What are popular Christmas traditions in Uganda?

In Uganda, Christmas is celebrated with a blend of religious observance, family gatherings and local customs. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are often spent attending church services, as most Ugandans are Christian and place a strong emphasis on the holiday’s religious significance. 

Churches across Uganda hold vibrant services filled with singing, dancing and nativity plays. Families also gather for large feasts, with traditional dishes like matoke (steamed banana), roasted meats, rice, chapati and posho (a type of maize porridge). It’s common for families to return to their home villages, especially if they work or study in cities, making it a highly anticipated homecoming. Decorating homes with Christmas lights, pine tree branches and small plastic Christmas trees has also grown in popularity. Uganda’s Christmas celebrations are all about community, making it a joyful and unifying time of year.

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