Chope / Paluo

A Bridge between Nilotic and Bantu Worlds

The Chope, also known as Paluo or Bachope, are a small Luo sub-group of about 34,000 people who reside along the Victoria Nile, northwest of Lake Kyoga. They are mainly concentrated in the Kiryandongo District, part of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom—one of Uganda’s oldest and most historically significant kingdoms. While the Chope belong to the Nilotic ethnic family, they also share deep cultural ties with the Bantu, the dominant group in Uganda. This blending of heritages reflects a unique history...

Origins and Migrations

The Chope are part of the broader Luo people, who trace their origins to Bar-el-Ghazal in present-day South Sudan. During the great Luo migrations of the 16th century, various Luo sub-groups—including the Acholi, Alur, Joluo, Padhola, and Shilluk—spread across East Africa. The Chope are among the smallest and least known of these groups.

Historically, the Chope broke away from their Luo relatives, particularly the Acholi, and migrated south to what is now Kiryandongo District in the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom. Their movement is tied to a legend involving the mysterious departure of the Bachwezi rulers, who left the kingdom without an heir. Before this, a Chwezi prince named Omucwezi Kyomya—brother to the then-king Omukama Omucwezi Ndahura—had married a Luo woman from Northern Uganda.

When the Bachwezi rulers disappeared, the elders of Bunyoro-Kitara sought out Isingoma Mpuuga Rukidi (also known as Lakidi), the eldest son of Prince Kyomya and the Luo woman. Isingoma Mpuuga and his brothers were living in Northern Uganda with their mother. A Luo delegation accompanied him and his three brothers to Bunyoro-Kitara for his coronation as king.

On their journey, the delegation made a resting stop in what is now Kiryandongo District. It is believed that members of this very delegation remained there, eventually forming what became the Chope community within the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom.

Culture and Identity

Over time, the Chope intermarried with the local Bantu population, resulting in a blend of Bantu and Nilotic heritage. Some of their descendants are thought to be the Bagungu, a community living along the eastern shores of Lake Albert in Buliisa District. While adopting Bantu customs, especially those of the Banyoro, the Chope also retained elements of their original Luo culture.

The Chope belong to the Chope region under the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom, which is currently ruled by Omukama Agutamba Solomon Gafabusa Iguru I. Their language, Palou, is a Luo dialect that has absorbed Bantu influences over time.

Traditionally agricultural, the Chope cultivate millet, sorghum, cassava, maize, sweet potatoes, and vegetables. Their staple dishes include millet, cassava, and sweet potatoes, often eaten with beans. They also brew traditional drinks like Kwete from millet or maize and Nguli from cassava.

In terms of clothing, the Chope traditionally wore animal skins—a Nilotic custom—but later adopted backcloth from the Banyoro. They maintain a vibrant oral tradition, rich in stories, proverbs, riddles, and songs that emphasize values such as loyalty, wisdom, bravery, and respect. Their strong sense of community is upheld through an enduring clan system, kinship ties, and mutual support structures.

The Chope also express their cultural identity through dance. Popular forms include:

• Bwola – a royal or regal dance
• Opere – performed during celebrations of abundance and good harvests
• Otóle – a warrior dance
• Runyege-Ntogoro – a courtship dance borrowed and adapted from the Banyoro