Uvira Territory | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 3°15′00″S29°07′59″E / 3.25°S 29.133°E | |
Country | DR Congo |
Province | South Kivu |
Urban centers | Kiliba and Sange |
Government | |
• Administrator | Mabiswa Selemani (UDPS) [1] |
Area | |
• Total | 3,146 km2 (1,215 sq mi) |
Population (2020) [2] | |
• Total | 1,165,092 |
• Density | 370/km2 (960/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
Official language | French |
National language | Kiswahili |
Climate | Aw |
Uvira Territory is a territory located in South Kivu Province in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Encompassing an area of roughly 3,146 kilometers and with a population estimate of 1,165,092 as of 2020, it is bordered by Walungu Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the west, and Fizi Territory to the south. [3] [4] The territory's southeastern boundary is defined by the city of Uvira, which attained city status on 13 June 2019, [5] [4] while the eastern perimeter adjoins the Republic of Burundi and Lake Tanganyika. Within the territory, Kiliba and Sange serve as significant towns. [4]
The territory is located 120 km from Bukavu, 88 km from Baraka, and 26.5 km from Bujumbura. [6] National Road 5 serves as its main transportation route, linking Bukavu in the north and Lubumbashi in the south. [6] The local economy relies heavily on agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, and commerce, including the sale of agricultural products and essential goods. [7]
Uvira Territory is located between the Ruzizi Plain to the east and the Mitumba Mountains to the west, forming part of the western branch of the East African Rift system. [8] [9] [10] This area lies within the Albertine Rift, a sub-region of the Great Rift Valley. Its topography features a stepped relief, with altitudes ranging from 770 meters in the coastal plains near Lake Tanganyika to 3,250 meters in the mountainous regions. [8] This diverse landscape includes coastal plains, rolling foothills, and steep mountain slopes, all intersected by numerous waterways that drain into Lake Tanganyika and Ruzizi River. The highlands are characterized by rich green vegetation, including forests and savannahs, which support a diverse range of flora and fauna. [8] [11] [9]
The Ruzizi River links Lake Kivu to Lake Tanganyika, serving as a significant water body in the region. It provides water for irrigation and supports agricultural activities. The river collects water from several rivers originating from the hills of Burundi and the western part of the Ruzizi Plain. The most important rivers in the Congolese part are the Luvimvi River in Katogota, the Luvubu River in Lubarika, the Luvungi River in Luvungi, the Luberizi River in Luberizi, the Sange River in Sange, and the Runingu River in Runingu in the Uvira Territory. The rivers found in the city of Uvira include the Kiliba Rivers (which flow into the Ruzizi), Kavimvira, Mulongwe, and Kalimabenge. These three large rivers cross the city of Uvira and flow directly into Lake Tanganyika. [12] [13] [14] [15]
Uvira Territory is home to a variety of soil types and mineral resources. Predominantly sandy soils dominate, with zones of sandy loam and intermittent sandy clay. [16] The northwestern basin of Lake Tanganyika, encompassing Uvira, features geological formations from both the Precambrian and Quaternary periods. [7] In the Ruzizi Plain, which forms a significant part of the territory, soils can be classified into black earth of the Chernozem group, Solonchak-type soils, and alkaline variants. [7]
The subsoil is rich in mineral resources, including cassiterite in Lemera and Luvungi, gold in Luberizi and Bijombo, aquamarine in Ndolera, iron in the Munanira Mountains, and amethyst in Kalungwe. [7] Despite the significant mineral endowment, large-scale industrial exploitation remains absent. Instead, the mining sector is dominated by artisanal methods, yielding considerable yet undocumented outputs through informal practices. [7]
Five primary vegetation types can be identified: marshes and marshy meadows, which are predominantly populated by macrophytes and reeds; grassy savannas dominated by species such as Imperata cylindrica , Hyparrhenia spp. , Eragrostis spp. , Urochloa eminii (Brachiaria ruziziensis or Congo grass), and Pennisetum spp . [7] These savannas serve as vital agricultural and pastoral reserves for local communities. [17] Wooded savannas, characterized by the prevalence of Acacia kirkii , provide a transitional zone between grassland and forested areas. [17] Xerophilous groves also contribute to the landscape, adapting to drier conditions. [17] Forests, though now reduced to relic patches, are found primarily in transitional zones between savanna and forest ecosystems. [17]
The region is also home to several medicinal plants valued by the local population, including Syzygium guineense , Tetradenia riparia , Plantago palmata, and Rhus vulgaris . [18] Some of these plants have been analyzed in vitro by Congolese scientists, revealing their phytochemical properties, though many remain understudied. [18]
Uvira Territory experiences a semi-arid climate, influenced by its varied topography and classified under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification. [19] The lower-altitude zones of the territory—comprising Lubarika, Kiliba, and Luberizi—are positioned within the tropical zone (Aw1-3) and lie below 1,000 meters above sea level, receiving an annual precipitation of approximately 1,600 millimeters. [19] Conversely, the high-altitude areas, such as the plateaus of Sange, and Katobo, are located within the high and medium-altitude tropical zone, which ranges between 1,000 and 2,800 meters above sea level. [19] These elevated regions also experience an annual rainfall of around 1,600 mm, despite their differing climatic characteristics. [19]
The territory experiences a pronounced biphasic seasonal cycle, characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. [19] The dry season extends from May to October, characterized by minimal precipitation, except for occasional storms that provide some rain. In contrast, the wet season spans November to May, bringing sustained rainfall to the region. [19]
Temperature patterns in Uvira Territory are influenced by the seasonal cycle. Monthly average temperatures fluctuate between 22.5°C and 25°C throughout the year. [19] Peak maximum temperatures, ranging from 30.5°C to 32.5°C, manifest toward the conclusion of the dry season in September. Conversely, the lowest minimum temperatures, between 14.5°C and 17°C, are recorded during the middle of the dry season in July. [20] Relative insolation levels also exhibit variability, with monthly averages oscillating between 35% and 60% during the wet season (October to April) and rising to 50% to 80% in the dry season (May to September). [21] July typically records the highest levels of solar radiation. [16]
Initially recognized by the royal decree of 28 March 1912 as part of the Kivu District, Uvira Territory's boundaries and organization were later refined by Ordinance-Law No. 21/91 of 25 February 1938 and subsequent amendments, including Decree-Law No. 67/221 of 3 May 1967. [22] [23] These legal frameworks defined the territorial configuration, which remains largely intact today. [22] [23]
Uvira Territory consists of two urban centers, three chiefdoms, four administrative posts, and three communes. Established on 25 February 1938, the territory originally included three urban centers: Uvira, Kiliba, and Sange, all of which were elevated to city status by Presidential Order No. 87/723 on 29 June 1987. [22] [23] Later, on 13 June 2019, Uvira was reclassified as a city through Presidential Decree No. 13/029, leaving Kiliba and Sange as the principal towns within the territory. [24] [25]
Three chiefdoms—Bafuliiru, Bavira, and the Ruzizi Plain—define the territory. [23] The Bafuliiru Chiefdom occupies the northern area between the Luvinvi and Kawizi Rivers and is predominantly inhabited by the Fuliiru people. [23] The Bavira Chiefdom lies to the south, between the Kawizi and Kambekulu Rivers, with the Vira people as its main population. [23] The Ruzizi Plain Chiefdom, located in the eastern section along the Ruzizi River and the road connecting Bukavu to Uvira, is primarily home to the Fuliiru people. [26] [23] These chiefdoms coexist with administrative management posts located in Makobola, Luvungi, Mulenge, and Kagando, which ensure efficient local governance. [22]
Bavira Chiefdom 7 groupings | Bafuliiru Chiefdom 5 groupings | The Ruzizi Plain Chiefdom 4 groupings |
Kalungwe | Lemera | Luberizi |
Makobola | Itara/Luvungi | Kabunambo |
Kitundu | Kigoma | Kakamba |
Katala | Runingu | Kagando |
Kidjaga | Muhungu | |
Kabindula | ||
Bijombo |
The territory has three rural municipalities with less than 80,000 voters: [27]
The Bazoba fishermen were the first to settle in the region. They settled along the shores of Lake Tanganyika and relied heavily on the lake's resources for their sustenance and livelihoods. In the 17th century, the Banyalenge immigrants, led by their chief Lenge, settled in the region around Lake Tanganyika, coming from Lwindi near the Ulindi River in the mountainous hinterland. Over time, they became known as the Bavira. [28] [29] [30] [31]
Following the establishment of the Bavira, the Bahamba clan of the Fuliiru people migrated to the area alongside eight other clans. According to Alfred Moeller de Laddersous, the Bahamba (Wahamba) clan changed their eponym to Bafuliiru. Consequently, the Bafuliiru clashed with the Bavira at the Kiliba River, after which the Bafuliiru established themselves north of the Bavira and partially within Bavira territory. They had their own paramount leader who did not depend on the Bavira paramount. The Bafulirru gradually occupied several localities in Uvira, intermarried with Bavira, and some were assimilated into Fuliiru clans. [32] [29]
In the second half of the 19th century, Banyarwanda and Barundi pastoralists from the mountainous regions of Rwanda and Burundi settled in the area. They were accommodated by Fuliiru chiefs and established themselves in Vira and the Fuliiru territories of Mulenge and Upper Sange. [33] [34]
During the colonial era (1908–1960), the region hosted a second wave of immigrants who arrived as part of the Mission d'immigration des Banyarwanda (MIB), a movement to transplant Banyarwanda to the Belgian Congo driven by the Belgian colonial authorities who needed a workforce in European plantations and the mines of Union Minière du Haut Katanga. [35] [36] In 1928, the Belgian colonial power created new chiefdoms for Barundi, Banyarwanda, and the Arabized populace in the territory of Bafuliiru. The creation of these chiefdoms was met with fierce resistance by Mwami Mahima Mukogabwe, a Fuliiru chieftain of Bafuliiru Chiefdom (Chefferie de Bafuliiru), who considered it an encroachment on the authority of his chiefdom. [37] [38]
In the 1950s and 1960s, the region hosted a third wave of immigrants during the Rwandan Revolution, a period which experienced the abolition of the Rwandan monarchy and the establishment of a Hutu-dominated government. Consequently, numerous Tutsis who were affiliated with the oppressive monarchy, including their Umwami (King), sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Uganda, Congo-Léopoldville, and Tanzania, resulting in their mass exodus. [39] [35] The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) facilitated the settlement of refugees in historically significant sites such as Lemera, Mulenge, and Katobo, mirroring the locations where their predecessors sought refuge in the 19th century. Many of these refugees ended up dispersing throughout various parts of the Kivu Region and settling in some of its most remote and inaccessible areas. [40] [41]
Over the course of three decades, the region has been plagued by a series of armed conflicts and persistent political instability. Competition over land, resources, and political control have contributed to heightened tensions and rampant violence in the territory. Furthermore, the reverberating effects of conflicts in neighboring countries, including Burundi and Rwanda, have periodically exacerbated insecurity in the region. [42] [43] [44]
During the Rwandan genocide, the Uvira Territory housed a substantial number of Hutu refugees, along with ex-FAR/Interahamwe elements and Burundian CNDD-FDD rebels, who were escaping the advance of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and sought safety and sanctuary in the territory. [45]
At the beginning of the First Congo War, the Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), a rebel coalition led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila, received support from the RPA and the Forces Armées Burundaises (FAB). Their involvement in pursuing Hutu refugees and overthrowing Mobutu Sese Seko's government was marked by human rights abuses. These abuses were driven by Mobutu's authoritarian regime, which marginalized, discriminated against, and persecuted Banyamulenge. [46] [47] [48]
Policies implemented by Mobutu's government specifically targeted Banyamulenge, denying them political, social, and economic opportunities. Banyamulenge were accused of aligning with external forces of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and Tanzania and used this as a pretext for persecution. [49] [50] [51] This led to harassment, arbitrary arrests, violence, and forced expulsions. Such mistreatment, combined with other forms of discrimination and human rights abuses, intensified opposition to Mobutu's regime. [48] [52] Tutsis from Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi rallied behind this opposition, seeking an end to discriminatory practices and the establishment of a more inclusive and just political system. [53] However, the RPA, AFDL, and FAB faced accusations of committing human rights violations. Reports indicate that these forces engaged in indiscriminate attacks on civilians, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and forced displacement. They targeted Hutu refugee camps in eastern Zaire, where large populations of Hutu civilians were living in dire conditions. Consequently, the actions of the RPA contributed to civilian casualties and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in the region. [46] [53]
On October 6, 1996, the AFDL and members of the Banyamulenge-led armed group committed a massacre at Lemera Hospital in Uvira Territory, South Kivu Province. Numerous patients, including Hutu refugees, Zairian soldiers, and Zairian civilians perished as a result. The UN Mapping Report estimates that about 37 persons were killed in their beds with bayonets or gunshots. [54] [55] During the night of October 13 to 14, 1996, the AFDL and Banyamulenge armed units killed four refugees and injured seven others in the Runingu camp in Uvira Territory. [56] Moving on to October 20, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units killed approximately 100 Burundian and Rwandan Hutu refugees in Itara I and II refugee camps near Luvungi village in Uvira Territory. [56] In the neighboring village of Katala, they captured and killed refugees at point-blank range who were attempting to flee. The soldiers then compelled local people to bury the bodies in mass graves. [56] On the same day, October 20, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units killed an unspecified number of refugees, including around twenty in the camp's hospital in Kanganiro camp at Luvungi in Uvira Territory. They also killed an unknown number of refugees who had sought shelter in the homes of Zairian civilians at Luvingi. [56] Additionally, on October 20, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units killed an unknown number of refugees and Zairian civilians who were fleeing towards Burundi in Rubenga village of Uvira Territory. [56] The victims' bodies were then discarded in the Ruzizi River. Moving forward to October 21, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units killed an unknown number of Rwandan and Burundian refugees, as well as Zairian civilians who were trying to escape the village after the departure of the FAZ in Lubarika village of Uvira Territory. The soldiers forced local people to bury the bodies in four large mass graves. [56] On the same day, soldiers also burned thirty refugees alive in a house in Kakumbukumbu village, five kilometers from Lubarika camp in Uvira Territory. [56] Furthermore, on October 21, 1996, AFDL/APR/FAB units killed around 370 refugees in Luberizi and Mutarule. The soldiers disposed of the victims' bodies in pit latrines, while other bodies were found in houses in the two towns. [56]
The AFDL/APR/FAB units continued to launch attacks against Hutu refugees in various parts of Uvira Territory, including Kagunga, Uvira, Kiliba, Ndunda, Ngendo, Mwaba, Bwegera, Sange, Rwenena, Kahororo, 8th CEPZA (Pentecostal Community of Zaire) Church, COTONCO, Rukogero, and Ruzia. [56]
By May 1997, the AFDL and Banyamulenge armed forces had taken over large swaths of the nation and captured the capital, Kinshasa. Laurent-Désiré Kabila took over as president after Mobutu left the country, dubbing it the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [57] [58]
In the Second Congo War, the region experienced intense armed conflicts, turning it into a major battleground. After assuming power in 1997, Laurent-Désiré Kabila's government faced accusations of marginalizing and discriminating against Tutsis. Kabila's government excluded Tutsis from positions of influence and power, leading to a sense of exclusion and resentment among the Tutsi population. This exclusionary policy caused discontent and sparked tensions, particularly with Rwanda and Uganda, as they had supported Kabila's rise to power. In response, a faction of Tutsi soldiers, with the support of Rwandan and Ugandan armies, formed a rebel group known as the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD) aimed at overthrowing President Laurent-Désiré Kabila. [59] [50] [60]
During the war, various factions, including government forces, rebel groups, and foreign militias, committed atrocities and human rights abuses. Civilians, regardless of their ethnicity, suffered during the conflict, with widespread displacement, sexual violence, and other war-related atrocities affecting communities across the country. [61]
On August 6, 1998, the Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma (Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie-Goma; RCD-Goma), a faction of the RCD, killed tens of civilians in Uvira in Uvira Territory. Hundreds of victims were killed during confrontations, while others were executed in search operations after the fighting ended. The soldiers also perpetrated acts of rape against women during these operations. [62] Additionally, on August 6, 1998, elements of RCD-Goma killed 13 people, including the chief of the Kiringye area, in the village of Lwiburule, located 53 kilometers northwest of Uvira. [62] Moreover, on August 6, 1998, elements of the RCD-Goma and RPA killed 15 people in the area around Kivovo, Kigongo, and Kalungwe villages, located 11 kilometers south of Uvira in Uvira Territory. In the Uvira Territory town of Katogota on May 14, 2000, RCD-Goma carried out a massacre that left more than 300 people dead. [63] [64] [65]
Efforts to end the war gained traction in 2002, resulting in the signing of the Sun City Agreement in South Africa. The agreement aimed to establish a transitional government and a roadmap for peace and stability in the DRC. The war officially concluded in July 2003 with the signing of the Global and All-Inclusive Agreement on Transition in Kinshasa. However, despite the formal end of the conflict, the region continued to face significant challenges in achieving lasting peace and stability. Armed groups persisted in the eastern hills and high plateaus, perpetuating violence and instability. [66] [67] [68] [69]
In June 2014, around 35 people were killed in an attack in the South Kivu village of Mutarule. The attack was apparently part of dispute over cattle. [70]
Uvira Territory is primarily driven by agriculture, which serves as the foundation of employment, income generation, food security, and trade. [17] [71] [72] Subsistence farming dominates agricultural activities, particularly in the groupements of Kijaga, Kalungwe, Kitundu, Kabindula, Katala, Kagando, and Muhungu, where extensive fields support local livelihoods. [17] Territory's economy is also bolstered by its livestock farming, including cattle, pigs, goats, and poultry. [17] Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and development partners collaborate to provide technical assistance, training programs, and financial support to farmers. [73] [74]
Fishing is predominantly practiced on an artisanal scale in Lake Tanganyika. [17] Local fish species include tilapia, catfish, Tanganyika sardine (locally called ndakala or sambaza), protopterus (njombo), Astatotilapia burtoni (Kijoli), clarias (kambale), Tanganyika killifish, sleek lates (mikeke), Lake Tanganyika sprat, and Nile perch. [17]
The territory is characterized by its dynamic import, export, and cross-border commerce, coupled with the sale of agricultural and fishing products that significantly contribute to the territory's revenue. [75] Imports include wheat flour, sugar, rice, iodized salt, vegetable oil, tomatoes, and vehicle parts. [17] The territory is further supported by artisanal soap manufacturing units, bakeries, guesthouses, hotels, and transportation services. [17] The key commercial hubs are in Kiliba and Sange, with additional ones located in Uvira city. [75] Leading firms include Kotecha Company, famous for its Supermatch brand; Maison SHEN/MED, specializing in sports equipment; Ets Maki, dealing in household goods; and Datco House. [75] [76] Other businesses include Maison KASH/ND/Kazuba for tools, KAJ/NGA MUSAF/R/ Depot, and Maison Mbuguje, an oil supplier. [75] The transportation sector is robust, featuring 22 maritime agencies and 15 land-based operators, while 44 hotels and guesthouses cater to the needs of both local and international visitors. [17] As of 2014, the territory registered 1,145 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alongside 27 large-scale corporations operating in the territory. [17]
The predominant languages are Swahili, Kifuliiru, Kivira, and Kijoba. [77] Kifuliiru is predominantly spoken from Kiliba to the Ruvimvi River, while Kijoba is spoken from Kalyamabenga to Sanza, historically serving as the boundary between Vira and Bembe communities. [78] [79] [80] Kivira, a hybrid language resulting from the convergence of Kifuliiru and Kijoba, is spoken from Kalyamabenga to Kiliba. Additionally, other languages such as Mashi, Kibembe, and Kinyarwanda are present in the territory, albeit in a secondary capacity. Notably, Swahili acts as the unifying language, transcending these diverse groups and serving as the most widely spoken language in the region. [81] [82]
South Kivu is one of 26 provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Its capital is Bukavu.
Banyamulenge is a community that lives mainly in South Kivu province. The Banyamulenge are culturally and socially distinct from the Tutsi of South Kivu, with most speaking Kinyamulenge, a mix of Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Ha language, and Swahili. Banyamulenge their role in Mobutu's war against and victory over the Simba Rebellion, which was supported by the majority of other tribes in South Kivu, their role during the First Congo War and subsequent regional conflicts (Rally for Congolese Democracy–Goma, Movement for the Liberation of the Congo, National Congress for the Defence of the People, and more importantly for the fact that two of the most influential presidents of their country declared them as enemy of the State both in 1996 and 1998.
Uvira is a city strategically located in the South Kivu Province of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Covering approximately 16 square kilometers and with an estimated population of 726,000 as of 2024, it borders Bafuliru Chiefdom and Ruzizi Plain Chiefdom to the north, Bavira Chiefdom to the south, and Lake Tanganyika and the Ruzizi River to the east. These rivers form natural boundaries between the DRC and Burundi. Located in the Ruzizi Plain at a low altitude, the city lies between Burundi's Congo-Nile ridge and the Mitumba mountains.
Mulenge is a village encircled by hills in the Kigoma groupement (grouping), within Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located in the Uvira Territory, South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. 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.
WalunguTerritory is a territory located within the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Situated approximately 40 km from Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu Province, it shares borders with Kabare Territory to the north, Mwenga Territory to the south, Uvira Territory and the Ruzizi River, as well as the Republics of Rwanda and Burundi to the east, and Shabunda Territory and part of Kabare Territory to the west. According to the 2018 national census, the region has a population of 716,671, with 672,436 residing in the Ngweshe Chiefdom and 44,235 in the Kaziba Chiefdom. Spanning an area of 1,800 km2, Walungu Territory has a population density of 398 inhabitants per square kilometer.
The Fuliru people are a Bantu ethnic group native to the South Kivu Province of the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They predominantly inhabit the Uvira Territory, forming the largest ethnic group within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located centrally and to the northwest. They also form the primary constituency in the Ruzizi Plain Chiefdom, to the northeast, near the Rwanda and Burundi borders, where some Fuliru communities reside.
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.
Lemera is one of the groupements (groupings) within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, located in the Uvira Territory of the South Kivu Province in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is situated in the northwestern part of the Uvira Territory, approximately 60 kilometers north of Bukavu and 90 kilometers southwest of the border with Rwanda and Burundi. Lemera is in close proximity to several villages, including Kasheke, Nyambasha, Luzira, Lukayo, Kajuju, Lushasha, and Ihusi.
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. 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 Kigoma groupement (grouping), within the Bafuliiru Chiefdom of Uvira Territory in 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 Itara/Luvungi groupement in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom, Uvira Territory, in the South Kivu Province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. 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 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, and household 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 de Bafulero, is a chiefdom located in Uvira Territory, South Kivu Province, in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Ngweshe Chiefdom is a chiefdom located in Walungu Territory, within the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It shares borders with Kabare Territory to the north, Rwanda and Burundi to the northeast, Mwenga Territory and Shabunda Territory to the south, and Kaziba Chiefdom to the east. According to the territory's 2018 annual report, the chiefdom has an estimated population of 672,436.