Kisoro District
| Kisoro District | |
|---|---|
| District | |
 District location in Uganda | |
| Coordinates: 01°17′S 29°41′E / 1.283°S 29.683°ECoordinates: 01°17′S 29°41′E / 1.283°S 29.683°E | |
| Country |
 Uganda |
| Region | Western Region of Uganda |
| Sub-region | Kigezi sub-region |
| Capital | Kisoro |
| Area | |
| • Total | 701.4 km2 (270.8 sq mi) |
| • Land | 644.6 km2 (248.9 sq mi) |
| • Water | 56.8 km2 (21.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2012 Estimate) | |
| • Total | 254,300 |
| • Density | 362.6/km2 (939/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| Website |
www |
Kisoro District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda. The town of Kisoro is the site of the district headquarters.
Location
Kisoro District is bordered by Kanungu District to the north, Kabale District to the east, the Rwanda to the south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the west. The town of Kisoro is approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi), by road, west of Kabale, the largest town in the sub-region.[1] The coordinates of the district are 01 17S, 29 41E.
Overview
Kisoro District is in the southwestern corner of Uganda and covers approximately 701.4 square kilometres (270.8 sq mi). About 3.88 percent of the district is covered by open water. Another 2.95 percent is covered by wetlands, and national forest reserves cover another 0.96 percent. The district is mountainous and hilly and rises an average of 1,980 metres (6,500 ft) above sea level. Because of the delicate environment and the pressure of a rapidly increasing population, the natural environment is under severe threat of degradation.
The district was formed in 1992. Before that, it was known as Bufumbira County and was part of the Kabale District. Kisoro District has 13 sub-counties: Kanaba, Nyakabande, Chahi, Murora, Kisoro, Nyarusiza, Nyakinama, Nyarubuye, Muramba, Busanza, Nyabwishenya, Kirundo, and Nyundo. The district has four parliamentary constituencies: Bufumbira South, Bufumbira North, Bufumbira East and Bufumbira Women's Representative.
It formerly had chiefs such as Rukeribug, RudovikSemafara, Sebukweto, Mizerero, and Mikekemo. Most of the chiefs were appointed by the district commissioner. The last great chief was Ntibiringirwa John Semafara, who was the resident district commissioner of the Oyam District.
Population
In 1991, the national population census estimated the district population at 186,700. The district population was estimated at 220,300 during the 2002 national census. The annual population growth rate in the district was calculated at 1.5 percent. In 2012, the population of the district was estimated at 254,300.[2]
Ethnicities
The district is inhabited by primarily by the Bafumbira, composed of the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa tribes. The Rufumbira dialect, which is similar to Kinyarwanda, is spoken in the district. A section of the district is inhabited by the Kiga people whose dialect is intermediate between Kiga and rumbira.
The Bafumbira freely intermarry, particularly among the Tutsi and Hutu. That relationship between the two ethnicities partly explains why the 1994 Rwandan genocide did not spread to district.
Religion
As of September 2002, the religious affiliations of the district residents broke down as follows: Christianity - 95.8 percent, Islam - 0.8 percent, Other - 1.3 percent, None - 2.2 percent.[3]
Economic activities
Like in most of Uganda's districts, agriculture forms the backbone of the district's economy. Most of the agriculture is on a subsistence level. Crops grown include maize, sorghum, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, onions, tomatoes, and cabbage.
Livestock is kept by many on a subsistence level, with a few wealthy individuals in the district having large cattle farms.
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 gorilla can be observed in the wild.
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park - has mountain gorillas and covers three of the eight Virunga Volcanoes: Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo, all of which lie on the Uganda-Rwanda border.
See also
References
- ↑ "Distance Between Kabale nd Kisoro With Map". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ↑ "Estimated Population of Kisoro District In 1991, 2002 & 2012". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ↑ "Religious Affiliations Among Ugandans By District As of 2002" (PDF). Uganda Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
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