Are Ugandans really hospitable?

Early this Month (December), a group of foreign travellers got into an accident somewhere along Masaka Road. It was not fatal but the travellers got injured. Accidents can happen anywhere in the world, and so, no one should dwell a lot on this.

However, I would like to focus on what happened at the scene of the accident. In the short video clip that was shared on social media, one visitor was seen providing first aid and caring for her friend. I believe the friend had sustained more injuries.

While she was helping, some local youth ascended on their bags and stole everything they believed was of value. This is not an isolated incident. If you have ever been involved in an accident, you know what I am talking about. Ugandans can steal anything from road accident victims.

Over the past 15-20 years, such things have become the definition of Ugandans whenever there is a road accident. Instead of people running to help, they run to search the victims and steal.

One time I held a man’s hand while he was sliding it into my pockets. He thought I was severely injured. Another time my neighbour got into a road accident and became unconscious. Some guy emptied his bags and pockets. But the ‘thief’ was ‘kind’ enough to call my neighbour’s wife and inform her that the husband had died in the accident. 

When we called back to get the details, the guy shouted at us, claiming that the phone had now become his and we should stop disturbing him. He took the phone. Local people always search the victims’ vehicles before even helping. You would say that what happens on roads is kind of isolated. It is not. It’s a sign of a bigger problem.

We are at a level where you check into a hotel and the first notice you read is “don’t leave your valuables in the room”. Who else has access to my room apart from the hosts? You can walk into a restaurant and they serve you food that has stayed five days, just recycled in cooking oil. 

As long as they make money, some of these people do not care what happens to your stomach. Ugandans can insult in vernacular especially when they realise you do not speak their language. Today, you cannot ask for a lift from anyone and they help, not even church members after the service. There are places (shops, hotels, etc) you can walk into and the attendants simply ignore you. One even told me that “I am afraid you cannot afford prices here”. I just shook my head and walked away.

You cannot drive on Kampala streets with an unlocked car (and windows down) when you have anything of value in the car. Two thieves can attack and beat you in broad day light while 50 people are watching and can’t help. The worst are the people who drive cars – this group hardly helps anyone. In our neighborhoods, people rarely come to your rescue no matter how hard you cry for help.

These and many other examples will show you that we are a changed society. We used to be nice and caring people! What happened to us?

Hospitality means being friendly, warm and generous to others, especially guests, visitors and strangers. You do not have to know the person to be kind and helpful to them. A hospitable society is caring and helpful, generally ensuring that everyone has a pleasant stay in their community. Centuries before the arrival of Europeans, Ugandans demonstrated a high sense of hospitality. I hope you know that Ugandans travelled locally (within their Kingdoms) and internationally (across Kingdoms) for various reasons.

At the time we did not have restaurants, hotels or entertainment places. So, travelers depended on the hospitality of communities, and homesteads located on the paths to their destinations. These enroute hosts provided accommodation, food, water and medicine to the travelers and many respects, strangers. In return they received gifts from the travellers, and in many instances made good friends who would invite them to visit their areas later on. 

Travellers were treated very well, and people took time to show direction to any traveller who got lost. Both hosts and travellers built relationships. The European explorers, missionaries and other foreigners enjoyed the same hospitality. That is how they wrote so much about the niceness of the people of Uganda. It is true that a vast majority of Ugandans are still hospitable but things are changing very fast. 

As a country, we need to start being intentional and deliberate about keeping this important societal value. If we cross to the point where it is irreversible, no one will enjoy travelling to Uganda. Not even ourselves will like travelling within our own country.
It is not yet too late to do something. Let’s be hospitable to everyone. 

Dr Celestine Katongole, PhD Senior Lecturer Makerere University Business School