Busoga sub-region is found in Eastern Uganda occupying an area of over 10,000 square kilometers and according to the 2014 national census^[1] about 40 percent of the people in the eastern region live in this sub-region.

Administrative divisions

As of 2018, the districts that constitute the Busoga sub-region include the following:

• Bugiri District (formerly part of Iganga District until 1997)
• Bugweri District (formerly part of Iganga District until 2018)
• Buyende District (formerly part of Kamuli District until 2010)
• Iganga District (formerly part of Jinja District until 1980)
• Jinja District
• Kaliro District (formerly part of Kamuli District until 2006)
• Kamuli District (formerly part of Jinja District until 1980)
• Luuka District (formerly part of Iganga District until 2010)
• Mayuge District (formerly part of Iganga District until 2000)
• Namayingo District (formerly part of Bugiri District until 2010)
• Namutumba District (formerly part of Iganga District until 2006)

History

The area covered by the above districts constitutes the traditional Busoga Kingdom. Milton Obote abolished the traditional kingdoms in Uganda in 1967. When Yoweri Museveni re-established them in 1993, Busoga re-constituted itself.

Ethnicity and language

The sub-region is home mainly to the Basoga ethnic group. The people of Busoga are called Basoga (singular: Musoga). The Basoga speak Lusoga, a Bantu language. Lusoga is similar to Luganda, spoken by the people of the neighboring Buganda Region, which is also referred to as Central Uganda.