HISTORY OF ABAKHAYO

Migratory movements:
Like Other Luhya sub tribes, the Abakhayo settled in their present land via Uganda. After the Abaguri and their three companion clans had first come in, the Abakhabi and the Abakhone clans were the next settlers to arrive. The other eleven clans came much later. Originally, they lived near the Lake at Ibanda in Busoga. After leaving Ibanda, they travelled until they reached Khaenderesi in South Iteso in  Busia District. They next moved to Sirabale in Bukhayo.

People they came across
Ibanda: The Basoga. Before their migration, they used to be one people with the Basoga. While there, they used to speak Lusoga.
Khaenderesi: Uninhabited and full of wild animals.
Siribale: Uninhabited.

The reasons for migrating from:
Ibanda: They emigrated from there because there were many elephants which always destroyed crops and ate people. In addition, the place was full of sleeping sickness. They did not migrate as a result of a quarrel. Even their fellow Basoga who stayed behind also moved farther away till much later, after things had improved, when they returned there. When they were still there they used to grow sweet potatoes, bananas, cow-peas, monkey nuts, eleusine, millet and vegetables. They also kept cattle.

Khaenderesi: Overcrowding and family quarrels caused them to migrate. The Teso had not yet come to Khaenderesi when they were there. So that when they later came there from Tororo, the Abakhayo had already moved out; they then settled.

Encounter with Tesos:
The Abakhayo saw the Teso for the first time when they were moving out and the Teso were just approaching. The Teso used to come one by one to exchange their cattle for hoes. MORE>>>