Five Important Cultural Aspects to Bear in Mind When expanding to Uganda

Are you considering expanding to Uganda? Here’s everything you need to know about their culture, from religious beliefs to the best way to approach translation services for the Ugandan market.

The talk of culture in business has strategically been avoided in the past. Since it raises huge concerns and often limits efforts on expanding beyond the geographics, it is taken more like an obstacle to growth.

However, it is an essential aspect worth considering for investors and economists.

Why is Culture Important for Investors?

Culture by definition involves “Customary beliefs and values that ethnic, religious, and social groups transmit fairly unchanged from generation to generation” (Guiso, Sapienza and Zingales, 2006)

So, while you cannot entrench the market, completely tearing cultural beliefs apart, there are a few sides you can look through.

We can call them the ‘malleable aspects’ of culture; though they are important, you can find a way around them.

When we talk about the culture of Uganda, it includes everything from the language, religion, core values, lifestyle, beliefs, and a lot of other aspects. For a business to be successful or connect with the locals, you need to know the language.

For that, you can make use of a certified Swahili translation service like us here at Africa Ready. Uganda, also known as the ‘pearl of Africa,’ has been struggling with poverty, human rights, and other economic and social growth parameters in the past. However, during the early 2000s, Uganda saw significant advancements in all these aspects.

Due to these factors and, of course, the strategic location, wildlife, and agro-based economy, expanding to this region is now being seen as a lucrative business opportunity by many investors today.

So here, we’ll take a look at the five most important cultural aspects you need to consider before expanding your business to Uganda.

Culture may sometimes inhibit growth, but it also helps you connect with the region and its people better once you understand it.

However, you cannot push it aside and sell your product – or service – here in a place like Uganda.

So, here are a few cultural aspects you need to bear in mind if you are thinking of expanding here:

Food

With 72% of the workforce employed in the agricultural sector, food is an essential part of the culture. Most of the food Ugandans eat is grown and produced in their homes.

People usually grow their crops and staple foods, except those living in urban areas. They typically stick to a two-time meal as per culture, i.e., lunch and supper.

Breakfast isn’t a properly prepared meal either; usually, it’s a quickie like tea or oatmeal.

Culture still sticks to traditional norms here, so women and girls prepare all meals. These are cooked using wood and fire, and the most loved dishes are:

• Millet bread
• Fish
• Cassava
• Beef/chicken stews
• Matoke
• Sweet potato

Usually, the food grown in-house includes veggies like:

• Corn
• White potatoes
• Cabbage
• Yams
• Peas
• Pumpkin
• Beans
• Millet

Fruit includes:

• Oranges
• Tomatoes
• Papayas
• Lemons
• Pineapples

Most food produced in Uganda is often exported to other countries. Foods like fish and other produce, coffee, tea, and corn are often exported worldwide.

With lakes and rivers covering nearly 18% of the country, fishing is vital for economic growth.

Religion

A majority of the population is made up of Roman Catholics and Protestants.

Almost 14% are Muslim, and there is a small minority that follows local beliefs (millenarian Religions.)

Knowledge of religion is very important for business. Anything that offsets or addresses something against religious beliefs backfires badly.

Language

Swahili is the primary language of the region. So, if you are taking your business here, you may need some help connecting with the locals. Thankfully our reputable translation can assist you. We specialise in professional Swahili translation services and work with clients across numerous industries, whether the legal, financial, marketing, or technical sectors.

Social Strata

There’s still much inequality between classes in the region. Since the poverty rate remained high for long, social differences still exist among different classes.

While poverty has dropped, with more people having access to education and employment, it’s still not entirely out of this region. This means there is an unequal distribution of wealth. Those with more disposable income usually reside in the capital city, i.e., Kampala.

Socio-Economic Status

In the late 1980s’, the country was in an economic decline. As a result, there was minimal focus on industries.

In the 1990s, the government made efforts to set up more facilities and accelerate the production/refining of sugar. Other industries in focus were cotton, tobacco, breweries, and the cement industry.

That is when the region experienced a substantial – 13.2% – industrial growth.

By the late 1900s, the country experienced a rise in exports. These included coffee, tea, corn, and fish.

The importing countries for these products include:

• Germany
• Spain
• Italy
• France
• Netherlands

Government

Currently, the ruling powers are the unicameral parliament, with all executive powers resting with the president.

One primary criterion to be part of the government and further progression is considering whether the person was part of the guerrilla army during the tenure of President Museveni in 1986. Such individuals are recognised due to their efforts and influence.

Law

The government formulated a legal system in 1995 according to English common and customary law. So, they do have a high court and a court for appeals.

Military

The country has an army, air force, and navy. All recruitment is voluntary, though the good part is that the glass ceiling has been majorly lifted in this field. There are opportunities for both men and women in the military.

Traditions and Holidays

Now let’s talk a bit about the national holidays in Uganda:

Most of the calendar holidays are in accordance with the world calendar. They have:

● New Year’s Eve

● Liberation Day: January 26th

● International Women’s Day: March 8th

● Labour Day: May 1st

● Independence Day: October 9th.

 Greetings

Handshake is the norm here, and due importance is given to dining etiquettes.

These involve handwashing, sitting on the floor to eat, eating together as a family for meals, and saying a prayer before mealtime.

Conclusion

Going beyond your horizon and expanding to other geographic regions can be a lot to take on. However, proper planning and taking the time to understand the country’s culture, political, and economic situation can help mitigate the risk and meet the new challenges.