Page Type: languageGanda | Ethnologue

LUG ISO 639-3

Ganda

Luganda Autonym

A language of Uganda

ISO 639
lug
Alternate Names
Baganda, LùGáànda, luGanda
Autonym
Luganda
Population
10,950,000 in Uganda, all users. L1 users: 5,560,000 in Uganda (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation. L2 users: 5,390,000 (2014 R. Nzogi). Total users in all countries: 11,004,750 (as L1: 5,614,750; as L2: 5,390,000).
Location:
Buganda province: Lake Victoria northwest shore to Lake Kyoga and Tanzania border.
Language Status
3 (Wider communication). De facto language of national identity.
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Nyoro-Ganda (E.15)
Dialects
Kooki (Olukooki), Sese (Olusese), Vuma (Luvuma), Diopa (Ludiopa). Lexical similarity: 71%–86% with Soga [xog], 68% with Gwere [gwr].
Typology
SVO.
Language Use
Used in primary schools and churches especially in the south. Kooki dialect may be extinct. Home, work, church. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Most also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Chiga [cgg], Gwere [gwr], Kenye [lke], Kuku [ukv], Masaaba [myx], Nubi [kcn], Nyankore [nyn], Nyole [nuj], Nyoro [nyo], Ruruuli-Runyala [ruc], Saamya-Gwe [lsm], Soga [xog].
Language Development
Widely used for literacy. Many adults outside the language area learned to read Ganda in school (2021 SIL). Taught in primary and secondary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1896–2017.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Ganda
Writing
Latin script [Latn], used since 1947.
Other Comments
Vuma dialect is moribund. Christian, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Ganda
User Population
3,450 in United Kingdom (2011 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of United Kingdom
Language Name
Ganda
User Population
50,000 in Kenya (2020 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Kenya

Map

Location: Buganda province: Lake Victoria northwest shore to Lake Kyoga and Tanzania border.