The collapse of the Mpororo kingdom
The collapse of the Mpororo kingdom at the end of the 18th century led to a power vacuum in
south Kigezi that resulted in unopposed migrations from the south. Bakiga migrations of mid
19th century northwards displaced the Bashambo from Mpororo and was then renamed Rukiga.
Bazigaaba and Bashengera pastoralists went north to Rujumbura after the Basigi influx in the
1880s.
At the end of the 19th century there were also conflicts between the Basigi, Bakongwe and the
Batwa west of Lake Bunyonyi combined with famines and land shortages as the fertile lands
around the lake were much sought after. Each clan was ruled by leaders who were rain makers,
medicine men, warriors or wise elders; meanwhile Nyabingi grew in power.
In the north around Kinkiizi there were many Bakiga migrants though they faced opposition
from the Congolese Bahunde from 18th century who were significant there and Kayonza up to
the time of Ntokibiiri, the last great Bahunde leader. In Rujumbura there were few Bakiga as it
was under the control of local Bahororo leaders who maintained independence through
aggressive raiding of their neighbours after the fall of the Mpororo kingdom until the arrival of
the English. The current Bakiga population elsewhere in Uganda is a result of resettlement
schemes of the 1940s and later migrations.
In Bufumbira the Bazigaaba arrived in the 16th century and the 1840s. The Bagahe came from
Gisake arrived and the Bagiri from Rwanda around 1700. The Basigi arrived in the 19th century
and were followed by the Bagara, Barihira and Bungura, all agriculturalists. Various Batutsi
chiefs came to rule but were resisted by Basebye, leader of the Batwa allied with the Bazigaaba,
Bungura and Batongo of Kanaba who fought against them and their Basinga pastoral allies.
south Kigezi that resulted in unopposed migrations from the south. Bakiga migrations of mid
19th century northwards displaced the Bashambo from Mpororo and was then renamed Rukiga.
Bazigaaba and Bashengera pastoralists went north to Rujumbura after the Basigi influx in the
1880s.
At the end of the 19th century there were also conflicts between the Basigi, Bakongwe and the
Batwa west of Lake Bunyonyi combined with famines and land shortages as the fertile lands
around the lake were much sought after. Each clan was ruled by leaders who were rain makers,
medicine men, warriors or wise elders; meanwhile Nyabingi grew in power.
In the north around Kinkiizi there were many Bakiga migrants though they faced opposition
from the Congolese Bahunde from 18th century who were significant there and Kayonza up to
the time of Ntokibiiri, the last great Bahunde leader. In Rujumbura there were few Bakiga as it
was under the control of local Bahororo leaders who maintained independence through
aggressive raiding of their neighbours after the fall of the Mpororo kingdom until the arrival of
the English. The current Bakiga population elsewhere in Uganda is a result of resettlement
schemes of the 1940s and later migrations.
In Bufumbira the Bazigaaba arrived in the 16th century and the 1840s. The Bagahe came from
Gisake arrived and the Bagiri from Rwanda around 1700. The Basigi arrived in the 19th century
and were followed by the Bagara, Barihira and Bungura, all agriculturalists. Various Batutsi
chiefs came to rule but were resisted by Basebye, leader of the Batwa allied with the Bazigaaba,
Bungura and Batongo of Kanaba who fought against them and their Basinga pastoral allies.
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