The Bwisi of Uganda

The Bwisi of Uganda, numbering approximately 160,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an indigenous Bantu people of western Uganda centered in Bundibugyo District along the Rwenzori foothills and the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They mostly adhere to Roman Catholicism and Talinga-Bwisi is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2025). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Bwisi

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Uganda
People Cluster: Bantu, Central-Lakes
Primary Language(s): Talinga-Bwisi (tlj)
Primary Religion(s): Roman Catholicism
Population: 160,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG015077
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Bwisi of Uganda

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Roman Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

73%
%
Roman Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Talinga-Bwisi
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Talinga-Bwisi Speakers

Media Resources in Talinga-Bwisi:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Talinga-Bwisi:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2015 Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.✓✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Talinga-Bwisi bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Bwisi are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Next steps for the Bwisi:
Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Bwisi of Uganda

I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.
readIsaiah 45:5-6

Pray that the lost among them will be delivered from the confusion of false beliefs and come to know the one true God who alone brings light and purpose to their lives.

Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia."
readRomans 16:5

Pray for houses to be meeting places for Christians and that God will advance the gospel and grow His Church through natural familial and community relationships.

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
read1 Peter 2:25

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will proclaim the good news and the lost will recognize their need for the Shepherd and turn to Jesus Christ in faith.

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
readPsalm 149:3

Pray that God will send His people across cultures to share the gospel so that those who don't yet know the truth about Him might praise His name and share the hope of Christ with others.

Bwisi Across Countries (ROP3 - 101829) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

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