Before anyone trusted you to hunt, you had to show you could aim.

Cupu Lawala was one of the ways the Acholi community did exactly that.

Historically used as training for hunting and warfare, This game trained focus, speed, and courage. It helped identify sharp, disciplined young people in the community.
In many ways, it was both sport and preparation for life.

A hoop (the lawala) would be rolled fast across an open field and players would try to strike the moving target with wooden spears.

Miss, and you learn.
Hit it, and you earn respect.

Cupu Lawala built more than skill. It shaped young people into hunters, into defenders, into people who could stay calm when something is moving fast and the pressure is real. It taught focus. It taught courage. It taught you to trust your aim.

Today, the game still lives on. You’ll find it during cultural gatherings and festivals, where the Acholi people bring it back to life

If you’re drawn to experiences like this, let’s connect. We have curated  journeys across Northern Uganda that bring these stories to life.