Ankole ( Nkore before the colonial era) was a traditional Bantu peoples kingdom in Uganda and lasted from the 15th century until 1967. The kingdom was located in south-western Uganda, east of Lake Edward.
The kingdom was formally abolished in 1967 by the government of President Milton Obote, and since then, the kingdom has not been restored officially. The Observer Media Ltd. :: The Weekly Observer :: Uganda's Top Resource site Because of the reorganisation of the country by Idi Amin, Ankole no longer exists as an administrative unit. It is divided into ten districts, namely: Bushenyi District, Buhweju District, Mitooma District, Rubirizi District, Sheema District, Ntungamo District, Mbarara District, Kiruhura District, Ibanda District, and Isingiro District.
The Emitwe leaders (commanders of the basic military units) were the second most powerful group after the Mugabe in Ankole. They spent most of their time in court when not fighting. They had their encampments ( amacumbi) near the palace but not in it. The Emitwe leaders were also the top regional administrators. Their chief duties were to mobilize their warriors in times of war and to lead them in the actual fighting and also to carry out the duties of civil administration during times of peace. Their official positions and personal standing made them the most influential single group in court since their advice was sought on most matters of public policy. The leaders of the emitwe could be either Iru or Hima.
The reign of Ntare V is full of examples of famous Bairu emitwe leaders, such as Ruhara, who was also a regional chief. Ruharu was a close friend of King Ntare V. He gained great fame and renown because of the leading part he played in conquering large parts of Rwampara County, which was previously part of the Mpororo kingdom. Ruhara, together with other Iru such as Koyokoma and Rwankwiiziire, played the leading role in traveling across Nkore to stop the flow of people fleeing Nkore after the death of Ntare V, showing their great influence and personal standing in the society.
In Nkore, it was believed that that "obwiru" the was poverty; he who was poor was a Mwiru; he who was rich was a Muhima. Marko Kiiza of the Kingdom of Igara says:
A number of social pressures worked to destroy Hima domination of Nkore. Miscegenation took place despite prohibitions on intermarriage, and children of these unions ( abambari) often demanded their rights as cattle owners, leading to feuding and cattle-raiding. From what is present-day Rwanda groups launched repeated attacks against the Hima during the nineteenth century. To counteract these pressures, several Hima warlords recruited Bantu men into their armies to protect the southern borders of Nkore.
Aili M. Tripp describes the role of women in the kingdom of Nkore:
Kananura, a member of the Hororo people, speaks of the military organization of Nkore: "A war expedition without the Bairu could not be contemplated or be successful. The Omukama used to call out all his male subjects to fight if there was a war to be fought."
An Iru named Katare (son of Kobengo) was one of the most famous warriors during the reign of Ntare IV, and his praises are still sung in Ankole today;
Ruhinda | c. 1430–1446 | |
Nkuba | c. 1446–1475 | |
Nyaika | c. 1475–1503 | |
Nyabugaro Ntare I | c. 1503–1531 | |
Rushango | c. 1531–1559 | |
Ntare II Kagwejegyerera | c. 1559–1587 | |
Ntare III Rugaamba | c. 1587–1615 | |
Kasasira | c. 1615–1643 | |
Kitera | c. 1643–1671 | Joint rulers. |
Kumongye | ||
Mirindi | c. 1671–1699 | |
Ntare IV Kitabanyoro | c. 1699–1727 | |
Macwa | c. 1727–1755 | |
Rwabirere | c. 1755–1783 | Joint rulers. |
Karara | ||
Karaiga | ||
Kahaya I | c. 1783–1811 | Joint rulers. |
Nyakashaija | ||
Bwarenga | ||
Rwebishengye | ||
Rwebishengye | c. 1811–1839 | Joint rulers. |
Kayunga | ||
Gasiyonga I | ||
Mutambuka | c. 1839–1867 | |
Ntare V | c. 1867–1895 | |
Kahaya II | 1895–1944 | Monarchy placed under the Uganda Protectorate in 1896. |
Gasiyonga II | 1944–8 September 1967 | Monarchy abolished in 1967. |
Ntare VI | 1993–2011 | Titular king. |
Charles Rwebishengye | 2011–present | Titular king. |
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