Alternate Names: Gisu, Kisu, Lugisu, Lumasaaba, Masaba
Dialects: Lubuuya (Buuya, Buya), Ludadiri (Dadiri), Lufumbo, Luteza, Luwalasi, Luyobo. Intelligibility of Dadiri and Buuya 83%. Central and Southern varieties of Buuya 93%. Lexical similarity: 62% with Saamia ,, 52% with Isukha ,, 50% with Logooli ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 1,120,000 (2002 census), increasing.
Language Use: Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Ganda [lug], Swahili [swh].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Low. Orthography guide published but inadequate for dialectal variants. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. New media. Radio programs. Dictionary. NT: 1977–2011.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Uganda
Other Comments: Ludadiri is the main Northern variety; Lubuuya is the main Central or Southern variety. Christian.