10 Ugandan Words To Learn Before Your Safari

Here are the ten Ugandan words/ phrases that lighten up your Uganda safari.

• Webale
• Oli Otya
• Tugende
• Wasuze Otya
• Meka/yameka/wakema
• Ngenda Kulya
• Sagala
• Nkooye
• Kwata
• Nsalilako

Traveling around Uganda is quite an amazing experience. But it becomes better once you get a few ones in the local dialects to spice up your connection with the locals. Even though dialects tend to change almost every 100km in Uganda, the above words will always come in handy.

Webale (Thank you)

Thank you is one of the most commonly used words in our everyday life. While on your trip, instead of saying thank you, you can simply say “webale”. If you wish to say; “Thank you very much”, then you simply add, “nyo” to make it “Webale nyo”

Oli Otya (How Are You?)

In Uganda, instead of saying hello; people tend to use the phrase “how are you?”. To say this phrase in Luganda which is the most spoken language in Uganda, you simply say “Oli Otya”. However, instead of replying “I am fine” (ndi bulungi), the response is “gendi”

Tugende (Lets Go)

This is one of the phrases that will come in handy every time you are setting off to go somewhere. Instead of telling your driver or tour guide that “lets go”, you can simply send Tugende. One of the most trending slang that often works as an exclamation is “tusimbudde” which simply means, “We have set off”

Wasuze Otya (Good morning)

“Wasuze Otya” is literally translated as “How did you sleep or how was your sleep”. It is a phrase that is used in my good morning. When someone asks you “Wasuze Otya”, the response is “Bulungi”

Meka/yameka/wakema

This is a very handy phrase related to asking for prices. It might be hard for you to know when to use “yameka” or “wakema”. You can make a bypass by simply asking “meka” which is the short form of the two. Once you enter a shop, you can simply hold an item and say “meka” which means “how much”

Ngenda Kulya (I am going to Eat)

This is a very handy phrase when making orders in the restaurant. You simply tell the waiter “Ngenda Kulya”………..then you name the item you want on the menu. However, this phrase does not apply to drinks.

Sagala (I do not want)

“Sagala” is also a very handy phrase. I will need it whenever you intend to say no to something. It is literally translated as “I don’t want”. However, sometimes it might sound rude. It might be better to use the word “Nedda” which means “no”.

Nkooye (I am tired)

Getting tired on your Uganda safari is quite common more so if you are visiting both Murchison falls national park and Queen Elizabeth national park. You will need to use this word to inform your company (driver and other companions) that you are tired.

Nsalilako ( Give me a discount)

Prices in Uganda are commonly not standard unless there is a price tag. Whenever you find something high-priced, this phrase will always come in handy to help you negotiate a discount.

Kwata (Catch)

Exchanging items is a common practice in our relationships with other people. Instead of telling to have something from you, you can simply say “Kwata”