{{Short description|One of the western regions of Uganda}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Ankole sub-region | settlement_type = Subregion | pushpin_map = Uganda | pushpin_label_position = bottom | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Uganda | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Western Region | seat_type = Largest city | seat = Mbarara City | coordinates = {{coord|00|30|S|30|30|E|display = title}} | area_total_km2 = 15067<ref name="City Population">{{Cite web |title=Uganda: Administrative Division (Subregions and Districts) |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/ |website=CityPopulation |publisher=City Population |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>| population_total = 3608968<ref>{{Cite report |title=Ankole Sub-Region Census 2024 Profile Report |url=https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ankole-Sub-Region-Census-2024-Profile-Report.pdf |publisher=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |date=2 June 2025 |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="citypopulation.de">{{Cite web |title=Ankole (Subregion, Uganda) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/41__ankole/ |website=CityPopulation |publisher=City Population |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref> | population_as_of = 2024 census | population_density_km2 = 239.5<ref name="City Population">{{Cite web |title=Uganda: Administrative Division (Subregions and Districts) |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/ |website=CityPopulation |publisher=City Population |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref> | blank_name_sec1 = Districts and city | blank_info_sec1 = Buhweju, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Mitooma, Ntungamo, Rubirizi, Rwampara, Sheema, Mbarara City | timezone = EAT | utc_offset = +3 }}
The Ankore ('''Nkore before the colonial era''') was a traditional Bantu Kingdom in Uganda and lasted from the '''15th century''' until 1967. The kingdom was located in the southwestern of Uganda.
'''Ankole sub-region''' is a region in the Western Region of Uganda<ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Uganda Guide {{!}} Western Uganda Travel, Attractions & Accommodation Guide |url=https://western-uganda.net/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=western-uganda.net}}</ref> that consists of the following districts:
* Buhweju District * Bushenyi District * Ibanda District * Isingiro District * Kazo District * Kiruhura District * Mbarara District * Mbarara City * Mitooma District * Ntungamo District * Rwampara District * Rubirizi District * Sheema District.
The area covered by the above districts constituted the traditional Ankole Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Kingdom of Ankole |url=https://kawa.ac.ug/eastafricanhistory/the_kingdom_of_ankole.html |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=kawa.ac.ug}}</ref> Milton Obote abolished the traditional kingdoms in Uganda in 1967.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Milton Obote Abolished Uganda's Kingdoms {{!}} The African Gourmet |url=https://www.theafricangourmet.com/2025/11/milton-obote-abolished-ugandas-kingdoms.html |access-date=2025-12-13 |language=en}}</ref> This was a bold political move that ended centuries of royal rule and centralized authority under his government.<ref name=":0" /> When Yoweri Museveni re-established them in 1993, Ankole did not re-constitute itself.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-03 |title=Why Ankole Kingdom was never restored |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/people-power/why-ankole-kingdom-was-never-restored-4543794 |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref>
The sub-region is home mainly to the Ankole ethnic group. The people of Ankole are called Banyankole (singular: Munyankole).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Safaris |first=Gecko |date=2025-01-30 |title=Banyankole People of Uganda: Culture, Traditions & History |url=https://www.visitrwandagorilla.com/banyankole-people-of-uganda/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=Visit Rwanda Gorillas |language=en-US}}</ref> The Banyankole speak Runyankole, a Bantu language. Runyankole is very similar to Rukiga, spoken by the people of the neighboring Kigezi sub-region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-24 |title=Kigezi sub-region grapples with climate change effects |url=https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/special-reports/kigezi-sub-region-grapples-with-climate-change-effects-4801800 |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=Monitor |language=en}}</ref> According to the 2014 national census,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 Census |url=https://www.ubos.org/2014-census/ |access-date=2025-12-13 |website=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |language=en-US}}</ref> the Ankole sub-region was home to an estimated 2.56 million people at that time.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 2014 | url=http://www.ubos.org/onlinefiles/uploads/ubos/NPHC/NPHC%202014%20PROVISIONAL%20RESULTS%20REPORT.pdf |title=National Population and Housing Census: Population by District By Sex, Residence, Population Type, Uganda, 2014 |access-date=19 January 2018 | publisher=Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) |author=UBOS | location=Kampala}}</ref>
== Geography and environment == The subregion lies in south-western Uganda within the Western Region administrative grouping used by UBOS.<ref>{{Cite report |title=Ankole Sub-Region Census 2024 Profile Report |url=https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ankole-Sub-Region-Census-2024-Profile-Report.pdf |publisher=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |date=2 June 2025 |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
Protected areas linked to districts in the subregion include:
*Lake Mburo National Park (associated with Kiruhura District).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Mburo National Park |url=https://ugandawildlife.org/en/parks/lake-mburo-national-park |website=Uganda Wildlife Authority |publisher=Uganda Wildlife Authority |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
*Queen Elizabeth National Park (associated with Rubirizi District).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queen Elizabeth National Park |url=https://ugandawildlife.org/en/parks/queen-elizabeth-national-park |website=Uganda Wildlife Authority |publisher=Uganda Wildlife Authority |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
== Demographics == In the 2024 National Population and Housing Census, Ankole sub-region recorded a population of 3,608,968.<ref>{{Cite report |title=Ankole Sub-Region Census 2024 Profile Report |url=https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ankole-Sub-Region-Census-2024-Profile-Report.pdf |publisher=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |date=2 June 2025 |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="citypopulation.de">{{Cite web |title=Ankole (Subregion, Uganda) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/41__ankole/ |website=CityPopulation |publisher=City Population |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
Population structure (2024 census):
*Male: 1,684,729 *Female: 1,924,239<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{Cite web |title=Ankole (Subregion, Uganda) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/41__ankole/ |website=CityPopulation |publisher=City Population |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
Age groups (2024 census):
*0–14 years: 1,372,108 *15–64 years: 2,084,082 *65+ years: 152,778<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{Cite web |title=Ankole (Subregion, Uganda) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/41__ankole/ |website=CityPopulation |publisher=City Population |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
UBOS subregional profile reporting for the 2024 census lists 842,783 households for Ankole sub-region.<ref>{{Cite report |title=Ankole Sub-Region Census 2024 Profile Report |url=https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ankole-Sub-Region-Census-2024-Profile-Report.pdf |publisher=Uganda Bureau of Statistics |date=2 June 2025 |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
District and city populations (2024 census):<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{Cite web |title=Ankole (Subregion, Uganda) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/41__ankole/ |website=CityPopulation |publisher=City Population |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
*Buhweju: 167,921 *Bushenyi: 283,392 *Ibanda: 309,466 *Isingiro: 635,077 *Kazo: 208,898 *Kiruhura: 203,502 *Mbarara District: 174,039 *Mbarara City: 264,425 *Mitooma: 226,009 *Ntungamo: 552,786 *Rubirizi: 168,211 *Rwampara: 162,967 *Sheema: 252,275
== Economy == Livestock and dairy value chains form a major part of local livelihoods in south-western Uganda, with Mbarara frequently referenced in dairy supply and handling studies.<ref>{{Cite report |title=Uganda Dairy Sector Review Final Report |url=https://www.fao.org/4/aq292e/aq292e00.pdf |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
Indigenous Ankole Longhorn cattle remain culturally significant and are documented by FAO as a hardy local breed valued by pastoral communities in the Ankole area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reviving the Ankole Longhorns of Uganda |url=https://www.fao.org/family-farming/detail/en/c/896286/ |website=Family Farming Knowledge Platform |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
== Culture and languages == Runyankore-Rukiga (ISO 639-3: nyn and cgg) is documented as a Bantu language cluster associated with south-western Uganda, including areas linked to Ankole.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Runyankore-Rukiga (Runyankore, Rukiga) |url=https://typecraft.org/tc2wiki/Runyankore-Rukiga |website=Typecraft |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
== Education == Mbarara City hosts higher education institutions including Mbarara University of Science and Technology.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home Courses |url=https://elearning.must.ac.ug/course/ |website=Mbarara University of Science and Technology |publisher=Mbarara University of Science and Technology |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref> The city also hosts Bishop Stuart University (see official admissions portal).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Online Application Procedures |url=https://www.bsu.ac.ug/student-gateway/admissions/online-application-procedures/ |website=Bishop Stuart University |publisher=Bishop Stuart University |access-date=18 December 2025}}</ref>
==See also== * Regions of Uganda * Districts of Uganda * kigezi sub-region * western region, Uganda * Runyankore * Banyankore * Ankole
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ankole-Sub-Region-Census-2024-Profile-Report.pdf Uganda Bureau of Statistics | Ankole sub-region] *[https://www.bing.com/search?q=Ankole+sub-region+when+was+it+created&cvid=e1687123f7bc4517bda0c452a9800e59&gs_lcrp=EgRlZGdlKgYIABBFGDkyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQABhAMgYIAhAAGEAyBggDEAAYQNIBCTE2NDAw Red paper | Akole region] *UBOS: Ankole Sub-Region Census 2024 Profile Report (PDF) https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ankole-Sub-Region-Census-2024-Profile-Report.pdf *UBOS: National Population and Housing Census 2024 Final Report, Volume 1 (PDF) https://www.ubos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/National-Population-and-Housing-Census-2024-Final-Report-Volume-1-Main.pdf
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ankole Sub-Region}} Category:Ankole sub-region Category:Sub-regions of Uganda Category:Western Region, Uganda