Name: Omweso

Age of Game: Over 600 years old

Type of Game: Board Game

Tribal Origin: Buganda Kingdom other sources say the Bachwezi of Bunyoro

Cultural Spread: The game is currently played mainly in the Central, Western and Eastern parts of Uganda

Number of players per game: 2 people

Gender Considerations: As a recent development, women are now allowed to play, but in the past Omweso was dominantly played by men.

Items required: Omweso Board and 64 Omweso balls, however players sometimes use black beads or seeds to play as well.

Game Description: The Omweso game is played with 16 holes for each player and 64 balls. The territory of a player is the two rows of holes that are close to him. The players are supposed to keep sowing seeds in each of the pockets of the board until the opponent does not have room to play.

How to play: The normal way to win the game is to be the last player to be able to make a legal move, possible by capturing all the opponent’s ball/ beads/ seeds or reducing the opponent to no more than one seed in each pit. Alternatively, a player can win by capturing on both ends of the board in one turn.

Goal of the game: The goal of the game is to take all or part of the opponent’s balls to prevent a replay.

Purpose: This game brings out the competitiveness in a player, teaches the player to think deeply and accurately, trains foresight and make accurate decisions, sharpens the players focus and attitude.

Community Experience: The game is usually played by youth and adults after their day`s work and is more popular in rural communities and towns outside the main city centers. It usually attracts small crowds around the players every time a good play is happening. 

This is a deeply engaging game that requires cunning, fast movement and deep focus. Visit Uganda and learn how to play Omweso with some of Uganda`s best players.