Ankole sub-region
Ankole sub-region | |
|---|---|
Subregion | |
Ankole sub-region | |
| Country | Uganda |
| Region | Western Region |
| Largest city | Mbarara City |
| Area | |
• Total | 15,067 km2 (5,817 sq mi) |
| Population (2024 census) | |
• Total | 3,608,968 |
| • Density | 239.5/km2 (620/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
| Districts and city | Buhweju, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhura, Mbarara, Mitooma, Ntungamo, Rubirizi, Rwampara, Sheema, Mbarara City |
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 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. Milton Obote abolished the traditional kingdoms in Uganda in 1967. This was a bold political move that ended centuries of royal rule and centralized authority under his government. When Yoweri Museveni re-established them in 1993, Ankole did not re-constitute itself.
The sub-region is home mainly to the Ankole ethnic group. The people of Ankole are called Banyankole (singular: Munyankole). The Banyankole speak Runyankole, a Bantu language. Runyankole is very similar to Rukiga, spoken by the people of the neighboring Kigezi sub-region. According to the 2014 national census, the Ankole sub-region was home to an estimated 2.56 million people at that time.