TRANSLATING RHYME PROJECT IN UGANDA PART SIX-JUNE 2026

This is part 6 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.

Bridge Builders Uganda together with Scotland schools continues to implement this by compiling the learning songs in the local language while translating them into English, Scottish, and other Ugandan languages to enhance the critical thinking of children from the age of 5 to 15, targeting the Nursery section, P1, P2, and P4. This project also helps Early Childhood Development since it enhances children’s confidence, critical thinking, and creativity, among many other things.

Rhyme translations

RHYMES

Luganda

English

Olwatuka,

Waliyo omusajja omugonvu eyali anonya engeri engonvu eyokulya

Lunaku lumu, bweyali anonya ekyokulya, yalaba e nimiro eyebibaala

Yatunula kumabali nga tewali aliwo, nasooba asobole okubbayo ebibaala

Bweyatuuka, nanyini nimiro namulaba, yamugoba nekitii ekinene

Omusajja yaduka munsiko eli-okumpi

Neyesonyiwa okuuba.

Once upon a time

There was a very lazy man who looked for easy ways to feed himself

One day while he was searching for something to eat, he saw a fruit farm

He looked around and did not see anyone, so he decided to quickly steal some fruits

But as soon as he walked into the farm and started climbing the tree, the farmer saw him

The lazy man saw the farmer come after him with a big stick and he ran towards the nearby thick bush

He then told himself that he will not still again.

Kamese yaduka mu nyumba ya mpologoma, muda yalimu enzikiza and tasobola kulabe bulungi

Yatomela enyindo yempologoma nazukuka

Empologoma yakwatta akamese mungaloze

Mukutya, akamese nekegayilila, nti lulibba lumu naye ajjakuyamba wampologoma, wampologoma yaseka namuleka.

Oluvanyuma lwe naku ntono, wampologoma yagwa me katimba nga tasobola kwetassa.

Wampologoma yak abba, akamese nekawulila, olwo nekadukka kalabe olubadde

Akamese nekalumaluma akatimba na’manyo ge okutekawo ekyituli ekyinene wampologoma wasobola okuyitamuu.

Ella okuva olwo, bafuka bamikwano nyo

A mouse happened to run into the lion’s cave one day; it was so dark that she did not see the lion sleeping inside

She bumped right into his nose and woke him up

The lion gave a roar and caught the little mouse in his giant paws

The frightened little mouse pleaded for the lion not to eat her because she may be able one day to help the lion

The lion laughed at the thought that such a small creature might be able to help him at all

The lion then roared, go away before I change my mind.

A few days later while the lion was hunting for good, he fell into the hunter’s net.

The lion roared loudly because he could not escape from it, and the mouse hear the roar.

The mouse came and saw that the lion was trapped, and she started using her sharp teeth to cut through the net, chii chii chii

Soon there was a big hall enough for the lion to crawl out from and be free.

From then, the mouse and lion were great friends.

Ebibala ebibala

Tubilabye

Ebimu myuffu, abimu kilagala

Ebibala ebibala

Bitufula bamanyi.

Ebimu bya sako, ebimu biwanvu.

Ebibala ebibala

Byakilagala nga biwoma.

Vegetables vegetables

We have seen

Some so red and some so green

Vegetables vegetables

Make us strong.

Some are round and some are long.

Vegetables vegetables

Green and fresh.

They can be eaten plain or dressed.

Hickory, dickory, dock

Kamese akaduka wagulu kusawa

Sawa ka kubye emu

Kamese naduuka wansi

Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock

Kamese yaduka wagulu kusawa

Sawa ka kubye birri

Wansi ya buuka

Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one

The mouse ran down

Hickory, dickory, dock.

Hickory, dickory, dock

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck two

And down he flew

Hickory, dickory, dock.

Dido dido kapa ne fido

Ente yabuka ku mwezi

Akabwa kaseka okulaba ebyo

Kadishi kaduuka ne jjiko

Dido dido kapa ne fido

Ente yabuka ku mwezi

Akabwa kaseka okulaba ebyo

Kadishi kaduuka ne jjiko

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle

The cow jumped over the moon

The little dog laughed to see such fun

And the dish ran away with the spoon!

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle

The cow jumped over the moon

The little dog laughed to see such fun

And the dish ran away with the spoon!

Jack ne Jill ba genda kulusozi

Okukyima amazi

Jack yagwa wansi namenyeka

Olwo Jill nayirintuka naye wansi.

Jack and Jill went up a hill,

To fetch a pail of water;

Jack fell down and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after.

Peter peter omuli-wensujju

Yalina umukyala natasobola kumukuuma

Yamuteeka mu nsujju

Namutereeka bulungi.

Peter Peter pumpkin eater,

Had a wife and couldn't keep her!

He put her in a pumpkin shell,

And there he kept her very well!

Emesse satu abazibbe

Laba bwebaduuka

Baduukira mabega wa mukyala wo’mulimi

Yabasazzeko emikyira na’kambe

Three blind mice, three blind mice

See how they run, see how they run

They all ran after the farmer's wife

She cut off their tails with a carving knife

Did ever see such a sight in your life

As three blind mice

Weebase,weebase

Owoluganda John, owoluganda John

Ebidde byokumakya bivuga

Ebidde byokumakya bivuga

Ding-dang-dong, ding-dang-dong.

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,

Brother John, brother John

Morning bells are ringing,

Morning bells are ringing,

Ding-dang-dong, ding-dang-dong.