Uvira Territory

Uvira Territory
Territory
Butaho village in the Bafuliiru Chiefdom
Uvira Territory
Coordinates: 3.25°S 29.133°E / -3.25; 29.133
Country	DR Congo
Province	South Kivu
Urban centers	Kiliba and Sange
Government
• Administrator	Mabiswa Selemani (UDPS)
Area
• Total	3,146 km2 (1,215 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• 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. The territory's southeastern boundary is defined by the city of Uvira, which attained city status on 13 June 2019, while the eastern perimeter adjoins the Republic of Burundi and Lake Tanganyika. Within the territory, Kiliba and Sange serve as significant towns.

The territory is located 120 km from Bukavu, 88 km from Baraka, and 26.5 km from Bujumbura. National Road 5 serves as its main transportation route, linking Bukavu in the north and Lubumbashi in the south. The local economy relies heavily on agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, and commerce, including the sale of agricultural products and essential goods.

Geography

Location

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. 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. 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.

Hydrology

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.

The Ruzizi River, July 2010

Geology

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. The northwestern basin of Lake Tanganyika, encompassing Uvira, features geological formations from both the Precambrian and Quaternary periods. 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.

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. 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.

Vegetation

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. These savannas serve as vital agricultural and pastoral reserves for local communities. Wooded savannas, characterized by the prevalence of Acacia kirkii, provide a transitional zone between grassland and forested areas. Xerophilous groves also contribute to the landscape, adapting to drier conditions. Forests, though now reduced to relic patches, are found primarily in transitional zones between savanna and forest ecosystems.

The region is also home to several medicinal plants valued by the local population, including Syzygium guineense, Tetradenia riparia, Plantago palmata, and Rhus vulgaris. Some of these plants have been analyzed in vitro by Congolese scientists, revealing their phytochemical properties, though many remain understudied.

Climate

Uvira Territory experiences a semi-arid climate, influenced by its varied topography and classified under the Köppen–Geiger climate classification. 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. 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. These elevated regions also experience an annual rainfall of around 1,600 mm, despite their differing climatic characteristics.

The territory experiences a pronounced biphasic seasonal cycle, characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. 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.

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. 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. 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). July typically records the highest levels of solar radiation.

Administrative divisions

See also: Subdivisions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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. These legal frameworks defined the territorial configuration, which remains largely intact today.

Current administrative divisions

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. 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.

Chiefdoms and administrative posts

Three chiefdoms—Bafuliiru, Bavira, and the Ruzizi Plain—define the territory. The Bafuliiru Chiefdom occupies the northern area between the Luvinvi and Kawizi Rivers and is predominantly inhabited by the Fuliiru people. The Bavira Chiefdom lies to the south, between the Kawizi and Kambekulu Rivers, with the Vira people as its main population. 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. These chiefdoms coexist with administrative management posts located in Makobola, Luvungi, Mulenge, and Kagando, which ensure efficient local governance.

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

Communes (municipalities)

The territory has three rural municipalities with less than 80,000 voters:

• Kiliba, (29,127 voters, 7 councillors)
• Luvungi, (24,378 voters, 7 councillors)
• Sange, (32,279 voters, 7 councillors)

History

Early history

Instruments and utensils of Vira people, July 1860

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.

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.

Barundi and Banyarwanda immigration

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.

Mining by the Union Minière du Haut Katanga, 1922. Many Banyarwanda were recruited for labor.

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. 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.

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. 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.

Conflict and insecurity

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.

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.

First Congo War

See also: First Congo War and Massacres of Hutus during the First Congo War

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.

Mobutu Sese Seko sporting a typical abacost in 1983

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. 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. 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. 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.

Sake, Zaire refugees 1996

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. On the same day, soldiers also burned thirty refugees alive in a house in Kakumbukumbu village, five kilometers from Lubarika camp in Uvira Territory. 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.

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.

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.

Second Congo War

See also: Second Congo War

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.

Monument of the Katogota massacre in the Uvira Territory

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.

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. 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. 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.

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.

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.

Economy

Agriculture

The progress of cassava production in Katogota

Uvira Territory is primarily driven by agriculture, which serves as the foundation of employment, income generation, food security, and trade. Subsistence farming dominates agricultural activities, particularly in the groupements of Kijaga, Kalungwe, Kitundu, Kabindula, Katala, Kagando, and Muhungu, where extensive fields support local livelihoods. Territory's economy is also bolstered by its livestock farming, including cattle, pigs, goats, and poultry. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and development partners collaborate to provide technical assistance, training programs, and financial support to farmers.

Aquaculture

Fishing is predominantly practiced on an artisanal scale in Lake Tanganyika. 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.

Trade and commerce

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. Imports include wheat flour, sugar, rice, iodized salt, vegetable oil, tomatoes, and vehicle parts. The territory is further supported by artisanal soap manufacturing units, bakeries, guesthouses, hotels, and transportation services. The key commercial hubs are in Kiliba and Sange, with additional ones located in Uvira city. 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. Other businesses include Maison KASH/ND/Kazuba for tools, KAJ/NGA MUSAF/R/ Depot, and Maison Mbuguje, an oil supplier. 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. As of 2014, the territory registered 1,145 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alongside 27 large-scale corporations operating in the territory.

Languages

Fuliiru traditional dance in Sange, 2004

The predominant languages are Swahili, Kifuliiru, Kivira, and Kijoba. 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. 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.

Education

University institutions

• Université Notre Dame de Tanganyika (UNDT)
• Uvira Community University (UCU)

Higher institutions

• Institut Supérieur de Commerce (ISC-Uvira)
• Institut Supérieur des Techniques Médicales d'Uvira (ISTM-Uvira)
• Institut Supérieur Pédagogique d'Uvira (ISP-Uvira);
• Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural d'Uvira (ISDR-Uvira)

Secondary and primary schools

The most secondary schools

• Institut Mwanga D'uvira
• Complex School Nuru
• Institut Zawadi Ya Rais
• Lycée Umoja d'Uvira
• Institut Kitundu
• Institute Kalundu
• Institute D'uvira
• ITAV Kasenga
• Institut Mgr Guido Maria Conforti
• Institut Du Lac
• Institute Notre Dame Aux Larmes

The most famous primary schools

• Primary School Les Anges Du Ciel (Ep les Anges);
• École Primaire Action Kusaidia (Ep Action Kusaidia);
• École primaire de Nuru (Ep Nuru);
• École primaire de Munanira (Ep Munanira);
• École primaire Kasenga (Ep Kasenga).

The best-known secondary schools in rural communes

• Institut Langala (Kiliba)
• Institut Kyamate (Sange)
• Institut Ndunda (Ndunda)
• Institut Usalama (Sange)
• Institut Taraja (Kiliba)
• Institut Vijana (Luberizi)
• Institut Adelia (Sange)
• Institut Ufunuo (Sange)
• Institut Ushindi (Kiliba)
• Institut Itara (Luvungi)
• Institut Mulangaliro (Luvungi)
• Institut Umoja/Katogota (Luvungi)
• Institut Neema (Luvungi)

Health facilities

• Lemera Hospital
• Hôpital Général de Référence d'Uvira
• Hôpital Général de Reference de Kasenga
• Centre Medicale Sos Village Uvira
• Centre de Santé Mentale d'Uvira (CSMU)
• Saint Luc
• Rutasoka Clinic
• CSDT Kavimvira
• Centre de santé de référence Saint Charles borromee
• Fondation Mukende