Kapchorwa and Kween are much more than just scenic landscapes and running champions. They are home to the Sebei and Mosopisiek: two proud communities with deep roots, vibrant customs and a strong bond with Mount Elgon’s wilderness.
For centuries, these highland communities have lived off the land, developed deep cultural practices and preserved traditions of healthy living. As a visitor, you have the rare opportunity to step into their world, experience their way of life and learn from their practical wisdom.
From ancient prophecy and initiation rituals to indigenous games and traditional cooking, our guides connect you with the most fascinating Sebei & Mosopisiek cultural traditions and immersive experiences you can engage in!
Who Are the Sebei and Mosopisiek People?🌍
The Sebei are a Nilotic ethnic group, part of the larger Kalenjin family, known for their legendary running talent and highland farming traditions. Farming and running champions are regular faces in our restaurant!😉 The Sebei inhabit the districts of Kapchorwa, Kween and Bukwo on the northern slopes of Mount Elgon.
Within the Sebei, the Mosopisiek - also known as Benet or Ndorobos - are a small but culturally significant indigenous minority who were forest dwellers until the 1990s, when they were displaced from the highland forests of Mount Elgon National Park. Their traditions and knowledge of the wild remain remarkably intact, making them one of Uganda’s most fascinating indigenous groups.
🥾 Join the Mosopisiek Trail to hike through beautiful nature whilst exploring hidden caves & cultural traditions!
A 93-year old woman weaving a bamboo basket, one of the cultural traditions of the Mosopisiek people
Prophets & Ancient Spirituality in Sebei CulturE😇
Before modern religion arrived, the Sebei people placed their faith in prophets who foretold the future and guided the Community through visions.
The Legendary Prophets of the Sebei!
Historically, prophets in the Sebei community were highly respected leaders who interpreted divine messages. One of the most famous was Matui, a visionary who predicted major events in the region, including cattle raids and environmental disasters.
ℹ️ Back in 2015, I visited the present-day prophet, a grandson of Matui, at his ancestral home in the lower belts of Kapchorwa District. I was accompanied by a group of Ugandan friends. After a warm introduction, he began drawing a map of my home village in the Netherlands. To my surprise, he got it remarkably right, and I’m quite sure he didn’t have access to Google Maps😉
💫 Explore Sebei spirituality - book a stars experience with cosmology expert Kissa!
A campfire storytelling activity at Home of Friends with the Sebei Cultural Storytellers
the Kapkure Swamp Legend A.K.a. ‘The SUNKEN VILLAGE’
Beyond prophets, Sebei oral traditions show how deeply the Community connects spirituality to the land itself. One famous legend is told about Kapkure, where the Kaplenoniik people once committed an untold sin against the gods. The earth opened and swallowed the entire settlement - people, houses and livestock - leaving only a swamp of about 40 by 80 meters.
During rituals to call the sunken people back, a girl once saw them emerging, together with a cow of the “Swomu type.” When she cried out in recognition, the figures sank back underground, for it was taboo to speak during the ritual. Since then, voices of buried people, including youths blowing whistles for circumcision dances, were often heard from beneath the swamp.
To this day, nearby clans were forbidden to approach the site or to rear Swomu cows. Even later inhabitants, the Kapcheroopta clan (rainmakers), felt the curse and remain known for their attachment to witchcraft practices.
The sunken village of Kapkure, the place of the swamp legend in Kween District
The Ritual of Circumcision in Sebei Culture🔪
Another pillar of Sebei cultural life is the initiation of boys into manhood through circumcision.
More Than Just a Ritual: A Test of Strength💪🏽
For the Sebei, circumcision is not just a medical procedure, it is a public demonstration of courage. The ceremony happens every even-numbered year (2024, 2026, 2028, and so on), drawing massive crowds.
Young boys, typically aged 15 to 18, dance and sing through the villages for days, before undergoing the procedure without showing pain. A true test of their bravery and readiness for adulthood.
🎬 Witness this cultural spectacle: attend a circumcision ceremony in Siron with our native guide Shadrack (next: December 2026).
😅 Anecdote: Before renting a room at what is now Home of Friends, I used to stay at Kiprotich Hotel in town. That’s where I met Chebet, a self-proclaimed village doctor. He would often joke about forcing me to take part in the 2016 circumcision event. Luckily, I found my escape: just before the December ceremonies were to begin, Sebei elders discovered that the Nugugut tree - whose stem resembles a man’s penis - had blossomed. This was taken as a clear sign that the circumcision had to be cancelled that year!
A Sebei boy undergoing circumcision rituals
Mosopisiek Cultural Identity: Guardians of the Wilderness🌿
While the Sebei settled into farming villages, the Mosopisiek lived a more nomadic life, moving through the dense forests of Mount Elgon. Their lifestyle revolved around hunting, beekeeping and foraging.
Life in the Caves — The Mosopisiek Connection to Mount Elgon🪨
Until the 1980s, the Mosopisiek used to perform cultural rituals in the caves of Mount Elgon forest. They used medicinal plants for healing and developed tracking and survival skills.
ℹ️ When speaking with Mosopisiek elders, they often attribute the Olympic running success of their grandsons - Cheptegei, Kiplimo and Kiprotich - to their ancestral hunting skills and the nourishment provided by forest foods.
Many of their sacred sites still exist today. For example, Yatui Cave and Mukuuso Cave, hidden in the highlands of Kween, hold ceremonial spaces where elders once gathered for rituals such as child renaming or twin/prophet reburial ceremonies.
🥾 Join the Mosopisiek Trail and explore these sacred spaces!
Your host Eliza exploring Tutum cave inside Mount Elgon’s rainforest
Five Indigenous Games of the Mosopisiek🏆
In the Sebei community, running isn’t the only thing that builds champions. Long before the fame, young boys played tough, traditional games to grow strong, skilled and resilient. These indigenous games shaped warriors, hunters and future leaders.
Want to know what it takes to grow up as a Mosopisiek? Here are five indigenous games that built strength, character and endurance:
Bow & Arrow 🏹 - Apart from shooting, it was about crafting. Boys learned to shape arrows, sharpen spears and master the perfect shot.
Survival Runs 🏃♂️ - Up steep hills, across rivers and through forests. After stolen cattle or to visit a far family member. Running 30-40 km a day built endurance and mental strength.
Stone Throwing 🪨 - Boys hurled stones over trees to train accuracy, strength and power.
Wrestling 🤼 - A daily post-lunch showdown! Strength, strategy and quick thinking decided who ruled the ring.
Stick Fighting 🪵 - Using bamboo sticks, boys trained for fun and for real-life challenges requiring fast reflexes.
Some of these games are still played today. Our native guides can always organise a demo!
Curious about stick fighting? You’ll find it near Home of Friends:
Semu from the Cave Complex doing a stick fighting exercise with a guest from France
Experience Sebei & Mosopisiek Culture First-Hand
Top-5 Cultural Experiences in Kapchorwa & Kween
Here’s a selection of our most interesting and engaging cultural experiences:
1️⃣ Mosopisiek Trail - Hike through ancestral lands and engage in cultural activities like bamboo basket weaving, child name-giving and honey-wine making.
2️⃣ Cooking with the Kapchorwa Mamas - Help in the preparation of a nutritious Sebei meal whilst you connect with a traditional family and farm.
3️⃣ Cave Dance Experience - Dance and sing circumcision, war and marriage songs. Learn about ancient warrior life.
4️⃣ Campfire Storytelling - Hear Sebei history and culture around the fire.
5️⃣ Kapchorwa Wilderness Hike - Hike through villages and learn about modern cave-dwellers.
A cultural experience at the Home of Friends grounds in Kapchorwa
Why Visit Kapchorwa & Kween for a Cultural Adventure?🎯
Kapchorwa and Kween bring history, tradition and cultural immersion to life. Nowhere else in Uganda can you experience the legacy of running champions, ancient prophets, warrior traditions and forest- and cave-dwelling wisdom in one place.
Are you ready to explore with curiosity, build understanding and leave Kapchorwa with new friendships and insights?🤗
This blog is written by Daan Oxener, a Dutch social entrepreneur who is based in Kapchorwa since 2016. Daan manages Home of Friends Guesthouse, together with his wife Eliza. He is passionate about documenting Mount Elgon’s beautiful nature and remarkable culture. Daan is also engaged in Community & youth empowerment through adventure tourism.
