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Dho p’Adhola (Dhopadhola), also refered to simply as Adhola, is a language spoken by more than 800,000 people most of whom originate from Tororo District in Eastern Uganda. This is nearly 2% of the population of Uganda. Majority of the speakers are Jopadhola (Jo-p'Adhola) who are part of the Luo ethnic group. You will meet Jopadhola in various parts of Uganda and even overseas.

Adhola is considered a form of Dho Luo (Luo language), belonging to the Nilo-Saharan language family. It is mutually intelligible with Dho Alur, Leb Acoli, Leb Lang'o, Kumam, and Dholuo (Kenya /Tanzania), though it is more closely related to the latter. It also maintains very strong linkage with the Northern Luo languages (Dha Anywaa, Dho Collo (Shilluk), Dhe Luo, Dhi Pari) and, while challenging differences in accents exist, a keen word for word consideration reveals that classical Dho p'Adhola shares extensive vocabulary with even these South Sudan and Ethiopian Luo languages.

Adhola occasionally borrows from English, Luganda and Swahili. However, it has come under strong influence of Luganda in more recent times.

By the time of the Ugandan political independence in 1962, it had been over 60 years since the introduction of British colonial rule in Uganda which meant more exposure of Jo-p'Adhola to other peoples arriving in Tororo; Ganda administrators for the colonial government and foreign business people, as well as some Jopadhola who had became exposed to Luganda, occasionally applied some Luganda words in Adhola. Over time, importation of Luganda vocabulary into Adhola became common; this practice might have gained footing as a facet of Adhola language culture among selected speakers in the present day.

It will be helpful for the learner here to be aware of the above but to especially keep in mind that speaking the language in its wholesome form tends to be desired by many native speakers; this will typically be viewed by most as respectful of the language.