Baganda clothing
The Kiganda clothing or the clothing of the Baganda has changed over the centuries, from goatskins to barkcloth and modern fabrics like silk, cotton, etc. Similar changes have happened to the attire worn by the Baganda, from the traditional kanzu and gomesi to more modern Western attire.
Traditional dress
The traditional dress of Baganda women is the gomesi.[1][2]
The traditional wear for the Baganda men is the kanzu.[3][2]
Other dress
The other popular dress for the Baganda, especially women, is the leesu. This is usually wrapped around the waist like a sarong or used as a mat to sit on. The leesu is usually made from leso or kanga fabric.
Traditional textile
The (traditional) textile invented by the Baganda is barkcloth (lubugo in Luganda).[4] The lubugo is made from the bark of the mutuba tree (Ficus Natalensis).
Other fabrics
The other popular fabric for the Baganda, especially women, is the kikooyi.[5]
The kitengi (or bitengi in plural) are popular among Baganda men and women.[6]
References
- ^ Nabateregga, Mercy Gloria (2025-09-25). Evolution of Buganda traditional Gomesi (Thesis thesis). Makerere University.
- ^ a b "Uganda's Cultural Dress: From Gomesi to Kanzu". Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ^ "Kanzu: The Arab dress that became Ugandan". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
- ^ "The Beauty of Barkcloth". josehendo.com. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
- ^ "Ugandan stars shine at Ikon Film awards with African Glam Fashion". www.newvision.co.ug. April 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
- ^ "How to wear the kitenge on different occasions". www.newvision.co.ug. Retrieved 2025-09-25.