Kigezi
Encyclopedia
Kigezi District once covered what are now Kabale District
, Kanungu District
, Kisoro District
and Rukungiri District
, in southwest Uganda
. Its terraced fields are what gives this part of Uganda its distinctive character. Kigezi was popularly known as the Switzerland
of East Africa
. The coordinates for the region are: Latitude:01 13 20S, 29 53 20E.
After the division of Kigezi
into the four (4) current districts, they were named after their respective main towns, namely Kabale
, Kanungu
, Kisoro
and Rukungiri
.
, Bahororo
and Banyarwanda
people. All these ethnic groups share the same characteristics and traditions. The people of this region are known as some of the more serious and hardworking ethnic groups of Uganda
. All these attributes distinguish the region of Kigezi from other parts of the country. Paul Ngologoza
’s book Kigezi and Its People provides detailed information about the Bakiga people, their traditions and history.
The region is uniquely characterized by the African Great Lakes
, which include Lake Bunyonyi
, Lake Edward
, Lake Mutanda
and Lake Kyahafi. Kigezi is also the location of the volcanic mountains known as Muhavura Mountains, and Bwindi National Forest with its famous gorilla population. There are very high mountain ranges, particularly in Kabale District
, Kisoro District
and Kanungu District
. In the intervening valleys, often one finds expansive swampy areas, some of which, particularly those in Kabale District, have been reclaimed for pastureland.
Kabale District
Kabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
, Kanungu District
Kanungu District
Kanungu District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kanungu, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, Kisoro District
Kisoro District
Kisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Rukungiri District
Rukungiri District
Rukungiri District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town' of Rukungiri where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
, in southwest Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. Its terraced fields are what gives this part of Uganda its distinctive character. Kigezi was popularly known as the Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
of East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. The coordinates for the region are: Latitude:01 13 20S, 29 53 20E.
Constituencies
Before its division into the districts shown as above, Kigezi consisted of counties of:- Rukiga County, southeast of modern-day Kabale DistrictKabale DistrictKabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
, which bordered on the then AnkoleAnkoleAnkole, also referred to as Nkore, is one of four traditional kingdoms in Uganda. The kingdom is located in the southwestern Uganda, east of Lake Edward. It was ruled by a monarch known as The Mugabe or Omugabe of Ankole. The kingdom was formally abolished in 1967 by the government of President...
District. - Ndorwa County, this is the central area of modern-day Kabale DistrictKabale DistrictKabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
, where KabaleKabaleKabale is a city in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kabale District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
town is still located and Lake BunyonyiLake BunyonyiLake Bunyonyi lies in south western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale close to the border with Rwanda. Located at 1,962 m above sea level, it is about 25 km long and 7 km wide. The depth of the lake is rumored to vary between 44 m and 900 m, which if true would make the lake the second...
is shared with the county of Rubanda. - Rubanda County, southwest of modern-day Kabale DistrictKabale DistrictKabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
, bordering Kanungu DistrictKanungu DistrictKanungu District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kanungu, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Kisoro DistrictKisoro DistrictKisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Kinkizi County, where the famous Nyamasizi Hot Springs are located. - Kinkizi County, northwest of modern-day Kabale DistrictKabale DistrictKabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
. This county shares its borders with the Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
. It also touches on Lake EdwardLake EdwardLake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
on the border with DRCDemocratic Republic of the CongoThe Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world... - Kisoro County, southwest of modern-day Kabale District, bordering with Rubanda County, the Republic of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kisoro County is the location of Lake MutandaLake Mutanda-Location:The lake is located in Kisoro District in southwestern Uganda, approximately north of the town of Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located. This location is approximately , by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
and Lake Kyahafi. - Rujumbura County, which was the most northerly county of the district and bordered on the former Ankole District and on Lake EdwardLake EdwardLake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
.
After the division of Kigezi
Kigezi
Kigezi District once covered what are now Kabale District, Kanungu District, Kisoro District and Rukungiri District, in southwest Uganda. Its terraced fields are what gives this part of Uganda its distinctive character. Kigezi was popularly known as the Switzerland of East Africa...
into the four (4) current districts, they were named after their respective main towns, namely Kabale
Kabale
Kabale is a city in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kabale District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, Kanungu
Kanungu
Kanungu is a town in Western Uganda. It is the location of the district headquarters for Kanungu District. The district is named after the town.-Location:...
, Kisoro
Kisoro
Kisoro is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kisoro District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...
and Rukungiri
Rukungiri
Rukungiri is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Rukungiri District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town in 1980.-Location:...
.
People
The four modern district of the former Kigezi District are inhabited predominantly by the BakigaBakiga
The Kiga people, or Abakiga , are an ethnic group located in northern Rwanda and southern Uganda. The Kiga speak a Bantu language called Rukiga. They are sometimes referred to as the Chiga or Kiga, while the singular form is Umukiga...
, Bahororo
Bahororo
The Hororo or Bahororo are a small nomadic Bantu tribe living in the north of the Kigezi District of Uganda. In 1905, they were described by a British officer as a "quiet, inoffensive people" who did not own cattle. They are made up mostly of the Hima...
and Banyarwanda
Banyarwanda
Banyarwanda actually means the people of Hutu, Tutsi and Batwah. Some lived on the present territory of the DRC before colonization, while others have migrated from neighboring Rwanda in waves. They live in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo....
people. All these ethnic groups share the same characteristics and traditions. The people of this region are known as some of the more serious and hardworking ethnic groups of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. All these attributes distinguish the region of Kigezi from other parts of the country. Paul Ngologoza
Paul Ngologoza
Paul Ngologoza, OBE, KSG is the Ugandan author of Kigezi and Its People. He was born at Rywanyena, in Rubaya , in then Kigezi District. He wrote about the people of Kigezi, which originally comprised the present districts of Kabale, Kanungu, Kisoro and Rukungiri. He wrote the book, despite...
’s book Kigezi and Its People provides detailed information about the Bakiga people, their traditions and history.
The region is uniquely characterized by the African Great Lakes
African Great Lakes
The African Great Lakes are a series of lakes and the Rift Valley lakes in and around the geographic Great Rift Valley formed by the action of the tectonic East African Rift on the continent of Africa...
, which include Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi lies in south western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale close to the border with Rwanda. Located at 1,962 m above sea level, it is about 25 km long and 7 km wide. The depth of the lake is rumored to vary between 44 m and 900 m, which if true would make the lake the second...
, Lake Edward
Lake Edward
Lake Edward or Edward Nyanza is the smallest of the African Great Lakes. It is located in the western Great Rift Valley, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the Equator...
, Lake Mutanda
Lake Mutanda
-Location:The lake is located in Kisoro District in southwestern Uganda, approximately north of the town of Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located. This location is approximately , by road, southwest of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city...
and Lake Kyahafi. Kigezi is also the location of the volcanic mountains known as Muhavura Mountains, and Bwindi National Forest with its famous gorilla population. There are very high mountain ranges, particularly in Kabale District
Kabale District
Kabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
, Kisoro District
Kisoro District
Kisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
and Kanungu District
Kanungu District
Kanungu District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kanungu, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
. In the intervening valleys, often one finds expansive swampy areas, some of which, particularly those in Kabale District, have been reclaimed for pastureland.
See also
- Kabale DistrictKabale DistrictKabale District is a district in Western Uganda. As with most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kabale. It was originally part of the district of Kigezi, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu and Kisoro were peeled off to form separate districts.-Location:Kabale...
- Kanungu DistrictKanungu DistrictKanungu District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kanungu, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
- Kisoro DistrictKisoro DistrictKisoro District is a district in Western Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro, where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
- Rukungiri DistrictRukungiri DistrictRukungiri District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its 'chief town' of Rukungiri where the district headquarters are located.-Location:...
- KabaleKabaleKabale is a city in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Kabale District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...