Bunyoro-Kitara

Bunyoro-Kitara was a state in Great Lakes (Central and Southern Africa) that lasted from c. 1400 to 1899 CE, about 499 years. Its people spoke Bantu languages (Kongo, Shona, Zulu, Swahili, Luba, Ganda).

The Babiito dynasty, of Luo origin, ruled this kingdom in western Uganda, once the strongest in the region. Omukama Kabalega fought British and Ganda forces for years before his capture in 1899.

See Bunyoro-Kitara on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 1400 to 1899 CE

Duration

499 years

Type

State

Region

Great Lakes, Central and Southern Africa

Language family

Bantu

Became

• Uganda Protectorate 1894 to 1962 CE

Events in Central and Southern Africa during its time

• 1483 Diogo Cão reaches the Congo River
• 1491 Kongo's king is baptised
• 1498 Vasco da Gama on the Swahili coast
• 1505 Portuguese sack Kilwa and Mombasa
• 1652 Founding of Cape Town
• 1665 Battle of Mbwila
• 1698 Omanis take Fort Jesus
• 1816 Shaka becomes Zulu king

Neighbours in Central and Southern Africa

• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE
• Kingdom of Zimbabwe c. 1220 to 1450 CE
• Zulu Kingdom 1816 to 1897 CE
• Congo Free State 1885 to 1908 CE
• Kingdom of Buganda c. 1300 to 1966 CE
• Kilwa Sultanate c. 957 to 1513 CE
• Portuguese Mozambique 1505 to 1975 CE
• Portuguese Angola 1575 to 1975 CE
• Mutapa Empire c. 1430 to 1760 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE, North and West Africa

Questions