Bunyoro sub-region

[[Image:Bunyoro_(map).png|thumb|Bunyoro Sub-region]] '''Bunyoro sub-region''' is a region in [[Western Region, Uganda|Western Uganda]] that consists of the following districts:

* [[Buliisa District]] * [[Hoima|Hoima City]] * [[Hoima District]] * [[Kagadi District]] * [[Kakumiro District]] * [[Kibaale District]] * [[Kikuube District]] * [[Kiryandongo District]] * [[Masindi District]]

The area covered by the above districts is coterminous with the traditional [[Bunyoro|Bunyoro Kingdom]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=tony |date=2023-11-12 |title=Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom & Culture » Trek Africa Expeditions |url=https://trekafricatours.com/bunyoro-kitara-kingdom-culture/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=Trek Africa Expeditions |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Milton Obote]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-08-01 |title=President Apollo Milton Obote - State House Uganda |url=https://statehouse.go.ug/the-state-house/past-presidents/president-apollo-milton-obote/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |work=State House Uganda - Government of Uganda |language=en-US}}</ref> abolished the traditional kingdoms in Uganda in 1967. When [[Yoweri Museveni]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yoweri Museveni - BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/topics/c6mkk7dqljet |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> re-established them in 1993, Bunyoro re-constituted itself.

The sub-region is home mainly to the Banyoro ethnic group. The people of Bunyoro are called '''Banyoro''' (singular: '''Munyoro'''). The [[Banyoro]] speak [[Runyoro]], a Bantu language. Runyoro closely related to [[Rutooro]], spoken by the people of the neighboring [[Toro sub-region]]. The language is often referred to as Runyoro/Rutooro - a dialect of the larger [[Runyakitara language|Runyakitara]] language.

According to the 2002 national census, the Bunyoro sub-region was home to an estimated 0.75 million people at that time.<ref>[[Districts of Uganda|Estimated Population of Bunyoro Sub-region In 2002]]</ref>

== Ethnicity and language == The [[Banyoro]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-30 |title=The Banyoro |url=https://kitararcc.com/the-banyoro/ |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=KITARA FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: Transforming Communities through Travel Partnerships |language=en}}</ref> people, also known as [[Nyoro people|Nyoro]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nyoro / Runyoro language and alphabet |url=https://www.omniglot.com/writing/nyoro.htm |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=www.omniglot.com}}</ref> / Bakitara, are a Bantu ethnic group native to the kingdom of Bunyoro in Uganda. They live in settlements on a well-watered and fertile plateau, in western Uganda, east of Lake Mobutu. The region comprises the districts of Buliisa, [[Hoima]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hoima {{!}} Makerere University |url=https://www.mak.ac.ug/tags/1624 |access-date=2025-12-15 |website=www.mak.ac.ug |language=en}}</ref> Kibaale, Kiryandongo and Masindi. They speak the [[Nyoro language|Nyoro]] language, also known as [[Runyoro]]. In the Paluo area of northern Bunyoro, a language related to the Luo language is also spoken.

The [[Bunyoro kingdom|Bunyoro Kingdom]]<ref name=":2" /> was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Central and East Africa from the 13th century to the 19th century. Today, the kingdom is one of the administrative regions that make up the modern Republic of Uganda, and it is ruled by the King (Omukama) of Bunyoro-Kitara.

== Culture and society == The [[Nyoro people|Banyoro]] people reside in settlements across their region, with clan systems remaining integral to their social structure. In each family, the father holds a position of authority as the "mukama" or master/ head of the household, overseeing family members and possessions.

Traditionally, the Banyoro are agriculturalists, cultivating crops (''the Bairu'' class) such as millet, sorghum, bananas, and yams, and raising livestock (''the Bahuma'' class), especially cattle, goats, sheep, chickens, and turkeys. They also preserve their culture through traditional dances, music, and storytelling.

== Major cities and towns == The largest city in Bunyoro is [[Hoima City|Hoima city]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us {{!}} Hoima City |url=https://hoimacity.go.ug/page/about-us |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=hoimacity.go.ug}}</ref> Others include [[Masindi]], Kagadi, Buliisa, Kibaale, Kiryandongo, and Kigumba<ref>{{Cite web |title=Masindi District |url=https://www.masindi.go.ug/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=www.masindi.go.ug}}</ref>

== Tourism == Bunyoro has a great deal of tourist attractions including :

* [[Bugoma Forest|Bugoma Central Forest Reserve]] *Mparo tombs *Omukama's palace at Karuzika *Chimpanzee Sanctuary and wildlife conservation [[Hoima]]. *The [[Empaako]] (Praise name) *Munsa Fort *Igayaza Chwezi historical sites with foot prints of Ndahura (the first Chwezi king) and that of his dog *[[Murchison Falls National Park|Murchision Falls National Park]] *Tonya-Kabwoya wildlife reserve with Lake Albert Safari Lodge *St. Andrea Kaahwa (The martyr also known as Andrew Kaggwa) *[[Uganda Martyrs|St. Anatole Kirigwaijo]] (another Ugandan martyr) *Nyante river at Kikwaya a point where Omukama Kabalega's cattle perished *The tomb of King Duhaga at Kakumiro *[[Hoima City Stadium]] *[[Kibiro]] *Katasiiha Fort

== Demographics == The 2024 [[Uganda]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-07-11 |title=Uganda country profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14107906 |access-date=2025-12-17 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> national population and housing census projected Bunyoro to be with a population of 2,792,732 people.

== Ethnic groups == he majority of people in Bunyoro are [[Banyoro]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Banyoro - Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom (Rep. Uganda) - The most powerful Kingdom in East Africa! |url=http://www.bunyoro-kitara.org/53.html |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=www.bunyoro-kitara.org}}</ref> Other ethnic groups include the [[Batooro]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Project |first=Joshua |title=Batooro in Uganda |url=https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/15561/UG |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=joshuaproject.net |language=en}}</ref>, [[Songora people|Basongora]], [[Hema people|Bahema]], [[Baruuli]], [[Banyankole]],<ref name="polly">{{Cite web |last=polly |date=2025-01-07 |title=The Banyankole in Uganda {{!}} Achieve Global Safaris |url=https://www.bwindinationalparkuganda.com/information-blog/the-banyankole-in-uganda/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Bwindi Impenetrable National Park |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Bakiga]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Project |first=Joshua |title=Bakiga in Uganda |url=https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/11331/UG |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=joshuaproject.net |language=en}}</ref> and [[Baganda]]'''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=gorillatrekking |date=2019-05-17 |title=Baganda and their culture {{!}} Uganda cultural tours {{!}} buganda culture |url=https://www.gorillatrekkingtoursandsafaris.com/baganda-and-their-culture/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=Gorilla Trekking Tours & Safaris |language=en-US}}</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Vision |title=Bunyoro region: A plateful of tourist attractions |url=https://www.newvision.co.ugnull/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=New Vision}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="polly"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bunyoro (Subregion, Uganda) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://citypopulation.de/en/uganda/admin/43__bunyoro/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=citypopulation.de}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Regions of Uganda]] * [[Districts of Uganda]]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunyoro Sub-Region}} [[Category:Bunyoro sub-region| ]] [[Category:Sub-regions of Uganda]] [[Category:Western Region, Uganda]]