Bamasaba, Masaba in Uganda      Largest Religion  Main Language
Introduction / History  The Bamasaaba are a Bantu people group
of about 1,000,000 who live in eastern Uganda, Mbale and Sironko
Districts, adjacent to Mt. Elgon at the Kenyan border. They
migrated from Kenya and were the first people to inhabit the
western and southwestern slopes of Mt. Elgon (known as Mt.
Masaba by the locals). The area is considered the food-basket of
Uganda and is also known for producing high-quality Arabica
coffee, the main cash crop.  The Bamasaaba are subsistence
farmers, growing bananas, sweet and Irish potatoes, cabbage,
tomatoes, maize, beans, carrots, passion fruit and onions. They
also raise cattle and other livestock and trade on a small
scale. The main custom that distinguishes them from other tribes
is their tradition of male circumcision. They see this rite as
their defining feature as a tribe. They also have different
naming rituals and worship a different local god than their
neighbors although the majority be