Festivals & Events

1. Omwaka Omulungi!

   Happy New Year!

   Usage

   A New Year greeting. A sentence from Tatoeba

   Grammar Note

   omwaka (year) is a mu- class noun, so the adjective -lungi appears as omulungi. Used exactly as in Tatoeba.

2. Nkwagaliza Omwaka Omulungi

   I wish you a Happy New Year

   Usage

   A fuller New Year wish. A sentence from Tatoeba

   Grammar Note

   Nkwagaliza = N- (I) + -ku- (you) + -agaliza (wish well). Used exactly as in Tatoeba.

3. Ssekukkulu

   Christmas

   Usage

   Christmas. "Ssekukkulu Ennungi!" is the Christmas greeting

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary writes Sikukkulu, but Tatoeba and lg.wikipedia write Ssekukkulu, which is used here.

4. Ogenda kulya ki ku Ssekukkulu?

   What are you going to eat at Christmas?

   Usage

   Asks how the other person will celebrate with food. A sentence from Tatoeba

   Grammar Note

   "Ogenda + infinitive" expresses a near future (ogenda kulya = you are going to eat). Used exactly as in Tatoeba.

5. Ssande ya Paasika

   Easter Sunday

   Usage

   Easter Sunday. Paasika is the word for Easter

   Grammar Note

   lg.wikipedia has the usage "Ssande ya Paasika". The dictionary gives Easter = Paasika, Amazuukira.

6. Olunaku lw'Obwetwaze bw'eggwanga

   Independence Day (9 October)

   Usage

   The national holiday (9 October) marking Uganda's independence in 1962. lg.wikipedia mentions it in connection with events held to mark the day

   Grammar Note

   Taken from the lg.wikipedia phrase "olunaku lw'Obwetwaze bw'eggwanga". The dictionary gives independence = eddembe, but this form is the one used for the day's name.

7. Abajulizi ba Uganda

   The Uganda Martyrs (Martyrs' Day is 3 June)

   Usage

   Commemorates the Catholic and Anglican converts killed in 1885-1887 (45 people per lg.wikipedia). Every 3 June many pilgrims gather at the Namugongo shrine

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives martyr = omujulizi and martyrdom = obujulizi. Abajulizi is the plural (aba- class), so the "of" is ba. The 3 June date and Namugongo are general knowledge.

8. Embaga

   Feast; wedding feast

   Usage

   A feast, most often a wedding feast (embaga y'obugole). lg.wikipedia also uses it in forms such as "olugoye lw'embaga" (wedding dress)

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary gives feast = embaga, entujjo and wedding = obugole, embaga y'obugole.

9. Ngenda ku kabaga

   I'm going to a party

   Usage

   Says you are going to a celebration or party. A sentence from Tatoeba

   Grammar Note

   Ngenda is the first person of okugenda (to go). Do not confuse it with okwenda, which means adultery. lg.wikipedia also uses kabaga k'amazaalibwa (birthday party).

10. Leero lunaku lwange olwamazaalibwa

    Today is my birthday

    Usage

    Tells people it is your birthday. A sentence from Tatoeba

    Grammar Note

    lunaku (day) is a lu- class noun, so lwange and olwa agree with it. amazaalibwa is birthday (dictionary). Used exactly as in Tatoeba.

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