How to Say "How Are You Doing?" in Luganda

oli otya?

oli otya? is the Luganda way to say "how are you doing?"

This phrase is a common greeting used to ask someone about their current well-being.

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase oli otya? literally translates to "you are how?"

In Central Uganda, you may hear the variation Oli otya, munange?, which means "How are you, friend?"

When addressing a group of people or using a formal register for one person, use muli mutya? instead of oli otya?

While oli otya? asks about well-being, a common response is gyendi, which literally means 'I am still here' rather than 'I am fine'.
In Luganda culture, it is often considered abrupt to ask oli otya? without first exchanging a series of smaller greetings about the person's family and home.
The greeting oli otya? functions as a 'social glue' in Uganda. Skipping the greeting and going straight to your point can be perceived as incredibly rude or even aggressive.

Namono meets her friend Mukasa on the street.

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