Katuna is a town in the
Kabale District
Kabale District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda. Kabale hosts the district headquarters. It was originally part of Kigezi District, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu, Kisoro, Rubanda and Rukiga and were excised to form sepa ...
of
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
at the border with
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
. The town is also called "Gatuna" in the
Kinyarwanda
Kinyarwanda, Rwandan or Rwanda, officially known as Ikinyarwanda, is a Bantu language and a dialect of the Rwanda-Rundi language that is spoken in Rwanda and adjacent parts of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda (where there ...
language.
Location
Katuna is located on the Ugandan border with Rwanda, in extreme southwestern Uganda. The town is located in Kamuganguzi Sub-region, Ndorwa County. This is approximately , by road, south of
Kabale
Kabale is a town in the Western Region, Uganda, Western Region of Uganda. It is the chief town of Kabale District, and the district headquarters are located there.
Sometimes nicknamed “Kastone” as in the local language Rukiga, a “kabale” ...
, the largest city in the sub-region. The coordinates of the town are:1°25'22.0"S, 30°00'39.0"E (Latitude:-1.422778; Longitude:30.010833).
Overview
![Katuna boarder](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/Katuna_boarder.jpg)
Katuna is a major entrance point to Rwanda and handles most of Rwanda's imports from and exports to Uganda. Most goods bound for Rwanda from the Kenyan port of
Mombasa
Mombasa ( ; ) is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean. It was the first capital of the British East Africa, before Nairobi was elevated to capital city status. It now serves as the capital of Mombasa County. The town is ...
pass through Katuna. Because of increased commercial and tourist traffic, Katuna is a fast-growing town. The border at Katuna is open 24 hours a day.
History
In the pre-colonial times Katuna was a very important place. Around 1600AD, the first Bakiga (named after their ancestor Kashyiga) arrived from Rwanda, came to the hills of Kagarama and Rwanyena, fearing to cross the big lake which they named Bunyonyi, (too big that small birds could not cross it), they discovered a shorter route along the plains where there was a tree under which they rested, played and prayed giving thanks to their ancestors before they could proceed to the hills. They called the place Gatuna for a meeting place.
However, some fellow Rwandan immigrants who came following their relatives lost their way and went to Rubaya. That time, they migrated from Rwanda in places like Byumba, Murindi, Ruhengyere, Mukaniga and Buganza (especially from the Bumbogo Kingdom) in search of fertile land and to escape natural hazards and internal political conflicts. When Chief Rubunga was sending envoys to Mpororo, it is at Gatuna under the command of the now called the Abagyesera and Abasigi clans that the first group disobeyed and went towards Ankore. This was the beginning of the decentralization of the Rukiga Kingdom. From that time, different clans were formed, no longer heeding allegiance to the Main Chief. Rubunga belonged to the Bamuhutu ruling as a Mungura. Till today, there's still a dispute among the Bakiga who was their real King. However, many legends hold that, due to fear of the brutality of the Abungura who mistreated most of the Bakiga, after the death of Rubunga, the Bakiga formed Abakuru b’Ekika (elders of homesteads) but feared to ask the Abungura to give them Umwami or Omukama.
Thereafter they elected abakuru b’emidyango (elders of clans) who were representatives but since these had to refer to one elder, which idea they did not like, the whole of Kiga Kingdom collapsed. The colonialist benefited this situation by forming one big political district called Kigezi. Today, Gatuna is still largely occupied by the Abasigi, Abagyesera and the Abungura sub-clans.
Population
, the population of Katuna, Uganda was estimated at about 1,300.
Geography
Until 1926 Katuna was located in the then
Belgian Rwanda. It was the major exit point for political deserters who came to settle in Uganda. Katuna became a part of the then
British Uganda
The Protectorate of Uganda was a protectorate of the British Empire from 1894 to 1962. In 1893 the Imperial British East Africa Company transferred its administration rights of territory consisting mainly of the Kingdom of Buganda to the Bri ...
after the demarcation of the
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
-
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
border in 1926, based on an agreement between the British and Belgian governments. This was the last part to become part of
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
.
;Rubaya
Rubaya Subcounty is the wheat-growing area in the region. 70% of people who live Katuna, trace their ancestry to
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
. They are believed to have come from parts of Rwanda such as Murindi, Byumba, Ruhengyere and Mukaniga. Others trace their Rwandan roots through marriage between
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
n women and
Ugandans
This article is about the demographic features of the population of Uganda, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Population ...
.
;Kamuganguzi
Kamuganguzi on the other hand, is along the main road to
Kigali
Kigali () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is near the nation's geographic centre in a region of rolling hills, with a series of valleys and ridges joined by steep slopes. As a primate city, Kigali has been Rwa ...
and the inhabitants are believed to be more sociable compared to those in
Rubaya.
Native sons and daughters
Several important people who have steered or are steering the development of the area in Uganda and others working for international organizations or institutions trace their ancestry to the Gatuna area. Because of the enterprising spirit of the people of Katuna, many of them work in the private sector. These sons and daughters include:
*
Abel Rwendeire
*
Abaruhanga Amos
*
Adrian Ndemere
Adrian is a form of the Latin given name Adrianus or Hadrianus. Its ultimate origin is most likely via the former river Adria from the Venetic and Illyrian word ''adur'', meaning "sea" or "water".
The Adria was until the 8th century BC the main ...
*
Amos Nzeyi
Amos Nzeyi is a Ugandan businessman, entrepreneur, and industrialist. He is one of the wealthiest people in Uganda.
Business interests
Nzeyi has owned the following businesses wholly or in part:
* " Crown Beverages Limited" – A bottler of ...
*
Andrew Aja Baryayanga
Andrew Aja Baryayanga (born 2 September 1979) is a Ugandan administrator, Microsoft Certified Professional, entrepreneur and politician. He is the reelected Member of Parliament for Kabale Municipality now serving a second term of office and is ...
*
Anne Kansiime
Kansiime Kubiryaba Anne (born 13 April 1986) and popularly known as Anne Kansiime, is a Ugandan entertainer, comedian, and actress. She has been referred to as "Africa's Queen of Comedy" by some African media outlets.
Background and education
...
*
Augustine Rukiika Bujara
Augustine of Hippo ( , ; la, Aurelius Augustinus Hipponensis; 13 November 354 – 28 August 430), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian and philosopher of Berber origin and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Af ...
*
Augustus Nuwagaba
Augustus Nuwagaba is an international consultant on economic transformation. He is a wealth creation expert in Africa. He is qualified (MBA)in application of central bank monetary policy on commercial bank competitiveness. Prof. Nuwagaba has wor ...
*
Benjamin Turyahikayo
Benjamin ( he, ''Bīnyāmīn''; "Son of (the) right") blue letter bible: https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3225/kjv/wlc/0-1/ H3225 - yāmîn - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv) was the last of the two sons of Jacob and Rachel (Jacob's thir ...
*
Callist Rubaramira
*
Charles Kwesiga
*
Charles Mbire
Charles Magezi Mbire is a businessman, entrepreneur, and industrialist in Uganda. He was reported to be the wealthiest indigenous Ugandan, with an estimated net worth exceeding US$200 million as of January 2012.
Background
Mbire was born Charle ...
*
David Bahati
David Bahati (born 8 June 1973) is a Ugandan accountant and politician. He is the Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in the Cabinet of Uganda. He was appointed to that position in a cabinet reshuffle on 9 June 2021. He was ...
*
David Tibemanya
*
Edmand Tumushabe
*
Elinasani Bisamunyu
*
Ezra Suruma
Ezra Suruma (born 11 November 1945), is a Ugandan economist, banker, and academic. He became the chancellor of Makerere University in January 2016. He formerly served as a senior adviser to the president of Uganda on finance and economic plannin ...
*
Festo Karwemera
*
Francis Runumi
*
Frank Ntaho
*
Gaetano Batanyenda
*
George Bagamuhunda
George Bagamuhunda is an Anglican bishop in Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south- ...
*
George Katwesigye
*
George W. Kanyeihamba
*
Henry Banyenzaki
*
Isaac Kawonawo
*
Ivan Mbabazi Batuma
*
Jack Sabiiti
Jack Crissy Sabiiti (born 27 April 1947) is a Ugandan lecturer, public administrator and politician. He is the former Member of Parliament for Rukiga County, Kigezi sub-region and a founding member of FDC, the main opposition party in Uganda. ...
Jimmy Twebaze*
Joy Kwesiga
*
Namanya Paddy
*
Perez Ahabwe
Perez Ahabwe is a Ugandan economist and politician who was the State Minister for Local Government in Uganda from 16 February 2009 to 27 May 2011.
In the cabinet reshuffle of 27 May 2011, he was dropped from the cabinet and replaced by Alex Onz ...
*
Peter Kazenga Tibenderana
*
Peter Niwagaba
*
Pius Ruhemurana
*
Placid Mihayo
*
Ruhakana Rugunda
Ruhakana Rugunda (born 7 November 1947) is a Ugandan physician and politician who had been Prime Minister of Uganda from 2014 to 2021. He held a long series of cabinet posts under President Yoweri Museveni beginning in 1986. He served as Uganda's ...
*
Sergius Katushabe
*
Shaka Ssali
Shaka kaSenzangakhona ( – 22 September 1828), also known as Shaka Zulu () and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One of the most influential monarchs of the Zulu, he ordered wide-reaching reforms that ...
*
Shem Bageine
Shem Bajura Bageine is a Ugandan politician. He is the former Minister of State for
East African Affairs in the Ugandan Cabinet. He was appointed to that position on 1 March 2015. On account of being a cabinet minister, Shem Bageine is also an '' ...
*
Silver Baguma
*
Stanley Ntagali
*
Tereza Mbire
*
Timothy Twikirize
*
Tumusiime-Mutebile
*
Vastina Beyendera
*
Wilfred Niwagaba
*
Yosamu Baguma
Natural Attributes
Katuna is also famous for very fertile lands that are used for dairy cattle keeping and the growing of
Irish potatoes. Because of its strategic location at the border with
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
, Katuna has the potential to grow into a major border town in
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
, just like other towns such as
Malaba and
Busia. Katuna has a distinctive terrain. On one side of the road are very steep and rocky mountains that make the construction of houses very tedious and expensive. On the other side of the road is a swampy and marshy valley. To construct houses on the swampy side of the road, one has to first fill the place with rocks and a lot of soil. These two aspects of physical landscape make construction in Katuna very expensive. They also make Katuna a very compact place.
Kabale University
About north of Katuna, there is
Kabale University
Kabale University (KAB) is a public university in Uganda.
Location
The main campus of KAB is located on Kikungiri Hill, in Kabale, Kabale Municipality, on of land donated by the Kabale District, Kabale District Administration. This location is ...
in
Kabale
Kabale is a town in the Western Region, Uganda, Western Region of Uganda. It is the chief town of Kabale District, and the district headquarters are located there.
Sometimes nicknamed “Kastone” as in the local language Rukiga, a “kabale” ...
town where students from
Rwanda
Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...
,
Burundi
Burundi (, ), officially the Republic of Burundi ( rn, Repuburika y’Uburundi ; Swahili language, Swahili: ''Jamuhuri ya Burundi''; French language, French: ''République du Burundi'' ), is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley at the ...
, and
DRC
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
come to study together with
Uganda
}), is a landlocked country in East Africa
East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...
n students. This young university has distinguished itself by winning a
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...
grant for promoting the use of
information technology
Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology system (I ...
. Enrollment of Kabale University now stands at about 1,400 students and is still growing. Some of the students at Kabale University have done their studies in schools neighboring Katuna such as St. Barnabas Senior Secondary School in Karujanga, Janan Luwum Secondary School in Kamuganguzi, Buranga Senior Secondary School, Rukore High School and Rubaya Secondary School. Kabale University offers both undergraduate and post-graduate programs.
Tourism
Katuna and the surrounding countryside has tourist potential. The hilly terrain that has earned
Kigezi
Kigezi District once covered what are now Kabale District, Kanungu District, Kisoro District and Rukungiri District, in southwest Uganda. Its terraced fields are what gives this part of Uganda its distinctive character. Kigezi was popularly known ...
the nickname "Switzerland of Africa" is evident around Katuna. The terraced hills look beautiful with the wide variety of food crops and forest cover.
Lake Bunyonyi
Lake Bunyonyi ("Place of many little birds") is in south-western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale, and it is close to the border with Rwanda. The lake appeared from 2004 to 2009 on the USh note under the title "Lake Bunyonyi and terraces" ...
is located about northwest of Katuna. The lake can be accessed from Katuna by following the murram road that passes via Kakoma to Rubaya. The numerous mountains around Katuna are good for mountain climbing. From Katuna one can also access
Mt. Muhavura, a dormant volcanic mountain close to Lake Bunyonyi.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is a national park in southwestern Uganda. It was created in 1991 and covers an area of .
Geography
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the Virunga Mountains and encompasses three inactive volcanoes, name ...
is also accessible from Katuna. There are modest hotels, such as Katuna Inn, where tourists can relax for a drink and local dishes. There is a police station within the town. As of December 2009, there is no
bank
A bank is a financial institution that accepts deposits from the public and creates a demand deposit while simultaneously making loans. Lending activities can be directly performed by the bank or indirectly through capital markets.
Because ...
on the Ugandan side of the border. Foreign exchange transactions are conducted by ''money changers'' who deal with currencies including
United States Dollars
The United States dollar ( symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the officia ...
,
Rwandan franc
The Rwandan franc (sign: FRw,National Bank of Rwanda.Currency characteristics" Accessed 2017-02-20. and possibly RF or R₣; ISO 4217: RWF) is the currency of Rwanda. It is subdivided into 100 centimes.National Bank of Rwanda.Legal tender." Acces ...
s and
Ugandan shilling
The shilling ( sw, shilingi; abbreviation: USh; ISO code: UGX) is the currency of Uganda. Officially divided into cents until 2013, due to substantial inflation the shilling now has no subdivision.
Notation
Prices in the Ugandan shilling ...
s. Temperatures in the town sometimes fall as low as at night. But during the day it gets warm, temperatures rising to as high as .
Katuna market
In August 2015, the Ugandan government commissioned the construction of a USh 28 billion market at Kiruruma Government Farm. The market, which is located a few kilometers from the Katuna border town, is supported by the
Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) with funding from the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
.
See also
*
Gatuna, Rwanda
*
Kabale
Kabale is a town in the Western Region, Uganda, Western Region of Uganda. It is the chief town of Kabale District, and the district headquarters are located there.
Sometimes nicknamed “Kastone” as in the local language Rukiga, a “kabale” ...
*
Kabale District
Kabale District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda. Kabale hosts the district headquarters. It was originally part of Kigezi District, before the districts of Rukungiri, Kanungu, Kisoro, Rubanda and Rukiga and were excised to form sepa ...
*
Kabale University
Kabale University (KAB) is a public university in Uganda.
Location
The main campus of KAB is located on Kikungiri Hill, in Kabale, Kabale Municipality, on of land donated by the Kabale District, Kabale District Administration. This location is ...
References
External links
Rwanda/Uganda Border Crossings Open 24 Hours
{{coord, 01, 25, 22, S, 30, 00, 39, E, display=title
Geography of Uganda
Populated places in Western Region, Uganda
Cities in the Great Rift Valley
Rwanda–Uganda border crossings
Kabale District