Kigezi

Kigezi, or the Kigezi Highlands, is a historic and geographic sub-region in southwestern Uganda within the Western Region. It features a highland landscape of rolling hills, valleys, and scattered forests, with elevations commonly between 1,500 and 2,500 meters. The area lies near the Western Rift and borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west and Rwanda to the south. Major towns include Kabale, Kisoro, Rubanda, and Kanungu, and the region surrounds Lake Bunyonyi. The climate is cooler and more temperate than much of the country, with distinct wet and dry seasons that shape farming and daily life.

The Bakiga are the predominant ethnic group, and Rukiga is the common language in many communities. Settlements are shaped by the terrain, with villages perched on ridges and tucked into valleys. Traditional social life centers on farming, kinship networks, and community labor.

Economy is primarily agricultural, with bananas (matooke) and coffee among the main crops, and tea grown in some highland areas. Tourism is increasingly important, driven by gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park near Kisoro and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park near the DRC border, as well as lake and forest scenery around Lake Bunyonyi.

Historically, Kigezi has been recognized as a distinct cultural and geographic region. Administrative boundaries have shifted since colonial times as new districts were created, and today the term denotes a broader southwestern Ugandan sub-region rather than a single administrative unit.