Ntungamo District is a

district A district is a type of administrative division that, in some countries, is managed by the local government. Across the world, areas known as "districts" vary greatly in size, spanning regions or counties, several municipalities, subdivisions o ...

in Western Uganda. Like most

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 districts, it named after its 'chief town',

Ntungamo Ntungamo is a town in the Western Region of Uganda. It is the largest town in Ntungamo District and the site of the district headquarters. Location Ntungamo is about , by road, southwest of the city of Mbarara, the largest city in Uganda's West ...

, the location of the district headquarters. Ntungamo was elevated to a district on 5th May 1993.

Overview

In the past, Ntungamo District was part of the

Ankole Kingdom Ankole (Runyankore: ''Nkore''), was a traditional Bantu kingdom in Uganda and lasted from the 15th century until 1967. The kingdom was located in south-western Uganda, east of Lake Edward. History Ankole Kingdom is located in the South-Wester ...

, a traditional monarchy that dates back to the 18th century. The kingdom was abolished by

Milton Obote Apollo Milton Obote (28 December 1925 – 10 October 2005) was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence from British colonial rule in 1962. Following the nation's independence, he served as prime minister of Uganda from 1962 to ...

in 1967. The current

President of Uganda The president of the Republic of Uganda is the head of state and the head of government of Uganda. The president leads the executive branch of the government of Uganda and is the commander-in-chief of the Uganda People's Defence Force. The in ...

Yoweri Museveni Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa (born 15 September 1944) is a Ugandan politician and retired senior military officer who has been the 9th and current President of Uganda since 26 January 1986. Museveni spearheaded rebellions with aid of then ...

, and his wife,

Janet Museveni Janet Kainembabazi Museveni (''née'' Kataaha; born June 24, 1948) is a Ugandan politician who has been the First Lady of Uganda since 1986. She is married to President Yoweri Museveni, with whom she has four children. She has been Cabinet Minis ...

, were born in the district. The Ankole Kingdom is coterminous with

Ankole sub-region 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 * M ...

, home to an estimated 2.2 million inhabitants in 2002, according to the national census conducted that year.

Location

Ntungamo District is bordered to the north by

Mitooma District Mitooma District is a district in Western Uganda. It is named after its main municipal, administrative and commercial center, Mitooma. Location Mitooma District is bordered by Bushenyi District to the north, Sheema District to the east, Ntunga ...

Sheema District Sheema District is a district in Western Uganda. Location Sheema District is bordered by Buhweju District to the north, Mbarara District to the east, Ntungamo District to the south, Mitooma District to the southwest and Bushenyi District to t ...

and Rwampara District, going from west to east.

Isingiro District Isingiro District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda. The town of Isingiro is the district's main municipal, administrative, and commercial center. Location Isingiro District is bordered by Kiruhura District to the north, Rakai Distr ...

lies to the east, the

Republic of 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 ...

to the south,

Rukiga District Rukiga District is a district in Western Uganda. Its capital is Mparo. However, the largest urban center in the district is Muhanga. Location Rukiga District is bordered by Ntungamo District to the east, the Republic of Rwanda to the southeast, ...

to the southwest and

Rukungiri District Rukungiri District is a district in the Western Region of Uganda. The town of Rukungiri is the site of the district headquarters. Location The district is bordered by Lake Edward to the North West, Rubirizi District to the northeast, Mitooma Dis ...

to the northwest. The district headquarters at

, are located about , by road, southwest of

Mbarara Mbarara City is a city in the Western Region of Uganda and the second largest city in Uganda after Kampala. The city is divided into 6 boroughs of Kakoba Division, Kamukuzi Division, Nyamitanga Division, Biharwe Division, Kakiika Division, Nyakay ...

, the largest city in

. The general coordinates of the district are: 00 53S, 30 16E. The district covers of which approximately 0.2% is open water, 3.4% is

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...

and about 0.01% is forest.

Population

In 1991, the national population census estimated the district population at about 305,200. The national census of 2002 estimated the population of Ntungamo District at about 380,000, with an estimated annual population growth rate of 2.4%. It is estimated that in 2012, the population of the district was approximately 480,100. Based on the

Uganda Bureau of Statistics The Uganda Bureau of Statistics ("UBOS") is an agency of the Ugandan government. Formed by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics Act, 1998, the agency is mandated to "coordinate, monitor and supervise Uganda's National Statistical System". Location ...

2020 population projections, the current population now stands at 540,800.

Tourism in Ntungamo District

Tourism in Ntungamo District is not well developed but there are several potential tourism sites, including: 1. Karegyeya Rock 2. Lake Nyabihoko 3. Uganda-Rwanda Border 4. Bird-watching in the wetlands and 5. Agricultural development projects.

Notable people

Bernard Rwehururu Bernard Rwehururu ( – 26 February 2015) was a Ugandan military officer and author. He served in various Ugandan militaries from 1965 until 2013, including under the governments of Milton Obote, Idi Amin, Tito Okello, and Yoweri Museveni. Afte ...

References

External links

Ntungamo District Website
Editing needed now. Two years is a long time. {{Authority control Districts of Uganda Western Region, Uganda