The Pokot of Uganda

The Pokot of Uganda, numbering approximately 155,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Nilotic ethnic group of East Africa, known especially for their pastoralist and agro‑pastoralist way of life, strong clan systems, and deep cultural ties to cattle and land. They mostly adhere to Animism and Pökoot is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Pokot

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Uganda
People Cluster: Nilotic
Primary Language(s): Pökoot (pko)
Primary Religion(s): Animism
Population: 155,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG015131
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Pokot 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: Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

51%
%
Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Pökoot
Language Family: Nilotic

100%
%
Pökoot Speakers

Media Resources in Pökoot:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Pökoot:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2008 Bible Society of Kenya✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Pökoot bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Pokot are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Pokot:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Pokot of Uganda

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.
readPsalm 67:4

Pray that those who are lost in darkness and confusion will come to understand God's ways, submit to His righteous rule, and experience the joy of His salvation.

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
readLuke 13:3

Pray that the lost will repent and believe the gospel, for without it, they will perish.

Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
readPsalm 25:6

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will remember the merciful nature and steadfast love of God as they walk with Him daily.

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
readJeremiah 29:7

Pray that God will lead the lost among them to followers of Jesus who will share the gospel with them so that they may believe and take the message of hope to their families and friends.

Pokot Across Countries (ROP3 - 108091) 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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