UGANDANS:  THE FRIENDLIEST PEOPLE

Traveling in Africa, one quickly realizes that at every turn in the road there is another tribe, another language, another set of cultural differences.  This definitely makes moving about on this continent very interesting; at the same time, one starts to realize that certain countries perpetuate distinct characteristics of the indigenous people.  What is most enjoyable about the Ugandans, is that they are the friendliest people on the continent.  Over and over again, travelers comment on how different the people are immediately after crossing one of the many borders into Uganda.  The country is

surrounded by Sudan on the north, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda on the West, Tanzania to the south and Kenya to the east.  The neighbours to Uganda are many, and each is quite different from each other and from Uganda itself; particularly with respect to their friendliness.

Uganda was labeled by Winston Churchill in 1907 as the ‘Pearl of Africa’.  This label has become the slogan for Uganda; there is little doubt that it is well deserved.  When one reads Churchill’s basis for this label it refers to the magnificent landscapes and wildlife, particularly the bird life within Uganda.  There is little mention of the people, and in particular the friendliness of the Ugandans.  So many early explorers focus on this uniqueness of the Ugandans and despite all the turmoil of unrest and civil wars of the past years, the friendliness of these people remains constant.  It only takes a few minutes after arriving at Entebbe airport to realize that people are quite different here.

Unlike the more aggressive culture of Kenya, Ugandans regularly greet foreigners on the street, with no other agenda than just being friendly.   They seem to have a natural desire to make people feel welcome, even people that are complete strangers.  If you are a newcomer to Uganda and looking for an address, it is very common when asking directions, from a complete stranger that you ask on the street, to take you by the hand and escort you to where you are going.  This helpfulness and friendliness is unusual for most travelers to first accept as just that, friendliness.  In neighbouring countries, this kind of assistance is usually followed with an outstretched hand and an expectation of a monetary reward; but in Uganda, this is not the norm. 

When first meeting people in a social setting, like a bar or restaurant, one immediately realizes that things are different here in Uganda.  People smile, welcome you, even come and shake your hand in a warm greeting.  If one walks down the street in a small village, it is not uncommon for each and every person that you pass on the roadside to greet you; sometimes it is quite overwhelming.  These greetings are quite genuine and expressed warmly.  Service in Uganda is not the best, but it is warm and sincere, which seems to make up for the lack of efficiency that most Westerners are used to.  In most cases, this tradeoff is totally acceptable; genuine friendliness goes a long way to making one feel appreciated, something that is rare in the Western world. 

When one has forged a relationship with a Ugandan, friendship reaches even a higher level.  If you are invited to someone’s home that you have befriended, it can be quite overwhelming the reception one receives not only from one’s friend, but from all the relatives and neighbours.  People seem to be falling over themselves to make you feel welcome, not only in their home, but in their neighbourhood and even in their village.   Thiswarmth and hospitality is unprecedented in Africa; most African nations are known for their friendship, but Uganda has raised the bar on welcoming newcomers.