Uvira | |
---|---|
Ville d'Uvira | |
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Coordinates: 3°22′12″S29°08′24″E / 3.37000°S 29.14000°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Province | South Kivu Province |
Government | |
• Mayor | Kiza Muhato [1] [2] |
Area | |
• Urban | 74 km2 (29 sq mi) |
Elevation | 746 m (2,448 ft) |
Population (2020 estimate) [3] | |
• Urban | 590,000 |
• Urban density | 8,000/km2 (21,000/sq mi) |
Uvira is a city strategically located in the South Kivu Province of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated between Lake Tanganyika and the Mitumba Mountains, spanning approximately 16 square kilometers. [4] [5] [6]
Geographically located between 13°15' north latitude and 28°10' east longitude, it is bordered by the Mazuza River to the north, the Ruzizi River to the south, Lake Tanganyika to the east, and the Munanira Mountain to the west. [4] [7] It is the economic and transportation hub of the Uvira Territory and is also home to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Uvira, a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Bukavu. [7] With an estimated population of 590,000 (2020), Uvira is renowned for its thriving trade, prosperous fishing industry, and cultural heritage. [8] [9] [10]
Uvira is located approximately at 29° 27' East longitude and 3° 24 South latitude. It is situated at the northernmost tip of Lake Tanganyika. Kalundu, a lake port located at the southern end of the city, serves as a connection point for boats heading to Kalemie in Tanganyika Province, Kigoma in Tanzania, Pulungu in Zambia, and Bujumbura, the largest city and former capital of Burundi. Surrounded by hills and mountains, the city is part of the Great Rift Valley region. Lake Tanganyika, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, supports thriving fishing and transportation industries. [10] [11] [12] The city is linked by road to Bukavu (the capital of South Kivu Province) and Bujumbura. The city is 120 km from Bukavu and 60 km from Fizi Territory.
Uvira is characterized by the presence of several rivers and is rich in streams. The city is dominated by Lake Tanganyika, which borders it from the northeast and southeast. From the west, Uvira is crossed by various rivers, namely the Kamberulu River, Ruzizi River, Kakungwe River, Kibinda River, Kamanyola River, Kalimabenge River, Mulongwe River, and Kanvinvira River. The presence of Lake Tanganyika significantly influences the climate and weather patterns in the region, as large bodies of water have an impact on local temperatures and precipitation. Additionally, the lake's hydrological cycle, including evaporation and rainfall, plays a crucial role in determining the overall water resources available to Uvira and its surrounding areas. [13]
Uvira experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The city falls within the equatorial zone and maintains warm temperatures throughout the year. The average annual temperature in Uvira varies depending on the seasons and the relief. It is minimal during the dry season (20 °C to 30 °C) in the Ruzizi Plain and 15 °C to 25 °C in the High Plateau. The wet season in Uvira typically occurs from January to mid-May and from mid-September to December. During this time, the city receives a significant amount of rainfall, which sustains the lush vegetation and supports agricultural activities in the region. On the other hand, the dry season, from June to September, is characterized by lower rainfall and drier conditions. Temperatures during this period can be slightly cooler compared to the wet season. [13]
The region is part of the Albertine Rift, which is a branch of the Great Rift Valley system. This geological setting is characterized by tectonic activity, including faulting and volcanic activity. The presence of the nearby Itombwe Mountains indicates the volcanic origins of the area. The mountains are part of a volcanic chain formed by ancient eruptions. Additionally, the region has experienced seismic activity in the past due to the tectonic forces associated with the East African Rift System. Uvira and its surrounding areas includes various types of rocks, such as volcanic rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks. [14] [15]
In mid-2018, preceding that year's general election, the government upheld the 2013 decree conferring city status to numerous densely inhabited areas. [16] [17] [18] As a result, Uvira attained city status through a presidential decree signed on 27 December 2018, by then-President Joseph Kabila. [19] It thus the second city in the South Kivu Province after Bukavu. The civic administration appointed Kiza Muhato, a prominent civil society figure, as the mayor, with Kiki Kifara Kapenda serving as the deputy mayor. [19]
The city consists of three communes: [19] [20]
Communes(municipalities) | |
1. | Kalundu |
2. | Mulongwe |
3. | Kagando |
Uvira has a rich history, shaped by the convergence of different ethnic groups over time. According to Alfred Moeller de Laddersous, the region's initial inhabitants were Bazoba fishermen, who settled around the shores of Lake Tanganyika. [21] [22] Later, the Bazoba became known as the Vira people in the late 17th century and established their presence in Lwindi (now Lwindi Chiefdom), near the Ulindi River in the mountainous hinterland, before eventually settling near Lake Tanganyika. [22] [23] [24]
Following the Vira settlement, the Bahamba clan of the Fuliiru people arrived in the region, establishing themselves north of the Bavira, partly within Bavira territory. Notably, the Bahamba clan had their own paramount leader who operated independently from the Bavira paramount. Gradually, the Bahamba clan expanded their paramountcy, occupying considerable localities along the north-western coastline of the Ruzizi Plain, stretching from Uvira to Luvungi. The expansion led to the establishment of the Bahamba dynasty of Bafuliiru, which governed the various parts of the region. Inter-marriage between the Bavira and Bafuliiru clans occurred, further intertwining their cultures and forging social connections. [25] [26]
In the latter half of the 19th century, the region experienced an influx of Barundi and Banyarwanda immigrants. The Barundi immigrants were predominantly Tutsis, accompanied by a smaller number of Hutus who were harbored in Ruzizi Plain by Fuliiru agriculturalists. They were later dispersed to various localities in Uvira. [27] Conversely, the majority of Banyarwanda immigrants were mostly Tutsi herders who were accommodated by Fuliiru chief in Mulenge and Upper Sange, incrementally establishing their presence. [28] [29]
During the Rwandan Revolution and the Rwandan genocide, a significant number of refugees settled in various regions of Uvira. [30] [31] [32] [33]
Between the 1850s and 1890s, Burundi's shoreline served as an entrepôt for the slave traffic coming from the eastern part of the Congo Free State. Arab-Swahili merchants, who were majorly warlords involved in the Indian Ocean slave trade, procured slaves from the area for the purpose of trading. They mainly operated in Uvira, Katanga, Nyangwe, Kasaï, Kabinda, Kirundu, and Baraka. [34] [35] [36]
Father Van der Burgt noted in his Dictionary that in 1897–8, there were a few discreet slave dealers in Uzige (in the region of Usumbura), Bangwana (Islamized people from Unyamwezi or the Congo basin), Basumbwa, Bavira (from the country of Uvira), and Bayangayanga (peddlers from the southern part of Burundi, specialized in the trade of salt and iron). He added that a boy was worth two to four fundo or strings of beads, while a girl was worth twice as much (a fundo was valued at 0.30F at that time). [37] In Uvira, Arab-Swahili traders established commercial networks and often collaborated with local intermediaries to capture, enslave, and transport people. The native population also engaged in trade, exchanging slaves, ivory, iron objects, bark clothing, palm oil, bananas, grain, and cassava, which led to the development of a significant commercial center that traded products from all the interlacustrine kingdoms and chiefdoms. [35] [38]
According to Richard Francis Burton:
"The Uvira trade is important, the place is very busy because of the abundance and the low price of food: it is a large warehouse of slaves, ivory, clothing of bark and iron objects of the northern region of the lake, and in the travel season, it is rare that a day passes without several canoes coming there to fetch goods and food. Rice is not grown there, but sorghum and maize are bought there". [38]
Following the Congo-Arab War, the slave trade began to decline. While the war did not entirely eradicate the slave trade, it significantly contributed to its decline. The conflict disrupted the existing networks and operations of Arab-Swahili slave traders, making it considerably more challenging for them to continue their slave-trading activities as before. Furthermore, with the arrival of the Force Publique, the Belgian colonial forces in the region, there was an increase in scrutiny and intervention against the slave trade. Motivated by their own economic interests and responding to international pressure, the Belgian colonial authorities actively sought to suppress the slave trade and implemented various anti-slavery measures advocated by abolitionists. These measures were further fueled by changing economic dynamics and the declining viability of traditional slave routes. [39] [40] [41] [42]
Throughout the 19th century, several European explorers carried out expeditions to Uvira. In 1857–1858, Richard Francis Burton and John Hanning Speke embarked on a mission that brought them to Lake Tanganyika, while in 1871, Henry Morton Stanley joined David Livingstone at Ujiji, a town situated in the Kigoma-Ujiji District of the Kigoma Region, where they explored the mouth of the Ruzizi River. However, it was in 1898 that Lieutenant Chargeois established a post in Uvira opposite the one the Germans had established in Bujumbura, a year earlier in 1897. He was immediately joined by Catholic missionaries, notably the Reverend Father Victor Roelens. [43] [44] [45]
During Mobutu Sese Seko's era, Uvira was the capital of the former South Kivu Subregion, a constituent part of the Kivu Region at the time. In 1989, when South Kivu was elevated to the status of a province, the capital was relocated to Bukavu. At present, Uvira is a city and the current capital of the Uvira Territory. [5]
Uvira has been afflicted by armed groups, militia groups, inter-communal tensions, and clashes for over three decades, resulting in violence, population displacement, and human rights abuses. [46] [47] [48]
During the First and Second Congo Wars, the region served as a major battleground for various armed groups, armies and militias, including the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), Forces Armées Burundaises (FAB), Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), Rally for Congolese Democracy-Goma (RCD-Goma), and various Mai-Mai militias. Uvira and its surrounding areas experienced violence and loss of civilian lives during these wars. On October 18, 1996, AFDL/RPA units reportedly killed at least 88 civilians in Kiliba, located just thirteen kilometers north of Uvira. Additionally, on the same day, AFDL/RPA units were responsible for the deaths of at least 51 civilians in Bwegera, situated in the Ruzizi Plain in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom. The Red Cross conducted mass burials for the victims. [49]
The capture of Uvira on 25 October 1996 saw renewed atrocities committed by AFDL/RPA/FAB units, including indiscriminate killings that resulted in the deaths of several hundred people, including Hutu refugees and Zairian civilians. [49]
During the Second Congo War, ANC/RPA/FAB operatives killed dozens of civilians in Uvira on August 6, 1998. Hundreds of victims were killed during confrontations with the RCD-Goma when they attempted to seek shelter or escape from the combat zone. Others were executed after the fighting ended during search operations. Women were also subjected to rape by the soldiers during these operations. [49]
The official end of the war came in July 2003 with the signing of the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on Transition in Kinshasa. [50] [51] However, despite the formal end of the war, the region continues to face sporadic outbreaks of violence, often involving armed groups, militias, and inter-communal tensions. These ongoing conflicts have resulted in further violence, population displacement, and human rights abuses in Uvira and its surrounding areas. [46] [52] [53] [54]
In 2017, the CNPSC rebel group launched an attack on the city, which was repelled by the national army and MONUSCO forces.
The city thrives in the primary sector due to its abundant natural resources and agricultural practices. The fertile lands of the region are conducive for growing and cultivating a variety of crops, such as maize, bush beans, cowpea, cassava, cabbage, potatoes, paddy rice, carrots, soybeans, amaranth, onions, bananas, and spring onions. Along with staple crops, Uvira's agricultural industry includes cash crops like coffee, tea, cocoa, and palm oil. Agriculture is mostly practiced in the Ruzizi Plain, a flat valley formed by the Ruzizi River that flows through various regions of Uvira Territory. Most of the farmers rely on small-scale family-based subsistence agriculture. [55] [56] [57] Various initiatives have been undertaken to support agricultural cooperatives and offer them training and resources to improve productivity and market access. Notable organizations include Nabahya Food Institute, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and Regroupement des femmes entrepreneurs Umoja, which seek to enhance agricultural practices, boost yields, and establish viable income streams for farming communities. Agricultural products from Uvira are usually transported to Bukavu or exported to neighboring countries such as Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zambia. [58] [59]
Livestock farming plays a key role in boosting the local economy, ensuring food security, and supporting the livelihoods of the population. This practice encompasses the rearing of cattle, goats, and poultry, with cattle farming emerging as a predominant form of livestock production in the region. Farmers engage in raising cattle primarily for meat, milk, and hides, which serve as valuable commodities. Cows and goats offer a significant source of protein through their meat, while their milk is either consumed locally or processed into various dairy products such as butter, cheese, and yogurt. The utilization of goat skin in the production of leather goods is abundant in the region, with many locals using it for traditional drums, clothes, and carpet binding. Additionally, poultry farming also offers promising income opportunities for small-scale farmers. Both live birds and poultry products are sold in nearby markets. These sought-after products find their way to various districts, towns, and villages within Uvira or neighboring areas, including Lemera, Sange, Luvungi, Mulenge, Bwegera, Mukungubwe, Kanogo-Kihamba, Lubarika, Luberizi, and Bibangwa. [60] [61] [62]
Given the region's proximity to Lake Tanganyika, which is the second-deepest lake in the world and rich in aquatic resources, fish farming emerged as a significant economic activity. It is practiced by Vira and Fuliiru fishermen, as well as by the Bembe people who rear a variety of fish, including tilapia, catfish, kapenta (known locally as ndakala or sambaza), protopterus (commonly known as njombo in the city), Astatotilapia burtoni (known as Kijoli), clarias (known as kambale), Tanganyika killifish, sleek lates, Lake Tanganyika sprat, and Nile perch. Fish farming contributes to food security, alleviating malnutrition, and improving the nutritional status of communities, particularly those living in rural areas or in nearby cities and towns such as Sange, Luvungi, and Kiliba. It also provides income-generating opportunities for local farmers and entrepreneurs who sell their fish in local markets, restaurants, and even neighboring regions. [61] [63]
The area is known for its rich cultural heritage and skilled Fuliiru and Vira artisans, who create a wide range of handcrafted products. These artisans specialize in woodworking, pottery, basket weaving, metalwork, and textile production. The crafted products are sold by national companies such as SNCC (Société Nationale des chemins de fer du Congo), SNEL and REGIDESO. These companies offer finely carved sculptures, furniture, and household items made from locally sourced timber, as well as bowls, jugs, tools, utensils, jewelry, fabrics, garments, and accessories. [5]
The city benefits from its close geographical location, which enables it to engage in internal and external trade with Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, the city of Bukavu, Kalemie, and the Fizi Territory. Itinerant trade, commuting, and freight forwarding are primarily conducted by the local population. The main public markets include Kalundu, Maendeleo, Kalimabenge, Soko Congolese "Zairians", Kasenga, Kanvimvira, and Kilomoni. [61]
The primary communication channels that facilitate traffic with the outside world are:
Uvira is home to a diverse population consisting of native ethnic groups of Bantu origin, including Vira, Fuliiru, Bembe, Zoba, Lega, Shi, Nyindu, Luba and Bangubangu. [5] The city also hosts a significant expatriate community from countries including Burundi, Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania, Belgium, France, Sweden, China, and India. [5] Among the native groups, the Vira, who converse in Kivira, predominantly occupy the Bavira Chiefdom from Makobola to Kawizi. The Fuliiru predominantly inhabit the mountainous terrains along the Uvira-Bukavu road corridor and represent the majority in the northern regions, whereas the Bembe predominantly reside in the southern sectors of Uvira, encompassing the Kakungwe, Kimanga, and Kalundu regions. [5]
The 2014 civil status statistics for Uvira's neighborhoods (quartiers) prior to its designation as a city: [64] [5]
Neighborhoods (quartiers) | Population | |
1. | Kabindula | 14,306 |
2. | Kakombe | 24,174 |
3. | Kalundu | 23,549 |
4. | Kasenga | 19,449 |
5. | Kavimvira | 19,549 |
6. | Kibondwe | 4,947 |
7. | Kilibula | 9,320 |
8. | Kimanga | 13,656 |
9. | Mulongwe | 22,998 |
10. | Nyamianda | 11,230 |
11. | Rombe I | 20,832 |
12. | Rombe II | 16,046 |
13. | Rugenge | 6,185 |
14. | Songo | 19,118 |
Before receiving city status, Uvira consisted of 14 neighborhoods (quartiers), with Kakombe having the highest population density. It had a workforce of 24,407 residents, accounting for 12.5% of the city's total population. Mulongwe and Kibondwe neighborhoods had the second and third-highest populations, with 20,531 and 3,687 inhabitants, respectively. [5]
The preponderance of Uvira's residents are nationals, with a workforce tallying 194,669 people, equating to 99.8% of the populace. [5] Foreign nationals constitute just 0.2%, with most of them residing in Kilibula, which accommodates 26.7% of the expatriate demographic. Burundians form the largest foreign contingent, comprising 55.2%, followed by Rwandans at approximately 37.5%. [5] In Mulongwe, the workforce shows near gender parity, with approximately 98,390 women and 96,696 men. As of 2009, the city's population was estimated at 171,409, including 484 foreign residents. [5]
Uvira is a prominent sporting hub in the region, boasting two basketball courts and several football fields. It is home to the city's biggest and most popular stadium, Stade de l'Unité d'Uvira, as well as Stade Epanza. These stadiums serve as gathering places for sports enthusiasts, political election campaigns, public speaking, football matches, athletics competitions, and various sporting events. Despite having these facilities, Uvira is home to only three women's football teams. [5]
In addition to its sporting infrastructure, Uvira offers various recreational venues, such as performance halls like Baraza la Parokya and the chapel school, as well as the grand hall of the Mulongwe parish. Moreover, the city is dotted with bars, clubs, dancing clubs, cabarets, and bistros. Uvira's coastal areas, especially Saga I and Saga II beaches, are also a hit among visitors. [5] [65]
The city served as a vital crossroads for diverse media outlets, providing the local population with essential news, information, and entertainment in Swahili, Lingala, and French. [5]
Some of the city's prominent media outlets includes:
The city is also enriched by the presence of several local media outlets:
The education system in Uvira, like many parts of the Uvira Territory, faces numerous challenges, including a shortage of qualified teachers, limited resources, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate funding. Despite these obstacles, the community places great value on education, and students and families strive to maximize the available educational opportunities. Non-governmental organizations and international partners also collaborate to support and enhance the education sector in Uvira and other regions in the country. [66] [67] [68] [69]
Uvira boasts a range of educational institutions, encompassing nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools, and vocational training centers. Moreover, the city hosts several higher and university education institutions, namely: [70] [71]
Health facilities in the region includes:
South Kivu is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu.
Mulenge is a village encircled by hills in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located in the Uvira Territory of South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated on the high plateaus of the Itombwe massif, overlooking the locality of Uvira. The area has conventionally been inhabited by various ethnic groups, including the remnants of the autochthonous population of African Pygmies, as well as Bantu ethnic groups such as the Mbuti, Fuliiru, and Nyindu. The region boasts high agricultural productivity, with two harvests typically achievable each year.
Runingo, commonly known as Runingu, is one of the groupements (groupings) that constitutes the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated near the border with Burundi, along National Highway 5, to the north of Butaho.
The Fuliiru people are a Bantu ethnic group predominantly inhabiting the east-central highlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They reside in the South Kivu Province, situated south of Lake Kivu and to the north and northwest of Uvira Territory, along the Ruzizi Plain near the border with Rwanda and Burundi, where a contingent of Fuliiru also resides. According to the 2009 census, their population estimate exceeded 250,000, while a 1999 estimate of Kifuliiru-language speakers placed the number at 300,000. The Fuliiru are renowned for their skilled craftsmanship, particularly in the production of pottery and basketry. Their handcrafted baskets are highly coveted for their intricate designs and exceptional quality, and are frequently employed for storage, decoration, and even as musical instruments.
Uvira Territory is a territory in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is bordered by Walungu Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the west, Fizi Territory to the south, and Burundi and Lake Tanganyika to the east. Its capital is Uvira.
Luvungi, also known as Itara-Luvungi, is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated on the Ruzizi Plain, it lies at the borders of Uvira Territory and Walungu Territory, in close proximity to the frontiers of Rwanda and Burundi. Luvungi is home to a population of approximately 85,000 individuals, predominantly consisting of Fuliru agriculturalists who play a vital role in the local community. There's also has a small population of Vira, Bembe, Lega, Shi, Burundians and Banyamulenge. Its economy is founded mainly on subsistence agriculture and the artisanal mining of cassiterite, an ore of tin.
Justin Bitakwira Bihona-Hayi is a Congolese politician and a member of the National Assembly. He is the founder of the Alliance pour la République et la Conscience Nationale political party (ARCN) and a member of the Union for the Congolese Nation. He has been affiliated with several political parties, including the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) and the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD). He held various government positions, including Minister of Rural Development, Minister of Communication and Media and Minister of Relations with Parliament. As a minister, his political principles were described as nationalist, populist, opportunist, reformist, tribalist, and protectionist.
Baraka, also known as Bala'a, is the main city and metropolitan center of the Fizi Territory located in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Baraka is bordered by the Lweba River to the north, the Mutambala River to the south, Lake Tanganyika to the east, and the Lu'e River, Efuma Mountain, and Makundu Mountain to the west.
Lulenge constitutes one of the four sectors within the Fizi Territory of South Kivu Province, situated in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Geographically positioned adjacent to the Kiloba and Makena villages at an elevation of 943 meters, the sector's administrative center is Kilembwe. Lulenge is delineated to the north by the Itombwe sector and Mwenga Territory, to the east by Lake Tanganyika and the Mutambala sector, to the south by the N'gangya sector, and to the west by Shabunda Territory.
Sange is a village located in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is situated 24 km from the Burundian border, at 1,021 meters altitude.
Katogota is a village located in the Itara-Luvungi grouping within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated approximately 60 km south of Bukavu, Katogota is in close proximity to the Kamonyi and Rusagara villages, near the border regions of Rwanda and Burundi.
Kamanyola is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Ngweshe Chiefdom of the Walungu Territory. It is located in the Ruzizi Plain in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), sharing a border with Rwanda and Burundi. Kamanyola stands at a height of 901 meters and is closely situated to the suburb of Mwaro and the village of Mubombo.
Bwegera is a village in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom in the Uvira Territory of South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bwegera has an elevation of 952 meters and is situated in the vicinity of the Kakamba and Nyaruhuhuma villages. The region It's crossed by Lake Tanganyika, providing a vital source of water and transportation for the local inhabitants. Bwegera is rich in building materials such as rubble, sand, and baked bricks, making it an ideal location for construction and development. The region also encompasses a vast rural area where agriculture, animal breeding, and fishing are the primary means of livelihood.
Lubarika is a village situated in the hills and high plateaus of Bafuliiru Chiefdom in Uvira Territory, located in the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It sits at an elevation of 969 meters above sea level and is near the villages of Murunga and Nyakagobe II. Lubarika is a predominantly agricultural region with large hectares used for subsistence agriculture. Agriculture is practiced by an extensive segment of the population. The products grown are mainly intended for domestic consumption and commercialization. Moreover, fishing is carried out artisanally in Lake Tanganyika by the local population.
Mutambala is a sector that constitutes one of the four sectors in the Fizi Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mutambala is situated near Lake Tanganyika, in the west by the Lulenge sector, in the north by the Tangani'a sector, and in the south by the Ngandja sector. It has a surface area of 777 km 2. The sector consists of five groupings (groupements), including the Basimukindja groupings, the Batombwe groupings, and the Babwari groupings.
The Ruzizi Plain is a valley situated between the Mitumba mountain chain and the Ruzizi River. It serves as a natural border, separating the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from Burundi and Rwanda on the other side. The Ruzizi Plain is an integral part of the larger Western Rift Valley, which stretches across several African countries. It is traversed by the Ruzizi River, which flows from Lake Kivu through the plain and into Lake Tanganyika. It covers an area of 175,000 hectares divided between Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC. In Burundi, the plain extends to the northern sector of Imbo. It is bounded by parallels 2°36′ and 3°26′ south latitude and by meridians 29°00′ and 29°26 east longitude—an area of 1025 km2. The Congolese side is bounded to the north by the plain of Bugarama (Rwanda), to the east by the plain of Imbo (Burundi), to the West by the chain of Mitumba and to the South by Lake Tanganyika. The region covers thus about 80,000 hectares with 80 kilometers in length.
Kiringye is a village situated in the Lemera groupement within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, which is part of Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The village is located at an elevation of 928 meters and is in close proximity to the localities of Luburule and Karenzu.
The Hospital General of Reference D'uvira, also known as General Referral Hospital of Uvira or Uvira General Reference Hospital, is a healthcare facility located in Uvira, the capital of the Uvira Territory in the South Kivu Province of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It serves as a general hospital, providing medical services to the local population. The hospital offers a wide range of medical specialties and advanced healthcare services, including primary, secondary, and some tertiary care, such as emergency care, surgical procedures, maternal and child health services, and treatment for various medical conditions.
The Sange River is a tributary of the Ruzizi River in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It serves as a reliable source of water for domestic and commercial use, and families living along its banks rely on its pristine waters for drinking, cooking, andhousehold chores. Local businesses depend on the river's abundant supply to meet the needs of visitors and tourists. Moreover, the river's flow sustains an ecosystem of services.
The Bafuliiru Chiefdom, also spelled as Chefferie des Bafulero, is a chiefdom located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It is situated in the Uvira Territory, which is part of the South Kivu Province in eastern DRC.
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