Christmas, the Ugandan Way

It is that festive time of the year and in Uganda, it is a time of family bonding, joy, togetherness, unity and love sharing. Worldwide, people are preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ on 25th December but in Uganda preparations begin as early as November. 

When you walk along the streets of Kampala, the capital of Uganda, the only music you will hear rhyming in your ears is Christmas carols by both international and local artists. The most common Christmas carols played in Uganda are songs by the late Philly Bongole Lutaaya, a Ugandan who released quite a number of songs that are played a lot during the Christmas time of the year. 

As early as November, a number of Ugandans are always seen shopping for Christmas trees and decorations from downtown Kampala and business centers like Kikubo and Kiyembe, also located in Kampala where prices of various commodities are sold at favorably cheaper prices. 

People whose families are far from them endeavor to finish all their work assignments early enough in order to break off and be able to travel and go to be with their families in time for the celebrations. For those who live with their families, the aim is still to break off work early and be able to have quality time to spend with their families.

Transport during the month of December is hiked due to the large numbers of people who usually travel to villages to spend Christmas with their families and the movement of buses also increases due to increased movement of the people. 

Home grocery shopping is normally done on 22nd, 23rd or 24th of December and products are usually bought from farmers’ markets in order to buy fresh products that can be used when preparing the Christmas day meals. 

One of the Christmas traditions anticipated mostly by children is receiving Christmas clothes from parents and this always keeps them eager to know what they are yet to receive every Christmas.

One of the Christmas traditions that we always loved and looked forward to growing up was putting up the Christmas decorations and decorating the Christmas tree. This is usually done a week before Christmas day and everyone in the family from youngest to the eldest has to help out in one way or the other. 

Christmas Eve is a day for preparing what will be eaten throughout Christmas day so that meals are served on time. This is always done by the women in the family and includes peeling of the food and covering it in saucepans where it is to be cooked.

The women wake up as early as 5am on Christmas day in order to put the food on fire since there is always a lot to cook. 

Food is always in plenty since many family members are always present from the elders to grandchildren. 

Christmas day evenings are mostly for cake cutting and storytelling which is usually done while sitting around a brightly burning fire, and these things all bring the family together. 

That for us, is Christmas.