TRANSLATING RHYME PROJECT IN UGANDA
RHYME TRANSLATION PROJECT

This is one of the projects that Bridge Builders Uganda is implementing in partnership with Scotland schools to develop the talents and critical thinking of children from the age of 5 to 11 in both private and public nursery and primary institutions in Uganda. It will be implemented across all regions of Uganda.
Bridge Builders Uganda together with Scotland schools intends to implement this by compiling the learning songs in the local language while translating them into English to enhance the critical thinking of children from the age of 5 to 15, targeting the Nursery section, P1, P2, and P4. This project is a form of Early Childhood Development since it enhances children’s confidence, critical thinking, and creativity, among many other things.

RHYME IN ATESO
IDIOPE KEDE IYAREI-FROM NORTHEASTERN PART OF UGANDA
Idiope, idiope,idiope kede iyarei, idiope kede iyarei,idieope ebeyit alemar kinga, iwuni,
wongon,ikanyi,ikanyape,ikanyarei,ikanyauni kede ikanyangon kede itomon
TRANSLATION FROM ATESO TO ENGLISH: ONE, ONE AND TWO ONE AND TWO
One, one, one and two one and two, one of you will get out of the race when the 10th number
lands on you, three, four, five, six, seven eight and nine and ten

RHYME IN ATESO FROM NORTH EASTERN UGANDA
IKOKU YEN IBANGI
Ikoku yen ibag elosi abolia atukot
Dodo itumora papa be ejain ikoku osomeroX2
Okwe ikoku yen ibangi otam beri ijoda asomo, tetereri papa kon kon beri eleli ori
Papa kede toto, oyangazi ngoda asomero
Iteeter idwe itunga
TRANSLATION FROM ATESO TO ENGLISH –TITTLE: LAZY BOY
Lazy child just does to play at school
The father is conformable that the child is busy reading.
Lazy boy be serious in class so that you bring happiness to your father

LANGO RHYME FROM MID NORTHERN PART OF UGANDA
BOR TUNGWA BOR
Tungwa ….Tungwa bor…..
Tungwa bor….
Tungwa bor apwony wek wa owoti…… X2
Cholasi
Cawa me ka kwo a gwok dong Oromo oko, apwony wek wa owoti…… X2
Ka ping oru wan obino nen apwony wek wa owoti ……X2
TRANSLATION FROM LANGO TO ENGLISH
Our home is far, our home is far, our home is far, permit us to go, dear teacher.
Dear teacher, even though the time for the dog’s survival has clocked, please permit us to go.
Dear teacher, tomorrow we shall still meet. Dear teacher, permit us to go.
The pupils are pleading to their teacher in the song that it is already lunch hour and that the teacher should release and permit them to go home because their homes are far. The pupils went ahead to tell their teacher that even the time that the dog starts moving around to look for survival has already clocked meaning the time they are supposed to go back home to go and eat has already clocked and that tomorrow we shall still meet so dear our teacher please permit us to go back home because the home is far.

RHYME IN LANGO LANGUAGE FROM MID NORTHERN UGANDA:
OGWANG OWOTO INAM….
Ogwang owoto inam pe dong dwogo…….
Ogwang owoto inam pe dong dwogo…….
Ogwang owoto inam pe dong dwogo…….
Ogwang owoto inam pe dong dwogo…….
Chorus
Pe dong dwogo…..
Pe dong dwogo…..
Ogwang owoto inam pe dong dwogo…….
Pe dong dwogo…..
Ogwang owoto inam pe dong dwogo…….
RHYME TRANSLATION FROM LANGO TO ENGLISH
Ogwang went to the river and delayed to come back, delayed to come back, delayed to come back.
Ogwang went to the river and delayed coming back.
Ogwang went to the river to do fishing and people are busy waiting to buy the fish from him but he delayed to come back and people over waited for him but he delayed to come back.

RHYME IN LANGO ANUGAUE MID NORTHERN UGANDA:
PIPINO OKOBI KIC NI KIC YIN IYENYO KOLO ACO KA IYENYA IDOK A WII ACWER.
Pipino okobi kic, kic yin iyenyo kolo…
Aco ka iyenya yin I dok a wii acwer…..
Pipino okobi kic, kic yin iyenyo kolo…
Aco ka iyenya yin I dok a wii acwer….
RHYME TRANSLATION FROM LANGI TO ENGLISH
Wasp told the bee that you are provocative, but if you provoke me, I will make you go back with your head bleeding.

RHYME IN ACHOLI LANGUAGE FROM NOTHERN UGANDA
LAFWONY OGOO WI LATIN ACEL MA PE WINYO KOP.
Lafwony ogoo wii latin acel ma pe winyo kop…..
Lafwony ogoo wii latin acel ma pe winyo kop…..
Cholasi
Latin te camo lananasi……
Latin te ling okoo…….
Latin te camo lananasi……
Latin te ling okoo…….
RHYME TRANSLATION FROM ACHOLI LANGUAGE TO ENGLISH
The teacher hit one of the pupils’ head that doesn’t listen, and that pupil ate the pineapple and the child stopped crying.
The teacher became annoyed with one of the pupils and hit the head and this very teacher picked the pineapple and gave it to this child as a mechanism of making the child to stop crying.

RHYME FROM LANGI.
OGWAL OGWAL OTED LAWELE CAI.
Ogwal ogwal oted lawele cai…
Cai te waango dog lawele…
Lawele te ngwec bang lopuk…
Lopuk te miye yat lamwonya….
Lawele te mwonyo yat okoo..
Lawele te cang maber abera…
lawele te lelo
Cholasi
Kukuduru kukuduru
Kukuduru kukuduru
Kukuduru kukuduru
Kukuduru kukuduru
RHYME TRANSLATION FROM LANGI TO ENGLISH
The frog boiled the tea for the dove unfortunately the tea was very hot and burnt the dove’s mouth. The dove rushed to the tortoise to seek for herbs to cure his burnt mouth and the dove got the tortoise and the tortoise provided the herbs to the dove and the dove took it and got healed. The dove started singing the song of joy upon healing “Kukuduru Kukuduru”.

RHYME IN LUGANDA LANGUAGE FROM CENTRAL PART OF UGANDA
EBIKELE BITAANO
Ebikele bitaano nebyebika mumazzi…
Ebikele bitaano nebyebika mumazzi…
Ebikele bitaano nebyebika mumazzi…
Ebikele bitaano nebyebika mumazzi…
Cholasi
Ekyasoka nekyebiika ekyokubiiri..
Nekyebiika ekyokusatu…
Nekyebiika byona nebiwuga.
RHYME TRANSLATION FROM LUGANDA TO ENGLISH
Five little frogs were swimming in the water and the first one went in the water, the second one also went in the water and finally the third one also went in the water and all of them started swimming in the water.

RHYME IN LUGANDA LANGUAGE CENTRAL PART OF UGANDA
ENJOVU
Enjovu
Enjovu
Cholasi.
Genda mu basi neda lwaki lwaki kuba ndi munene ate bas ntono ooh tuzinemu tuzi tuzinemu tuzi.
RHYME TRANSLATION FROM LUGANDA TO ENGLISH
Elephant, Elephant go to the bus, no! no! no! no! why? Why? Why? Because I am too big and the bus is too small shake body body shake body body.

RHYME FROM LUGANDA IN CENTRAL PART OF UGANDA.
EMBATA ENTO
Ffe tuli embata ento tetumanyi kubala tubala nga tudamu emu, biri, satu, nya, tano, mukaga, musanvu, munana, mwenda nekumi nera.
RHYME Translation from Luganda to English
We are the young ducks and we don’t know how to count but we count as we repeat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 again.

RHYME IN ATESO FROM NORTH EASTERN PART OF UGANDA
ELAGANO LOLA AWUR IKOKU YEN ELAI KOTOMA AGAAK KEDE ETORI
A parasa ngun, abu agaak kede etori ocamanaros elanga no lo ka auru
O potu kwesi ocamanaros abe otoma elap ediope idumuni kwezi epwotutu
Eruja na obu arau naka abeit
Obu agaak kede etori idoutu idio kes otoma olap kagon
Anen opotu kwesi ocamanaros ereikin kes iduwe
Konye o bu etori oge apup erono anu ebe alai ikoku ke Agaak
Anan obu Agaak ilip Etori edar eke ikoku anu gesi alosit atan awok akipi na obu Etori ocam
Anan obu Etori isjulak ikoku ke Agaak kede yenike yen asil
Aboguni Agaak atan obu gesi oras adakun ike ikoko konye agelakina ikoku
Obu Agaak igit Etori ebe aibo ejai ika ikoku mam yen aria yanika
Otemari etori ebe I kon iko gipegin
Abela Agaak ebe mam yen erai ikoku ka akoto engo ika ikoku! Konye obu etori ko gir be I kn ikoku gin
Obu Agaak ege omonyo ebe-tori tori dok tan tori araraci dok tan tero na atina dok tan
Ogeuni Etori amonyo ebe-kililio abong kililio abong kililio –abong abong tera atina abong
Anan obu Agaak a lot okoti na obu lo etumi emusangon iworok kwesi
Obu Agaak iner ike ibor kere-kosode apupokin etori da
Konye arai emusango lo obu otyonik ejaji a tub
Kenye obu ejaji odum a cowas
Obu ejaji otema ebe-alosi eego atub ikoku yen okiding teter gin ituwen eyagari atutubet
Edauni ejaji alimun kwayen obu etori otema ebe-abooo otub ikoku gin
Konye obu Agaak kogiri ebe mam itubi ikoku gin-I jaik etori koyanga
Anan obu do ejaji ojenik ebe ikoku yen erai yen Agaak-osodi ekooti ijaikin Agaak ike ikoku

TRANSLATION FROM ATESO TO ENGLISH
BEAUTIFUL RHYME IN ATESO ABUT THE CROW AND AN EAGLE
One upon a time the crow and an eagle declared competition among themselves on who
roduces beautiful baby
They gave themselves only one month to ensure that they are pregnant
A dream which became true
They each gave birth in that one month’s time
They agreed to check on each one’s baby
The eagle started feeling jealous of Agaak’s baby that looked very beautiful
Therefore, the crow requested the eagle to take care of its baby for her to go at the well to fact
ater and the Eagle allowed
When the crow left for the well, eagle brought its baby and changed with that of Agaak
Immediately, the crow came back from the well, it directly went to check on her baby but it
ooked different
The crow asked the Eagle where her child was because the one she found was not hers
The eagle answered that that is really your child
The crow said that is not my baby, I want my baby back, but the eagle refused
You Eagle-have no march-how there do you take my child? X2
Eagle also pretended by crying that –you crow have no Marcy how do you want to snatched my children from me? X2
From there the judge called them to court
The judge listens to the crow and later listened to the eagle
The judge found it hard to make final judgement
The judge later got idea
The judge made decision that the children has to be cut in the middle so that each person takes half
Immediately, the judge made the decision, the eagle started jumping with excitement that let cut the child
The crow fell very human and told the judge not cut the baby and sha allowed to surrender the baby to eagle instead of killing the innocent baby.
From the reaction that an eagle showed the court realized that the children was for the crow and was handed back to the crow!

SCOTS
Wan, wan, wan an twa, wan an twa
The wan wha's coonted nummer ten maun gang awa
ENGLISH
One, one, one and two, one and two
The one counted number ten must go away

Rhymes translated into Scots

SCOTS
Lazy loon, lazy loon, he jist plays in class
His faither says,' Ye silly gowk, exams ye'll never pass
Sit up straight, ye idle fella, dae yer faither proud
Dae yer wurk, dinna shirk, an stan aboun the crowd'
ENGLISH
Lazy lad, lazy lad, he just plays in class
His father says,' You silly fool, you'll never pass your tests
Sit up straight, you idle fellow, do your father proud
Do your work, do not shirk, and stand above the crowd'

SCOTS
Teacher, teacher, dominie, ken ye no it's time fur tea
Ilka dug at hame is up, yowlin fur its supper noo
We've got miles an miles tae trudge afore we get wur bellies fu
We'll be back the morn tae learn, we'll be bright an smairt then
Please, the nicht is drawin in, we will hae tae rin an rin
ENGLISH
Teacher, teacher, schoolmaster, don't you know it's tea time
Every dog at home is awake, yowling for its supper now
We've got miles an miles to trudge before we get our stomachs full
We'll be back in the morning to learn, we'll be bright and smart then
Please, the night is getting dark, we will have to run and run

SCOTS
Ogwang, Ogwang, how we wish
Ye wad bring us hame a fish
Dinnae dawdle at the watter
Bring yer catch an mak us fatter
ENGLISH
Ogwang, Ogwang, how we wish
You would bring us home a fish
Do not waste you time at the river
Bring your catch and make us fatter

SCOTS
Willy Wasp tauld Billy Bee
'Ah'll tak nae mair snash frae ye
Dinnie slag me, nae mair cheek,
Or ah'll mak yer neb tae leak'
ENGLISH
Willy Wasp told Billy Bee
'I'll tak no more nonsense from you
Do not say bad things about me, no more cheekiness
Or I'll start your nose leaking'

SCOTS
Teacher gave a loon a skelp because he wisna listenin
The loon begun tae wail an girn an widna quit his misselin
Teacher went oot tae the field an choppit aff a pineapple
'Here, ma laddie, calm yersel, stick this slice in yer thrapple'
ENGLISH
Teacher gave a boy a smack because he was not listening
The boy began to wail and grumble and would not stop his snivelling
Teacher went out to the field an chopped off a pineapple
'Here, ma lad, calm yourself, put this slice down your throat'

SCOTS
It wis Froggie's turn tae mak the tea
An he biled the watter awfy hot
Doo wis thirsty, suppit too quick
An what a scald his wee beak got
He went tae see Tortoise doctor
Wha mixed ointment, green an strang
It did the trick, Doo wisna sick
An here's whit Doo sang aa nicht lang
Kukuduku kukuduku, cukuruku, cukuruku
Kukuduku kukuduku, cukuruku, cukuruku
ENGLISH
It was Froggie's turn to make the tea
An he boiled the water very hot
Dove was thirsty, sipped too quick
An what a scald his little beak got
He went to see Tortoise doctor
Who mixed ointment, green an strong
It did the trick, Doo was not sick
And here's what Doo sang all night long
Kukuduku kukuduku, cukuruku, cukuruku
Kukuduku kukuduku, Cukuruku, cukuruku

SCOTS
Wee frog Freddie loupit in the pool
His brither Johnnie jined him an that made twa
Jim an Josie Jumpit in an then Jenny did an aa
An that made five froggies swimmin in the raw
ENGLISH
Little frog Freddie lumped into the pool
His brother Johnnie joined him and that made two
Jim and Josie Jumped in and then Jenny did as well
And that made five froggies swimming with no clothes on

SCOTS
'Jumbo, Jumbo, cam alang wi us
We're aff furra hurl in this wee bus'
'Na na na, that'll nae dae at aa
Ah'm too big an the bus is too sma'
Shak yer body, shak yer body, wan an aa
ENGLISH
'Elephant, elephant, come along with us
We're off for a ride in this little bus'
'No no no, that will not do at all
I'm too big and the bus is too small'
Shake your body, shake your body, one and all

Us wee ducks are quite upset
Fur we hinna got the hang o how tae coont oot yet
Kindly tell us it wance again
Wan twa three fower ocht nine ten

We young ducks are quite upset
For we cannot understand how to count out yet
Kindly say it once again
One two three four eight nine ten

We Mrs Etori Craw an big Mrs Agaak Eagle said, 'Who o us twa wad hae the bonniest babbie? We'll baith try furra month.'
In fower weeks each o them had a fin roun egg. When the twa babbies crackit thersels oot, Mrs Agaak felt jealous, fur Mrs Etori's bairn wis far bonnier than hers.
Mrs Etori said, 'Wad ye look aifter mine whiles ah gang tae the well fur watter?' Bit Mrs Agaag switchit the twa, and then swore that the wee wan wis hers, an caa'd Mrs Etori a lee'er.
The twa went tae the coort. Judge Owlet wis puzzled, then he'd a bricht notion.
'Bring us an axe, ah'll chop thon wee-er wan in twa, hauf fut each of ye.'
Mrs Agaag ran an goat a axe, bit Mrs Etori cried an said,'Oh my, ach, gie her ma bonny wee bairn, save her wee life.'
The hale coort cried oot 'The wee wan belangs tae Mrs Etori. Hurray!!'

RHYME TRANSLATION PROJECT: PART SIX-NOVEMBER 2025

This is part seven of the project that Bridge Builders Uganda is implementing in partnership with Scotland schools to develop the talents and critical thinking of children from the age of 5 to 11 in both private and public nursery and primary institutions in Uganda. Its implemented across all regions of Uganda.

Rhyme translations

Luganda Rhyme

English

Scots

1.0. Njabala Njabala - Njabala

Tolinswaza m’buko - Njabala

Abakazi balima bwebati – Njabala

Tolinswaza m’buko - Njabala

Abakazi bakola bwebati - Njabala

Tolinswaza m’buko - Njabala

Njabala Njabala - Njabala

Do not ashame me at the inlaws – Njabala

Women dig like this – Njabala

Do not ashame me at the inlaws – Njabala

Women work like this – Njabala

Do not ashame me at the inlaws – Njabala

Njanbala, dinna gies a reddie tae yer family
Wimmen work this wey

2.0. Kagwa

Kagwa yalaila

Ekyili mugulu

Bwekili bwatuka

Omwana omuto aliyita nyina

Omukulu nayita engozi

Kagwa

Kagwa sweared

That which is in heaven

When it blows out

A child will call the mother

An adult will call a fellow adult.

Kagwa swore that when thon whit’s i the lift blaws oot a wean’ll ca its mammie
Wan adult’ll ca another pal

3.0. Emu emu, zali biri okuzala akaliga, Ani yakazala

Kitongole ekitoke ebali kiundutundu kuluba, kuluba

Emanju wenyumba

Jjebayiwa obuusa

Anabulinya mu yanalaba enaku

One, one, they were 2 to produce

The lamb, who produced it

Put the banana aside

Half half on the cheek

Behind the house

Where dung is poured

One who steps will see the results.

Wan, wan – twa wrocht
The wee lambie made it, pit the banana half an half on the physiog
Ahind the hoose whaur sharn is flung, gin ye misstep ye’ll ken whaur t’is

4.0. Waliwo Babirye ne Kato

Nyindo mpanvu ne nalulungi

Omukozi ne atali

Nabo bafuna abalongo

There was Babirye and Kato

Long nose and beautiful face
Hardworker and lazy one

Also had twinsLang Neb Babirye an Bonny Faced Kato, wan a busy bee an wan an idler, they baith hud twins

5.0. Wampologoma sawa meka

Oyagala esawa – Eeeeh

Jenagula eyange – Eeeeeh

Sawa mukaga

Mr. Lion what is the time

You want to the time – yes

From my watch – yes

It is mid-day
Whit’s the hoor Mr Simba?

Ye want the hoor?

Frae ma time-piece it’s noon

6.0. Kappa egoba goba

Kappa egob’emese

Kappa egoba goba

Kappa egob’emese

The cat chases chases

The cat chases a rat

The cat chases chases

The cat chases a rat
Pussie hunts a rottan

7.0. Nakato leka twelile

Nakato leka twelile

Obulo bwaffe obwobulamu

Ish ish, twelile

Ish ish, twelile

Obulo bwaffe obwobulamu

Nakato leaves us to eat

Nakato leaves us to eat

Our millet for life

Ish ish we eat

Ish ish we eat

Our millet for life

Nakato feeds us oor millet, yum yum

8.0. Twagenda mukibira, Sisi

Netusangayo esajja, Sisi

Esajja dene nyo, Sisi

Natugobayo emisinde, sisi

We went into the forest, sisi

And we found a man there, sisi

A very huge man, sisi

Then he chased us, sisi

We ventured tae the wud, an we fun a man there, he wis bigger than big an he chased us

9.0. Nabubi yazimba

Wagulu kumuti

Enkuba yatonya nagwa wansi

The spider built its house

Up high on the tree

He fell down due to rainfall
Ettercoat built its hoose way up the tree, but the weather washit him doon again

10.0. Aliwa aliwa omuto Sarah

Aliwa aliwa omuto Sarah

Aliwa aliwa omuto Sarah

Agenze kunoga miyembe

Where where is the child Sarah?

Where where is the child Sarah?

Where where is the child Sarah?

She has gone to harvest mangoes
Whaur’s thon lassie Sarah? Aff tae gaither mangoes

1.0. Igwegwe alika bol, alika cil alika’tweo ekalu

Tika tika agogou

Etweo ekalu ecede kede isukulu

The lizard does not bath and is not smart

At least the chameleon is smart and walks slowly to school.

The lizard walks grotty an hapless But thon chameleon is shaip an trudges tae class

2.0. Olang kolongkolong

Atin tiye isomero

Edongo bala laboro

The bell ring ring

The child is in school

Grows like a banana

The bell’s ringin, the wean in schule is growin like a carrot

3.0. Atin paco, Atin Paco

Bed atin aber

Bed atin Adongo

Iyaro ido bedo ngat Adongo paco

Home child, Home child

Be a good child

Be a growing child

You will also be a developing child

Guid bairn, grow an ye’ll ken mair

4.0. Cwii cwii winyo

Cwii kur icam kal na

Wii kal na acel

Winyo cwii kur icam kal na

Cwii Cwii bird

Cwii don/t eat my millet

One head of millet

Bird cwii don’t eat my millet

Wee birdie, leave ma millet alane

5.0. Ogwal ogwal, Iyoto tuwai?

Aoto inam

Nam mene?

Outunu

Frog frog, where are you going?

I am going to the lake

Which lake?

Ok, we go

Froggie, whaur ur ye gaun? Ah’m awa take the loch. Which loch? Fine, let’s awa.