as well.

Former Ugandan dictator Idi Amin was born into the Kakwa ethnic group. After Amin was deposed in 1979, many Kakwa people were killed in revenge killings, causing others to leave the area. However, they have now returned to their native areas in the West Nile region of northern Uganda. The major cities of the Kakwa people are the Yei and Morobo districts (Republic of South Sudan), Koboko district (Uganda), Imgbokolo and Aba (Congo). The Kakwa people some times refer to themselves as "Kakwa Saliya Musala", translated directly as "kakwa three hills" a phrase they commonly use to denote their 'oneness' in spite of being politically dispersed among three countries.

External links

• Kakwa entry from Ethnologue