Lugungu
The Bagungu live in Buliisa and Hoima districts in western Uganda. They call their language Lugungu.
Quick facts:
Population: 84,000 (2014)
Location: Buliisa and Hoima Districts
Language family: Niger-Congo > Bantu > Nyoro-Ganda (JE10)
Read about Lugungu [rub] on the Ethnologue website
Lugungu is spoken in Buliisa and Hoima districts (area shaded red).
Some background information
After a survey of language use in the area was carried out by an SIL member from 1991 to 1993, the local Diocese of the Church of Uganda asked SIL for help in translating the Bible into Lugungu. In 1993 the church sent a secondary school teacher for initial training in translation. He then went on to do a degree at Pan African Christian College in Nairobi studying linguistics, translation principles and Biblical studies. Upon graduating, he became one of the first Lugungu Bible translators.
Language work began among the Bagungu in 1996 with the formation of the Lugungu Language Committee, now renamed LUBITLA - The Lugungu Bible Translation and Literacy Association. This organisation consists of key political, religious and educational leaders who provide guidance and support for the language project. Translation consultants from SIL support the translators with technical expertise.
The first books of the Bible to be published in Lugungu were Jonah and the Gospel of Luke. A dictionary and many other books and materials in Lugungu have since been published, including story books, readers, and health information. Literacy and Scripture engagement workers promote mother tongue literacy and encourage the reading and application of Scriptures through workshops carried out among the Bagungu. The New Testament in Lugungu was published and launched in 2017. The Old Testament is currently in progress.
Some available resources
- Lugungu New Testament, 2017 – text and audio
- Read Lugungu Scripture hosted by The Global Bible Project.
- Listen to Lugungu Scripture on © Bible.is
- Lugungu Dictionary, 2012 (online version)
- Lugungu Orthography Guide, 2004, revised 2011 (online here)
- Lugungu Primer, 2006 (online here)
- The JESUS film in Lugungu (watch online)
- Various Lugungu readers, stories and health booklets (some online here)
Download the Lugungu Bible app
Visit the Lugungu project website to access more resources
Contact us for more information about language development work in Lugungu.