Region: Kigyezi
Districts: Kabaare (Kabale), Kaanungu, Gisoro (Kisoro), Rubanda, Rukiga, Rukungiri.
Total Area: 5,098 sq. km.
Population: 1.7 million people
Map of Uganda
Mount Muhabura, Bufumbira (Gisoro), Kigyezi (December 26, 2006)
Name: Kigyezi (Ruhororo & Rukiga spelling) or Kigezi (Kinyarwanda/Kifumbira spelling). Correct pronunciation in both languages is Chee-jay-zee. Named after Ikigezi (swampy lake in Bufumbira).
Geography: Kigyezi is a mountainous triangular wedge in the South-West corner of Uganda, bordered on the north by the Kingdom of Toro, on the east by Ntungamo, Mitooma, Bushenyi, and Rubiriizi Districts, on the south by the Republic of Rwanda, and on the west by Congo Free State. Covering only 2.2 per cent of Uganda, Kigyezi is 2.5 times the size of Monaco.
The hills of Kanywero, Kihanga and Nyamango, seen from Mt. Kikuba, Mparo.
With its rolling terraced hills and mountains, fresh water lakes, and the extinct volcanoes (Muhabura, Sabinio, Mgahinga), Kigyezi is a visual replica of Rwanda. For those familiar with Switzerland, that country is the Kigyezi of Europe.
The north-eastern part, now called Rukungiri District, is in what was once the Kingdom of Rujumbura. Its small rolling hills and grasslands share a geographical terrain that is is to that of parts of Ankole Kingdom.This is area is conducive to cattle-keeping, a traditional occupation that dates back at least 200 years.
Fifty years ago, Kigyezi had large protected forests at Mgahinga, Echuya, Mafuuga, Kiirima, Omurugano and Imaramagambo. Most of the hillsides had extensive tree cover, mostly of the black wattle variety. There were many small forests in the valleys - in places like Nyakijumba, Butobere and Kigongi near Kabaare, Kangondo in Mparo, Rukiga Ditrict, and Nyekongorere in Maziba sub-county, Ndorwa, Kabaare District.
Kigyezi had many swamps (marshes) around Lakes Mutanda and Murehe; OmuRubanda south of Orugano and Mafuuga; Bubaare, continuing south through Omuruhita, Rwakaraaba, along Kiruruma, then to Kitumba and on to Rubaya. The Kabaare swamp continued down through Kyanamira to Maziba, Birambo, Kyampugye, to Kahondo ka Byamarembo
The valley from Muhanga, Rushebeya, Kashambya, Nyarushanje to Kebisooni was one continuous marsh. Rushebeya through Kangondo, Sindi, Ibumba was all swamp. There was also a fair bit of swamp in Nyamweru, Noozi, Mparo down to Kangondo.
Many of these swamps were drained and converted into farms, with catastrophic consequences on the environment, not least among them the water levels of the rivers and streams. The major rivers of Kigyezi - Mineera, Kiruruma, Rwabakazi Rugyendeire, Rushoma, Ncwera, Birira, Ishasha and Noozi- are now smaller and continue to be threatened.
Even Kigyezi's main lakes -Bunyonyi, Mutanda, Murehe, Rwitanzigye (Edward) and Kanyabaha - may be irreversibly affected in the coming years. A concerted effort by the people of Kigezi and others who care about the environment is urgently needed to attempt to reverse this situation.
Sunset at Lake Bunyonyi. Mount Muhabura is the distance. © Muniini K. Mulera
The People: The people of Kigyezi are called Abanyakigyezi (Banyakigyezi). The majority of Banyakigyezi are Abakiga (Bakiga), Abafumbira (Bafumbira) who are Abanyarwanda), and Abahororo (Bahororo). There are small numbers of Abatwa (Batwa) and Abanyabutumbi (Banyabutumbi). Descendants of Abaganda have been assimilated and consider themselves to be Abakiga.
Languages: Abakiga speak Orukiga. Abahororo speak Oruhororo (a dialect similar to Orunyankore). Orukiga and Orunyankore are essentially the same language, with very minor differences in vocabulary, syntax and accent. Abafumbira speak Ikifumbira, a dialect of Ikinyarwanda (Kinyarwanda), the language of Abanyarwanda. Abatwa of Kigyezi speak a language that is a cross between Orukiga and Ikinyarwanda. It is sometimes called Orutwa.
Major Cities
Capitals: Capitals: Kabaare (Kabale District), Kaanungu (Kanungu District), Gisoro (Kisoro District), Murore (Rubanda District), Mparo (Rukiga District), Rukungiri (Rukungiri District).
Other towns: Kihiihi, Kaambuga, Bugaangari, Kebisooni, Kisiizi, Kashambya, Rwamucuucu, Kangondo, Kamuheesi (Kamwezi), Muhaanga, Bukiinda, Muyuumbu, Katuna, Ikumba.