Soga people

The Soga are a Bantu ethnic group native to the kingdom of Busoga in eastern Uganda. The Basoga live in Uganda's districts of Bugiri, Iganga, Jinja, Kamuli, and Mayuge though new districts were formed later like Luuka, Kaliro, Namayingo, Bugweri, Namutunba and Buyende. Situated in eastern Uganda immediately north of the equator, Busoga is bounded by Lake Kyoga to the north, the Victoria Nile to the west, the Mpologoma River to the east, and Lake Victoria to the south. Busoga is 8,920 square kilometres in area, with a length of about 160 km and a width of a little over 80 km. These natural boundaries have enabled Basoga to have a uniqueness of their own as a group.

History

Early contact with European explorers

Busoga's written history began in 1862. On 28 July Royal Geographical Society explorer John Hanning Speke arrived at Ripon Falls took him around the southern end of Lake Victoria, he approached Busoga from the west. Having reached his goal, he turned northward and followed the river downstream without exploring Busoga. He records, however, being told that Usoga was an island. According to the 2002 Census of Uganda, 16.2% of Basoga are Roman Catholic, 46.2% are Anglican, 30.6% are Muslim and 3.7% are Pentecostal.