Acholi: Ethnic tribal group prominent in northern Uganda.
Adaa: Grandmother, a term also used to show respect to an elderly woman.
AIDS: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; also called twoo jonyo, or kisipi, or cilim, the slimming disease.
Ajaa: Bells.
Amin, Idi: A monster who gave his country an eight-year reign of terror (1971–1979). During Amin’s time in office, three hundred thousand Ugandans were murdered, many of whom were doctors, the elite, and the educated.
Angut!: A curse word whose meaning depends on the context of its use. Here, a simple translation is “Serves me right” or “What have I gotten myself into?”
Ankole cattle: Domestic, longhorned cattle with a long head, short neck, and narrow chest. The male often has a thoracic hump. The length of its horns and its coloring often determine the value of the cow.
Arege: Local moonshine or homemade alcoholic drink.
Atoo tin!: This phrase must be translated in context to the situation. Here it means roughly, “I’m dead today.” In Western termsthink, “Just shoot me.”
Boda-boda: Motorcycle-taxi or bicycle. People in need of a lift flag one down and hop on the back.
Busutis: A traditional wraparound dress, although not necessarily of the Acholi tradition.
Cassava: A tuber root that may be eaten fresh or dried, or may be turned into flour. It is an African staple but has minimal nutritional value.
Cen: Evil spirits.
Cilim: AIDS.
Do-do: Green vegetables.
Football: In North America, we would call the game they play in Uganda soccer. As an example, in the British tradition a football is what we would call a round soccer ball.
Gagi: Shells.
Geuka: Right (direction).
Jogi: Witches, spirits.
Kabutu: Sleeping place; it is sometimes a bit of wood raised on the ground, or other times an animal skin laid over hard ground.
Kisipi: AIDS.
Kisra: Sorghum bread.
Kolo: A mat outside the hut.
Kony, Joseph: Leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).
Konyi pe: A derogatory phrase often shouted at the mothers of child soldiers who have returned. It translates as “You are useless.”
Kwaro: A grandfather.
Lacoi: A milky white drink, thick and potent.
Lajok: A witch doctor with great and evil powers.
Lamero: A drunk.
Langi: An ethnic tribal group prominent in northern Uganda.
Language: The official language in Uganda is English, although it is not uncommon for a child attending elementary school to speak English plus two or three local dialects, along with KiSwahili, Italian (due to the influence of the Catholic Church), and perhaps French.
LRA: Lord’s Resistance Army.
Lwit oput: A herb that is reputed to reduce pain.
Maize: Corn.
Mak wot: Walk faster.
Matooke: Steamed and mashed banana.
Mazungu: White person.
Medicine man (Sometimes called ajwaka.): In the very simplest of terms it is believed that a medicine man can communicate with spirits; use local medicines for healing purposes; identify or chase away evil spirits called cen, ayweya, gemo, or jok; and commune with the spirits of the dead.
Money: 1,700 Ugandan shillings are roughly equal to $1.00.
Munu: White person.
“Munu, mina cwit!”: Children’s saying that means “White person, please, give me candies.”
Murchison Falls: Flanks the Victoria Nile, 300 kilometres northwest of Uganda’s capital city, Kampala.
Museveni, Yoweri: President of the National Resistance Party (NRM), 1986 to the present time. Under this regime, Uganda has seen a re-establishment of law, an appointed Human Rights Commission, increased freedom of the press, and the establishment of a publicly funded elementary school education (to Grade 6).
Mutoka: Jeep, motor car, or automobile.
Nyuma: Left (direction).
Okuru-ogwal: Flowering poisonous plants often used around the outside walls of a house to deter thieves.
Ongere: Young squirrel.
Otidi: Small.
Owii: A type of tree.
Oyot oyot: Hurry.
Padi: A priest.
Panga: A long knife or machete.
Pekke: Small box or bag containing food.
Potio: White cornmeal.
Sapatu: A flip-flop sandal.
Tipu: Prophet, holy one.
Tong: Spear.
Twoo jonyo: AIDS.
White ants: In Acholi, called ngwen.
Woda: “My son.” The Acholi people, especially older women, might call any younger man woda out of respect.