By George Bita

ALTHOUGH Iganga town is synonymous with archaic iron-sheet dwellings of the 1920s, her name came from a much older grass-thatched settlement that existed in the late 19th century.

In 1870, Omar Murshid, an Arab trader arrived in the area, not looking for slaves, but to set up a simple shop dealing in clothing. He was joined by his brother Muhammed Rashid in 1886.

According to Muhammed Irari, a grandson of Murshid and resident of Iganga town, the transactions involved auction-style sales on the ground outside hurriedly-constructed grass-thatched quarters.

â€œDue to rivalry among dealers, which usually culminated in burning down of competitorsâ€™ shops at night, many shopkeepers resorted to using a form of papyrus which is resistant to fire,â€ he says.

â€œAt the time, African porters used to ferry supplies on their heads or backs from Jinja. There were no vehicles and ropes were used in place of nails,â€ he adds.

Irari explains that buyers from surrounding areas used to trek long distances to this Arab commune for mostly apparels. â€œThe Arabs brought the first foreign garbs which were mainly used by women. There was also muleera, a type of tunic for men,â€ he adds.

Irari keeps referring to a worn-out map of Iganga town and a manuscript written in Arabic by Murshid. The map shows the first shops built on both sides of a main street located where Balita lane is currently located. It also shows the main passage, which passed through the current Umeme sub-station, URA offices and Oboja Road connecting to Balita lane before joining the current main way at the police barracks.

Irari says the Arabs usually had entertainment to lift up peopleâ€™s spirits. He describes how a Musoga musician called Abbey Waigangala used to charm crowds near the trading centre. â€œHe had entongooli (type of piano) which when played together with his antics, sent the audience into a frenzy. The gatherings were made up of Arab traders and mostly Basoga porters,â€ Irari says.

He explains that Arabs found difficulty in cheering Waigangala, so they settled for a shorter version of the name. They started chanting â€œWa-Iganga!â€.

â€œAmused by the Arabâ€™s way of applauding, the Basoga nicknamed the Arabs Wa-Iganga and would refer to going to procure goods from Arab outlets as going to Wa-Iganga,â€ Irari says.

He says that overtime, continuous usage of Wa-Iganga terminology gave way to the name Iganga as locals would ask in their language, â€œOja wa?â€ (Where are you going) and the other would respond, â€œWa-Igangaâ€ making the repeated â€˜waâ€™ to be gradually dropped. Irari believes the acquisition of the name could have transpired shortly after 1900 as Murshidâ€™s writings of earlier times only referred to the shelters as an Afro-Arab estate.

He adds that the Arabs also spread Islam in the neighbourhood. They set up two mosques named Nassolo and Saleh. Nowadays Nassolo is called Mecca while Saleh is Medina Mosque.

â€œOn Fridays most shops closed for Juma prayers prompting some inquisitive locals to go into mosques to find out what the Arab traders did there. This led to the conversion of many people to Islam,â€ Irari says.

Abasa Waigangala, 46, a carpenter in town and grandson of the musical comedian says his grandfatherâ€™s eight-stringed musical instrument was destroyed due to poor handling after his demise.

â€œHe used to perform at most social events and became very popular as a result,â€ he says.

Waigangala adds that his granddad died in the 1960s.

Irari explains that in 1919, Indians, especially from Goa, arrived in Iganga and laboured with Arabs to set up the new urban site along the modern main street.

Funny enough, the new town whose buildings are made of iron-sheets and timber is what many people currently refer to as the old town. The grass-thatched apartments were razed down and new buildings stand on these plots.

â€œThe only remnants of the old town are the old palm trees and the well-set stone route which is currently Balita Lane,â€ Irari says.

He says the Arabs, using porters, laid the solid stone base on the footway before adding sand and murram. â€œThat thoroughfare has never been affected by erosion like other streets in Iganga town. Even the town council has not been bothered about working on it,â€ he adds.

Irari wonders were the town council officials picked the latest name for this historical street insisting that a name of one of the pioneer Arab traders, African porter or Waigangala could have served better.

However, Constantine Bukyabubi, the outgoing town mayor, says naming of streets was done after careful considerations.

Bukyabubi says the council appreciates the contribution of the Arabs and Indians towards the development of Iganga town through trade.

However, these days, the descendants of the Arabs and Indians are at the forefront in the destruction of the 1920s remainders of Iganga in preference for contemporary abodes.

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