Bujumbura, formerly Usumbura, is the largest city and main port of Burundi. It ships most of the country's chief export, coffee, as well as cotton and tin ore. In late December 2018, Burundian president Pierre Nkurunziza announced that he would follow through on a 2007 promise to return Gitega its former political capital status, with Bujumbura remaining as economical capital and center of commerce. A vote in the Parliament of Burundi made the change official on 16 January 2019, with all branches of government expected to move to Gitega within three years.[1]
History
Bujumbura grew from a small village after it became a military post in German East Africa in 1889. After World War I it was made the administrative center of the Belgian League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi. The name was changed from Usumbura to Bujumbura when Burundi became independent in 1962.[2] Since independence, Bujumbura has been the scene of frequent fighting between the country's two main ethnic groups, with Hutu militias opposing the Tutsi-dominated Burundi army.
Geography
Bujumbura is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal. The city also lies at the mouth of the Ruzizi River and two smaller rivers (Muha and Ntahangwa).
Climate
Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw)[3] with distinct wet and dry seasons. Its wet season is from October to April, while the dry season covers the remaining five months. Despite being located close to the equator, Bujumbura is not nearly as warm as one might expect, due to its altitude. Average temperatures are constant throughout the course of the year with the high temperature at around 29 °C (84 °F) and the low temperature at around 19 °C (66 °F).
| Climate data for Bujumbura (1961–1990, extremes 1950–1990)
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
| Record high °C (°F)
|
34.6
(94.3)
|
35.0
(95.0)
|
34.0
(93.2)
|
35.0
(95.0)
|
32.0
(89.6)
|
32.0
(89.6)
|
33.0
(91.4)
|
33.0
(91.4)
|
33.8
(92.8)
|
34.3
(93.7)
|
33.8
(92.8)
|
34.8
(94.6)
|
35.0
(95.0)
|
| Average high °C (°F)
|
29.1
(84.4)
|
29.7
(85.5)
|
29.3
(84.7)
|
29.2
(84.6)
|
29.9
(85.8)
|
29.9
(85.8)
|
29.2
(84.6)
|
30.0
(86.0)
|
30.9
(87.6)
|
30.1
(86.2)
|
29.1
(84.4)
|
28.9
(84.0)
|
29.6
(85.3)
|
| Daily mean °C (°F)
|
23.8
(74.8)
|
23.8
(74.8)
|
23.7
(74.7)
|
23.9
(75.0)
|
23.9
(75.0)
|
23.3
(73.9)
|
22.9
(73.2)
|
24.0
(75.2)
|
24.7
(76.5)
|
24.6
(76.3)
|
23.4
(74.1)
|
23.6
(74.5)
|
23.8
(74.8)
|
| Average low °C (°F)
|
19.2
(66.6)
|
19.3
(66.7)
|
19.3
(66.7)
|
19.6
(67.3)
|
19.1
(66.4)
|
17.6
(63.7)
|
17.2
(63.0)
|
17.4
(63.3)
|
18.6
(65.5)
|
19.1
(66.4)
|
19.1
(66.4)
|
19.1
(66.4)
|
18.7
(65.7)
|
| Record low °C (°F)
|
14.0
(57.2)
|
15.4
(59.7)
|
14.7
(58.5)
|
15.1
(59.2)
|
16.2
(61.2)
|
13.9
(57.0)
|
11.8
(53.2)
|
13.0
(55.4)
|
14.3
(57.7)
|
14.0
(57.2)
|
15.9
(60.6)
|
15.0
(59.0)
|
11.8
(53.2)
|
| Average rainfall mm (inches)
|
100.3
(3.95)
|
85.7
(3.37)
|
117.5
(4.63)
|
111.9
(4.41)
|
56.6
(2.23)
|
8.9
(0.35)
|
2.7
(0.11)
|
13.4
(0.53)
|
33.0
(1.30)
|
59.0
(2.32)
|
97.1
(3.82)
|
99.6
(3.92)
|
785.7
(30.93)
|
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.1 mm)
|
16
|
19
|
18
|
18
|
10
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
8
|
15
|
19
|
19
|
147
|
| Average relative humidity (%)
|
77
|
75
|
78
|
79
|
76
|
67
|
63
|
60
|
62
|
68
|
76
|
77
|
72
|
| Mean monthly sunshine hours
|
167.4
|
158.2
|
176.7
|
165.0
|
210.8
|
255.0
|
272.8
|
251.1
|
213.0
|
<Bujumbura grew from a small village after it became a military post in German East Africa in 1889. After World War I it was made the administrative center of the Belgian League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi. The name was changed from Usumbura to Bujumbura when Burundi became independent in 1962.[2] Since independence, Bujumbura has been the scene of frequent fighting between the country's two main ethnic groups, with Hutu militias opposing the Tutsi-dominated Burundi army.
Geography
Bujumbura is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal. The city also lies at the mouth of the Ruzizi River and two smaller rivers (Muha and Ntahangwa).
Climate
Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw)[3] with distinct wet and dry seasons. Its wet season is from October to April, while the dry season covers the remaining five months. Despite being located close to the equator, Bujumbura is not nearly as warm as one might expect, due to its altitude. Average temperatures are constant throughout the course of the year with the high temperature at around 29 °C (84 °F) and the low temperature at around 19 °C (66 °F).
| Climate data for Bujumbura (1961–1990, extremes 1950–1990)
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Ju Bujumbura is on the north-eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world after Lake Baikal. The city also lies at the mouth of the Ruzizi River and two smaller rivers (Muha and Ntahangwa).
Climate
Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw)[3] with distinct wet and dry seasons. Its wet season is from October to April, while the dry season covers the remaining five months. Despite being located close to the equator, Bujumbura is not nearly as warm as one might expect, due to its altitude. Average temperatures are constant throughout the course of the year with the high temperature at around 29 °C (84 °F) and the low temperature at around 19 °C (66 °F).
Bujumbura features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw)[3] with distinct wet and dry seasons. Its wet season is from October to April, while the dry season covers the remaining five months. Despite being located close to the equator, Bujumbura is not nearly as warm as one might expect, due to its altitude. Average temperatures are constant throughout the course of the year with the high temperature at around 29 °C (84 °F) and the low temperature at around 19 °C (66 °F).
| Climate data for Bujumbura (1961–1990, extremes 1950–1990)
|
| Month
|
Jan
|
F Bujumbura is governed by a community council and community administrator. It is further divided into 3 communes, or neighborhoods, each with its own council and council leader.[6]
Each of the 3 current communes were created from the 13 former communes (currently sub-communes), due to a 2014 reorganization, which in turn are further sub-divided into villages or zones:[7]
- Commune of Muha
- Kanyosha
- Quarters: Gisyo-Nyabaranda, Musama, Nyabugete, Kizingwe-Bihara, Nkega-Busoro, Ruziba, Kajiji
- Kinindo
- Quarters: Kibenga, Kinanira I, Kinanira II, Kinanira III, Kinindo, Zeimet-OUA
- Musaga [sv]
- Quarters: Gasekebuye-Gikoto, Gitaramuka, Kamesa, Kinanira I, Kinanira II
- Commune of Mukaza
- Buyenzi
- Quarters: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII
- Bwiza [fr]
- Quarters: Bwiza I, Bwiza II, Bwiza III, Bwiza IV, Kwijabe I, Kwijabe II, Kwijabe III
- Nyakabiga [fr]
- Quarters: Kigwati, Nyakabiga I, Nyakabiga II, Nyakabiga III
- Rohero [sv]
- Quarters: Centre Ville, Rohero I - Gatoke, Kabondo, Mutanga-Sud - Sororezo, Asiatique, I.N.S.S, Rohero II, Kiriri-Vugizo
- Commune of Ntahangwa
- Buterere
- Quarters: Buterere I, Buterere II A, Buterere II B, Kabusa, Kiyange, Maramvya, Mubone, Mugaruro, Kiyange
- Cibitoke [it]
- Quarters: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII
- Gihosha
- Quarters: Gasenyi, Gihosha, Gikungu, Kigobe, Mutanga-Nord, Muyaga, Nyabagere, Taba, Winterekwa
- Kamenge [fr]
- Quarters: Gikizi, Gituro, Heha, Kavumu, Mirango I, Mirango II, Songa, Teza, Twinyoni
- Kigobe
- Quarters: Kigobe Nord, Kigobe Sud
- Kinama
- Quarters: Bubanza, Buhinyuza, Bukirasazi I, Bukirasazi II, Bururi, Carama, Gitega, Kanga, Muramvya, Muyinga, Ngozi, Ruyigi, SOCARTI.
- Ngagara [sv]
- Quarters: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, Industriel
Economy
- See also: Economy of Bujumbura (fr)
Central market
Bujumbura's central market is in the City Centre, along Rwagasore Avenue. During the city's heavy periods of war in 1972 and 1993, as citizens had become less likely to travel far from the City Centre, markets in neighbouring communities lost their business to the central market in Bujumbura. Consequently, vendors moved their business to the central market, many settling outside the market due to lack of space. However, the central market houses the largest variety of merchandise in the city, with stores that sell a wide range of goods.
At dawn of 27 January 2013 a serious fire ravaged Bujumbura's central market.[8] Due to poor emergency response, the fire lasted for hours, resulting in a serious blow to local exchanges. Hundreds of vendors, local and foreign, lost their goods to the fire and the reported looting.[9] While Burundi's emergency services were unable to extinguish the blaze on their own, neighbouring Rwanda sent helicopters to assist in the emergency response.[10]
Politics
List of mayors of Bujumbura
- Gérard Kibinakanwa, 1962–1967[11]
- Thérence Ndikumasabo, 1967–1969
- Pie Kanyoni, 1969–1975 and 1976–1977
- Charles Kabunyoma, 1976
- Juvénal Madirisha, 1977–1979
- Germain Nkwirikiye, 1979–1981
- Lucien Sakubu, 1981–1987
- Léonidas Ndoricimpa, 1987–1991
- Arthémon Mvuyekure, 1991–1992
- Anatole Kanyenkiko, 1992–1993
- Léonce Sinzinkayo, 1993–1994
- Pie Ntiyankundiye, 1994–2002
- Pontien Niyongabo, 2002–2005
- Célestin Sebutama, 2005–2007
- Elias Buregure, 2007
- Evrard Giswaswa, circa 2008–2012[12]
- Saidi Juma, circa 2012[13]
- Freddy Mbonimpa, 2017-2020
- Jimmy Hatungimana, 2020-
Sports
Bujumbura is the location for the city's multisport Intwari stadium. Mainly used for football games, it is the country's largest stadium with 22,000 seats.
The city is also home to multiple basketball and tennis courts, as well as a multitude of indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Education
 View of the University's buildings in Bujumbura The University of Burundi is in Bujumbura, as are Hope Africa University and Université du Lac Tanganyika.
International schools:
Transport
, due to a 2014 reorganization, which in turn are further sub-divided into villages or zones:<sup id=) [7]
Bujumbura's central market is in the City Centre, along Rwagasore Avenue. During the city's heavy periods of war in 1972 and 1993, as citizens had become less likely to travel far from the City Centre, markets in neighbouring communities lost their business to the central market in Bujumbura. Consequently, vendors moved their business to the central market, many settling outside the market due to lack of space. However, the central market houses the largest variety of merchandise in the city, with stores that sell a wide range of goods.
At dawn of 27 January 2013 a serious fire ravaged Bujumbura's central market.[8] Due to poor emergency response, the fire lasted for hours, resulting in a serious blow to local exchanges. Hundreds of vendors, local and foreign, lost their goods to the fire and the reported looting.[9] While Burundi's emergency services were unable to extinguish the blaze on their own, neighbouring Rwanda sent helicopters to assist in the emergency response.[10]
Politics
List of mayors of Bujumbura
- Gérard Kibinakanwa, 1962–1967[11]
- Thérence Ndikumasabo, 1967–1969
- Pie Kanyoni, 1969–1975 and 1976–1977
- Charles Kabunyoma, 1976
- Juvénal Madirisha, 1977–1979
- Germain Nkwirikiye, 1979–1981
- Lucien Sakubu, 1981–1987
- Léonidas Ndoricimpa, 1987–1991
- Arthémon Mvuyekure, 1991–1992
- Anatole Kanyenkiko, 1992–1993
- Léonce Sinzinkayo, 1993–1994
- Pie Ntiyankundiye, 1994–2002
- Pontien Niyongabo, 2002–2005
- Célestin Sebutama, 2005–2007
- Elias Buregure, 2007
- Evrard Giswaswa, circa 2008–2012[12]
- Saidi Juma, circa 2012[13]
- Freddy Mbonimpa, 2017-2020
- Jimmy Hatungimana, 2020-
Sports
Bujumbura is the location for the city's multisport Intwari stadium. Mainly used for football games, it is the country's largest stadium with 22,000 seats.
The city is also home to multiple basketball and tennis courts, as well as a multitude of indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
Education
View of the University's buildings in Bujumbura The University of Burundi is in Bujumbura, as are Hope Africa University and Université du Lac Tanganyika.
International schools:
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