Kisoro District
Encyclopedia
Kisoro District is a district
in Western Uganda
. Like most other Uganda
n districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Kisoro
, where the district headquarters are located.
to the north, Kabale District
to the east, the Republic of Rwanda to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
to the west. The district headquarters at Kisoro
are located approximately 42 kilometres (26.1 mi), by road, northwest of Kabale
, the largest town in the sub-region
. The coordinates of the district are:01 17S, 29 41E.
, where it borders with Rwanda
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
. It covers an area of approximately 729.7 square kilometre. About 3.88% of the district is covered by open water. Another 2.95% is covered by wetlands and national forest reserves cover another 0.96%. The District is mountainous and hilly and rises an average of 1980 metres (6,496.1 ft) above sea level. Due to the delicate nature of the environment and the pressure of a rapidly increasing population, the natural environment in Kisoro District is under severe threat of degradation.
The district was formed in 1992. Prior to that it was known as Bufumbira County and was part of Kabale District
. Kisoro District has 13 subcounties
Kanaba,Nyakabande,Chahi,Murora,Kisoro Town Council,Nyarusiza,Nyakinama,Nyarubuye,Muramba,Busanza,Nyabwishenya,Kirundo,Nyundo and has four (4) parliamentary constituencies:
It formerly had chiefs such as Rukeribuga, Semafara Rudovik, Sebukweto, Mizerero,Mikekemo and many others most of whom where appointed by Rukeribuga and Abdullah who was the district commissioner. The last great chief was Ntibiringirwa John Semafara who was the Resident District Commissioner of Oyam district.
{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Kisoro District Population Trends
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Year!! Estimated Population
|-
|2002||220,300
|-
|2003||226,500
|-
|2004||232,800
|-
|2005||239,300
|-
|2006||246,000
|-
|2007||252,900
|-
|2008||260,000
|-
|2009||267,300
|-
|2010||274,800
|-
|}
Kisoro District is inhabited by primarily by the Fumbira, comprising Hutu
, Tutsi
, and Twa
tribes. Fumbira dialect, which is similar to Kinyarwanda, is spoken in the district. A section of Kisoro District is inhabited by the Kiga whose dialect is intermediat between Kiga and Fumbira.
Ethnicity is not a big issue for the Bafumbira as they freely intermarry, particularly among the Tutsi and Hutu. That relationship between the two ethnicities in Kisoro District partly explains why the 1994 Rwandan genocide
did not spread to Kisoro District. There is a general acceptance of these conditions and this has led to harmony in the district.
Livestock is kept by some on a subsistence level. However, a few wealthy individuals in the district have large cattle farms including:
Districts of Uganda
Uganda is divided into 111 districts and one city across four administrative regions. Most districts are named after their main commercial and administrative towns....
in Western Uganda
Western Region, Uganda
Western Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
. Like most other 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...
n districts, it is named after its 'chief town', 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:...
, where the district headquarters are located.
Location
Kisoro District is bordered by Kanungu DistrictKanungu 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:...
to the north, 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...
to the east, the Republic of Rwanda to the south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The 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...
to the west. The district headquarters at 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:...
are located approximately 42 kilometres (26.1 mi), by road, northwest of 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:...
, the largest town in the sub-region
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...
. The coordinates of the district are:01 17S, 29 41E.
Overview
Kisoro District is tucked away in the southwestern corner of UgandaUganda
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...
, where it borders with Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The 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 covers an area of approximately 729.7 square kilometre. About 3.88% of the district is covered by open water. Another 2.95% is covered by wetlands and national forest reserves cover another 0.96%. The District is mountainous and hilly and rises an average of 1980 metres (6,496.1 ft) above sea level. Due to the delicate nature of the environment and the pressure of a rapidly increasing population, the natural environment in Kisoro District is under severe threat of degradation.
The district was formed in 1992. Prior to that it was known as Bufumbira County and was part of 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 has 13 subcounties
Kanaba,Nyakabande,Chahi,Murora,Kisoro Town Council,Nyarusiza,Nyakinama,Nyarubuye,Muramba,Busanza,Nyabwishenya,Kirundo,Nyundo and has four (4) parliamentary constituencies:
- Bufumbira South - Hon. Tress Bucyanayandi
- Bufumbira North - Hon. John Nizeyimana Kamara
- Bufumbira East - Hon. Eddie Wagahungu Kwizera
- Bufumbira Women's Representative - Hon. Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi
It formerly had chiefs such as Rukeribuga, Semafara Rudovik, Sebukweto, Mizerero,Mikekemo and many others most of whom where appointed by Rukeribuga and Abdullah who was the district commissioner. The last great chief was Ntibiringirwa John Semafara who was the Resident District Commissioner of Oyam district.
Population
The district population was estimated at about 220,300 during the 2002 national census. The annual population growth rate in the district was estimated at 2.8%. It is estimated that the population of Kisoro District in 2010 was approximately 274,800. See table below:{| style="font-size:100%;"
|-
| width="100%" align="center" | Kisoro District Population Trends
|- valign="top"
|
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"
! style="width:2em;" |Year!! Estimated Population
|-
|2002||220,300
|-
|2003||226,500
|-
|2004||232,800
|-
|2005||239,300
|-
|2006||246,000
|-
|2007||252,900
|-
|2008||260,000
|-
|2009||267,300
|-
|2010||274,800
|-
|}
Kisoro District is inhabited by primarily by the Fumbira, comprising Hutu
Hutu
The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
, Tutsi
Tutsi
The Tutsi , or Abatutsi, are an ethnic group in Central Africa. Historically they were often referred to as the Watussi or Watusi. They are the second largest caste in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and the Twa ....
, and Twa
Twa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
tribes. Fumbira dialect, which is similar to Kinyarwanda, is spoken in the district. A section of Kisoro District is inhabited by the Kiga whose dialect is intermediat between Kiga and Fumbira.
Ethnicity is not a big issue for the Bafumbira as they freely intermarry, particularly among the Tutsi and Hutu. That relationship between the two ethnicities in Kisoro District partly explains why the 1994 Rwandan genocide
Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...
did not spread to Kisoro District. There is a general acceptance of these conditions and this has led to harmony in the district.
Religion
- ChristianityChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
: 95.8% - IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
: 0.8% - OtherOtherThe Other or Constitutive Other is a key concept in continental philosophy; it opposes the Same. The Other refers, or attempts to refer, to that which is Other than the initial concept being considered...
: 1.3% - None : 2.2%
- Note: the category "Other" may include Orthodox ChristianityOrthodox ChristianityThe term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
and other Christians. - Source: Uganda Bureau of Statistics (2002)
Economic activities
Like in most of Uganda's districts, agriculture forms the backbone of the economy of Kisoro District. Most of the agriculture is on a subsistence level. Crops grown include:- MaizeMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
- SorghumSorghumSorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
- Irish potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Beans
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- CabbageCabbageCabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne of the Family Brassicaceae and is a leafy green vegetable...
Livestock is kept by some on a subsistence level. However, a few wealthy individuals in the district have large cattle farms including:
- Bishop Halem'Imana
- Tress Bucyanayandi
- Nkuranga
- The Semafara Family.
Tourist attractions
Tourist attractions in the district include:- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park - One of only four national parks in the world where the African Mountain GorillaMountain GorillaThe Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic...
can be observed in the wild. - Mgahinga Gorilla National ParkMgahinga Gorilla National ParkMgahinga Gorilla National Park is a national park in the far south-west of Uganda near the town of Kisoro.-Location:The park is located in the Virunga Mountains and is contiguous with the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
- Besides the Mountain Gorillas, the Park also covers three (3) of the eight (8) Virunga VolcanoesVirunga MountainsThe Virunga Mountains are a chain of volcanoes in East Africa, along the northern border of Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The mountain range is a branch of the Albertine Rift, a part of the Great Rift Valley. They are located between Lake Edward and Lake Kivu...
: Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo, all of which lie on the UgandaUgandaUganda , 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...
/RwandaRwandaRwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
border.
External links
See also
- KisoroKisoroKisoro 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:...
- Kigezi sub-regionKigeziKigezi 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...
- Western Region, UgandaWestern Region, UgandaWestern Region is a region of Uganda. It is divided into the following districts:...
- Districts of UgandaDistricts of UgandaUganda is divided into 111 districts and one city across four administrative regions. Most districts are named after their main commercial and administrative towns....