culture 4 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
From Siege to Delicacy: How Lamogi Rebellion Forged a Bat-Eating Tradition
A century-old Lamogi rebellion against British colonial forces in Uganda led to a unique culinary tradition where wild fruit bats, once a survival food, are now a cherished local delicacy. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/from-siege-to-savory-how-lamogi-rebellion-turned-bats-into-local-delicacy-5583392
In the remote Guru-Guru village of Amuru District, a culinary tradition born from desperation has endured for over a century. The practice of eating wild fruit bats, known locally as ‘olik’, originated during the 1911-1912 Lamogi Rebellion.
During this uprising against British colonial rule, over 600 Lamogi fighters sought refuge in the caves of Guru-Guru Hill. Cut off from their food sources, they resorted to hunting the bats that inhabited the caves to survive the months-long siege.
“It was the bats that saved the lives of the people; that is why they are valued,” stated Mr. Lanek Jomo Pa Labongo, Prime Minister of the Lamogi Chiefdom. This historical connection is so strong that men from the region are sometimes referred to as ‘Wod Olik’, meaning ‘son of the bat’.
While staple foods like cassava and millet are common in the Acholi diet, ‘olik’ holds a special cultural significance and is enjoyed by all members of the community. The hunting of these bats is a traditional practice that requires skill and respect for ancestral spirits, with hunters often seeking blessings before venturing into the caves.
Preparation methods vary, including boiling, roasting, or frying with onions, and often served with a rich sim-sim paste. The bats are typically prepared with nearly the entire animal consumed, though the liver is sometimes reserved for elders due to its perceived medicinal properties. A family meal can consist of ten or more bats.
Intriguingly, this tradition also plays a role in conservation, as the chiefdom prohibits tree-cutting around Guru-Guru Hill to protect the bats’ feeding grounds. Despite global health concerns regarding bats as potential hosts for zoonotic viruses, local leaders assert that their specific fruit bat population is safe, citing their distinct migratory patterns.
Today, the Lamogi Chiefdom is working to preserve the history of the rebellion, which is still evident in the Guru-Guru caves, and hopes to develop the site into a heritage tourism destination. They are also seeking compensation from the British government for historical injustices.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)