The area covered by the above districts is coterminous with the traditional Bunyoro Kingdom. Milton Obote abolished the traditional kingdoms in Uganda in 1967. When Yoweri Museveni re-established them in 1993, Bunyoro re-constituted itself.
The sub-region is home mainly to the Banyoro ethnic group. The people of Bunyoro are called Banyoro (singular: Munyoro). The Banyoro speak Runyoro, a Bantu language. Runyoro closely related to Rutooro, spoken by the people of the neighboring Toro sub-region. The language is often referred to as Runyoro/Rutooro..
According to the 2002 national census, the Bunyoro sub-region was home to an estimated 0.75 million people at that time.[1]
Ethnicity and language
The Banyoro people, also known as Nyoro/Bakitara, are a Bantu ethnic group native to the kingdom of Bunyoro in Uganda. They live in settlements on a well-watered and fertile plateau, in western Uganda, east of Lake Mobutu. The region comprises the districts of Buliisa, Hoima, Kibaale, Kiryandongo and Masindi. They speak the Nyoro language, also known as Runyoro. In the Paluo area of northern Bunyoro, a language related to the Luo language is also spoken.
The Bunyoro Kingdom was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Central and East Africa from the 13th century to the 19th century. Today, the kingdom is one of the administrative regions that make up the modern Republic of Uganda, and it is ruled by the King (Omukama) of Bunyoro-Kitara.
Culture and society
The Banyoro people reside in settlements across their region, with clan systems remaining integral to their social structure. In each family, the father holds a position of authority as the "mukama" or master/head of the household, overseeing family members and possessions.
Traditionally, the Banyoro are agriculturalists, cultivating crops such as millet, sorghum, bananas, and yams, and raising livestock, especially goats, sheep, chickens, and turkeys.
They also preserve their culture through traditional dances, music, and storytelling.
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