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American family masters Rukiga
Mr Daniel Hugh Jamison, his wife and children after an interview in Kanungu District. PHOTO/ALEX AHUMUZA
What you need to know:
- The Americans, who are advocates of mother tongue preservation, urge Ugandans, especially those from affluent and urban backgrounds, to embrace local languages.
In a fascinating display of cultural exchange, an American family has not only taken on the challenge of learning but has also become fluent in Rukiga, the mother tongue of the Bakiga people in southwestern Uganda. The language is predominantly spoken in the districts of Kanungu, Kabale, Rukungiri, Rukiga, and Rubanda.
Mr Daniel Hugh Jamison, 42, and his family have immersed themselves in the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Bakiga, promoting a deeper appreciation for local traditions. Mr Jamison resides in Buhoma Village, Buhoma Town Council in Bwindi, Kanungu District. Mr Jamison relocated from the United States to Kanungu with his family in 2015. Mr Jamison and his wife, Rachel Elizabeth, work at Bwindi Community Hospital, which is managed by the Church of Uganda Diocese of Kinkizi.
Mr Jamison manages its guest house, which hosts visitors from around the globe. His wife, Rachel serves as a midwife at the same hospital. Together, they are raising their three children—Willow Ray Jamison, 16; Ansel Hugh Jamison, 15; and Saayuuni Gift Jamison, 6—in Kanungu.
Ansel, the couple’s second child, began learning Rukiga at the age of five and is now fluent. He has channelled his passion for language and community development into founding a football academy, named the Defender Academy, which now boasts more than 40 young football enthusiasts. “I started the academy to promote talent and skills among the youth,” Ansel says.
“My academy includes both those still in school and others who had to leave due to unavoidable circumstances,” he adds. Ansel encourages his peers to value their mother tongue, stressing its importance in preserving culture and fostering a strong sense of identity.
In addition to sports, Ansel has introduced his academy members to fish farming, blending recreation with sustainable livelihood practices. “I thought it wise to establish fish ponds for my friends in the academy to help them maintain healthy lives,” he says.
Ansel’s father, is a strong advocate for mother tongue preservation. He challenges the misconception that local languages are only for the poor and urges Ugandans, especially those from affluent urban backgrounds, to embrace their linguistic roots.
“Parents in Ugandan cities push their children to speak only English, forgetting that they need to communicate with relatives in the villages, particularly those who never attended school,” he says.
“Local languages are a source of pride, not shame,” Mr Jamison adds. Kiya Festo, a coach at the Defender Academy, says Ansel not only teaches English but also donates books on tourism, particularly birdwatching, to fellow youth.
Dr Kassuda Daniel, a gynaecologist at Bwindi Community Hospital, praises Rachel Jamison for her contributions as a midwife, noting that her ability to communicate in Rukiga greatly enhances patient comfort and trust. “She provides comprehensive women’s health services, and speaking Rukiga makes expectant mothers feel more at ease during labour,” he says, adding: “This demonstrates the powerful link between language, culture, and effective healthcare.” Through the efforts of the Jamison family and others in the community, the Rukiga language is not only being preserved but is also serving as a tool for unity and progress.
Why the decline
Mr Godiano Minyeto, a retired primary school headteacher, expresses concern about the steady decline in the use of mother languages in the Kigezi sub-region. He attributes the trend to modernisation and the growing number of elites, which he says are eroding cultural values. “Many university graduates here can hardly construct a full sentence in Rukiga without inserting English words, which endangers the language,” he warns.
“There is an urgent need to include indigenous languages in nursery and lower primary school curricula to promote cultural heritage from an early age,” he adds. The 2014 national census indicates that Rukiga was spoken by approximately 1.6 million people across the districts of Kanungu, Kabale, Rukungiri, Rukiga, and Rubanda.
