Rukiga Language Resources

Language resources in Rukiga or Rukiga-Runyakore are somewhat rare. That said, below I will provide you a few resources to use start and continue your journey of learning Rukiga, both written and listening based resources:

A. Written Resources:

1. Rukiga Primer provided by the Peace Centre:

This Rukiga primer, found here, is helpful for beginners. The file is currently hosted by a children program/orphanage in southwestern Uganda. This will be helpful to learners who are just starting with the basics, though you would need a mentor to help figure out appropriate pronunciation.

    2. Rukiga Primer provided by the Western Uganda.net site:

Another Rukiga primer, found on this site (look for the download Rukiga manual link) is a helpful resource. This is another resource that will be helpful to learners who are just starting in order to get the basics of the language down (or for more advanced people to brush up on any weak spots or gaps), though again a mentor is needed to help figure out pronunciation and related details.

     3. Orumuri – Uganda’s bi/weekly Rukiga-Runyankore (and Runyakitara) Newspaper:

While this newspaper is most easily accessed when in Uganda, they maintain a facebook site in Rukiga-Runyakore. It can be found here. Accessing this newspaper or the facebook page will provide learners the opportunity to practice reading Rukiga and grasping major events of the day. This will likely only be accessible to people at intermediate-high and above ability in Rukiga.

4. A Runyankore Grammer by H.F. Morris and B.E.R Kirwan

This book is available in the UW library system. It is an extensive grammar for Runyankore. It likely could be of use to learnings from beginner to advance levels as a basic learning tool as well as a refresher.

5. Abagabe B’Ankole by A.G. Katate and L. Kamugungunu

This book is available in the UW library system. A history book on the Kings of the Banyankore. It is written totally in Runyankore. This would likely only be accessible to advanced Rukiga speakers as it is fairly dense and uses a wide range of vocabulary.

6. Emitwarize ya Wakami by Kesi K. Nganwa

This book is available in the UW library system. An older children’s short story that seems designed to be used for educational texts. This would likely be useful for intermediate level readers.

7. Nkutebeze by Bendikto K. Mubangizi

This book is available in the UW library system. A young children’s book to be used in an educational setting. This would likely be of use for high-beginners or low-intermediate level learners to practice their reading skills.

B. Listening Resources:

1. TV West – Uganda’s Rukiga-Runyankore (and Runyakitara) Television Station:

TV West maintains a youtube site that shows clips and features of the regular television broadcast done in Rukiga-Runyankore. People in Western Uganda and southcentral Uganda around Kampala the capital often tune into the station in the evening too catch up on the news. It can be found here. Watching the videos on this youtube station will allow learners to actually listen to Rukiga spoken and used to talk about public issues. That said, good understanding of what is being said only will likely only be accessible to people at intermediate-high and above ability in Rukiga.

   2. Rukiga-Runyankore Songs:

There are various mixes of Rukiga-Runyankore songs available on youtube. These are of various genres, though most are “folk songs”, found here, or gospel songs and hymns, found here and here, or  pop songs, found here. Good understanding of what is being said only will likely only be accessible to people at intermediate-high and above ability in Rukiga.